What to know

  • Google Play Store removed 1.8 million apps since early 2024, cutting its total by nearly half.
  • This cleanup targets low-quality and potentially unsafe apps to improve user safety and trust.
  • Google tightened developer rules and now uses both AI and human reviewers to screen apps.
  • Despite removals, new app releases on the Play Store have increased globally by 7.1% year-over-year.

The Google Play Store has seen a major reduction in the number of apps available. Since early 2024, Google has removed 1.8 million apps, dropping the total from 3.4 million to just 1.8 million. This represents a 47% decrease in the app count, but it is not a sign of decline for Android users or developers. Instead, it is part of Google’s ongoing effort to make the Play Store safer and more reliable for everyone.

Google’s decision to remove so many apps comes after years of concerns about low-quality, spammy, or even harmful applications. Many of these apps offered little value, posed security risks, or failed to meet Google’s updated standards. To address these issues, Google introduced stricter review processes in 2023.

Developers must now test their apps with at least 20 users over two weeks before launch. Apps with limited functionality or content are being removed, and Google has blocked over 2.3 million policy-violating apps from being published this year alone.

In addition to removing apps, Google has banned more than 158,000 developer accounts for violating its policies. The company uses a combination of human reviewers and artificial intelligence to screen apps more thoroughly.

These steps are designed to protect users from scams, malware, and poor-quality experiences. The most affected categories include games, education, and business apps, with hundreds of thousands removed from each.

While the number of available apps has dropped sharply, this does not mean fewer choices for users. In fact, the quality of apps on the Play Store is expected to improve, making it easier for you to find trustworthy and useful applications. At the same time, new app releases have increased by 7.1% globally, showing that developers are still active and that the Play Store remains a vibrant marketplace.

Google’s spokesperson explained that these changes reflect the company’s commitment to user safety and high-quality experiences. The company continues to invest in new ways to protect its community and support developers who follow the rules. By removing low-quality and risky apps, Google aims to make the Play Store a safer place for everyone who uses Android devices.

Via: Tech Crunch | Android Central