Google is removing 'low-quality' Android applications next month

Google is raising the minimum quality requirements for Android apps and will soon remove apps from the Play Store that don't meet expectations. Apps that display "limited functionality and content," such as text-only apps, apps with a single wallpaper, or apps that don't actually do anything, will no longer be allowed, according to the company's latest spam policy update. Play Available in store from August 31st.

These join existing restrictions that barred broken apps that are not responsive, don’t install, crash, or otherwise function abnormally. Google says it’s added the additional requirements to “ensure apps can meet the uplifted standards for the Play catalog and engage users through quality functionality.”

Google has made previous efforts to better police the apps hosted on its Play Store. Android Authority reports that as many as 2.28 million apps were blocked in 2023 for violating policies and threatening user security. Google also said that same year it banned 333,000 "bad" Google Play accounts due to repeated serious policy violations and concerns about fraud and malware.