Apple has confirmed that it will begin removing apps from the iOS App Store if it hasn’t received updates in the last three years.
The consumer technology giant smartphone Apps that have not been updated during this period Email Tell them that their app has been identified for removal from App Store.
Apps that haven’t been downloaded at all or have been downloaded very little for 12 months will also be removed.
The new rules may be strict, but developers who forget to create them will be given time to appeal for a decision to remove their apps, Apple explained. statement.. In addition, you will be given up to 90 days to update the app from the time the deletion notification is delivered.
App Store policy changes
This move will take place after Apple has taken steps to remove applications that are not optimized for the new version of iOS from the App Store. However, this is the first time Apple has removed a fully functional app.
Movement to change App Store The policy has caused the wrath of many developers in the community. Toronto-based game developer Em Lazer-Walker has publicly criticized on Twitter that “games can exist as finished objects!”
“These free projects aren’t suitable for updates or live service models. They’re finished artwork years ago,” she added.
However, Apple claims multiple benefits to users and developers as well, including making it easier to find the app that suits their needs when older apps no longer exist in the App Store.
In addition, Apple has become more secure with this move. privacyHardware and software are constantly changing and we frequently update the tools we provide to our developers.
“This will ensure that the app works for the majority of users and supports the latest innovations in security and privacy,” said an Apple spokesperson. “In the last 6 years, we have removed about 2.8 million apps as part of this process.”
Another benefit of the shakeup is to promote the user experience, and this change will keep the app up-to-date with the latest screen sizes, SDKs, APIs, and other features offered on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. He said he would be able to comply.
Apple isn’t the only one taking steps to ensure that apps connected to the ecosystem are in step with the latest iterations of the operating system. Google recently introduced a requirement that means new apps and app updates should target the Android API level within a year of the latest major Android OS version release.
New apps or app updates that do not meet this requirement cannot be published on Google Play.