You might soon start getting notifications about delisted Play Store apps | Image by Google
There are millions of apps on the Play Store. Many of them don't survive the fierce competition and after a few years cease to exist. This means that your phone might be housing apps that no longer work, receive updates, or do anything besides taking up storage and space on your home screen.
The problem with "dead" apps
It's easy to miss such "dead" apps when there are dozens and dozens installed on your device, and Google knows this. The company is working on a feature to notify users if a certain app that's installed on your device has been removed from the Play Store.
Google to alert users when apps are delisted
Google might soon start notifying users about inactive or delisted apps | Image by PhoneArena
Google has a mechanism to notify users about harmful apps via Google Play Protect or even suspend apps for more serious violations. But the company doesn't send notifications when an app is delisted or removed by the developer or due to other non-security related reasons.
How often do you check your phone for old apps?
Code teardown reveals the new notification strings
Our colleagues at Android Authority have found an interesting code during their APK teardown procedure of the Google Play Store v51.4.19 app. These strings of code suggest that people might soon start to get notifications about such inactive or delisted apps.
Code found inside the Google Play Store App | Image by Android Authority
Looking at the specific wording inside the code, it's clear that the primary concern for Google is updates. People will be notified if a certain app has been removed from the Play Store and also reminded that it won't receive any more updates.
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The notification changes depending on the number of the apps in question. It's not clear when these notifications will go live and start appearing on Android phones.
A small update with major de-cluttering potential
This potential update, as minor as it might seem, looks like a pretty useful feature, especially for people who don't change their phones often and can accumulate a lot of clutter in the form of inactive apps. We'll keep you updated about any further developments, but meanwhile, if you've already started seeing such notifications, report in the comments below.
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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