Google to Remove Low Quality Apps from Play Store Starting August 31

19 Jul 2024

Google has announced that it will be cracking down on "low quality" apps on the Play Store starting August 31st. The company’s Spam and Minimum Functionality policy page states that apps must provide a stable, responsive, and engaging user experience. Apps that crash, lack utility, or offer minimal content will no longer be allowed on the platform.

Ensuring High Standards

Examples of such apps include text-only or wallpaper-only applications, as well as those designed to do nothing at all. Moving forward, any app that falls into these categories will be rejected upon submission to the Play Store. This move is aimed at ensuring that apps on the Play Store meet high standards and provide users with quality functionality.

While this crackdown is new, Google has previously taken steps to clean up the Play Store, resulting in the prevention of millions of policy-violating apps from being published. Google’s existing rules already prohibited apps that don’t install or load properly, and this new initiative will further enhance the quality requirements for apps on the Play Store. This is good news for users who rely on the platform to find the apps they need.

  • Stable
  • Responsive
  • Engaging user experience

More from Tom’s Guide

  1. Back to Mobile Cell Phones
  2. Refurbished (Showing 10 of 275 deals)
  3. Filters
  4. Deal ends Thu, Jul 25, 2024
  5. Load more deals

Does Google Play Store charge a fee?

Yes, Google Play Store charges a fee for developers who wish to distribute their apps on the platform. Developers must pay a one-time registration fee of $25 to create a Google Play Developer account. Additionally, Google takes a 30% commission on app sales and in-app purchases, although this rate can be reduced to 15% for certain subscription products after the first year.

How can I download Google Play Store on my PC Windows 10?

Google Play Store is not natively available for download on Windows 10 PCs. However, you can access it using an Android emulator like BlueStacks. First, download and install BlueStacks from its official website. Once installed, open BlueStacks, sign in to your Google account, and navigate to the Google Play Store within the emulator to download and install Android apps on your PC.

Top charts for Mobile Android

uTorrent

uTorrent

Latest update uTorrent download for free for Windows PC or Android mobile

5
1032 reviews
4888963
downloads
Zona

Zona

Latest update Zona download for free for Windows PC or Android mobile

4
614 reviews
813075
downloads
Minecraft

Minecraft

Latest update Minecraft download for free for Windows PC or Android mobile

5
750 reviews
416562
downloads
Geometry Dash

Geometry Dash

Latest update Geometry Dash download for free for Windows PC or Android mobile

4
539 reviews
296690
downloads

News and reviews for Mobile Android

Android 16 Update to Introduce Taskbar Overflow Feature

The upcoming Android 16 update will add a taskbar overflow feature to enhance app switching, making it easier to manage apps on busy taskbars. The function is expected to be available in QPR1 or QPR2 by year-end.

Read more

Cyberlords Leads August 2025 Android App Deals

Cyberlords highlights Android game deals in August 2025. Offers include Cyberlords – Arcology and MAYATCH. Set in 2173, players lead cyber-warriors on infiltration missions.

Read more

Exploring Camera App Designs and Usability Trends

Samsung and Apple explore divergent paths in camera app design, balancing usability and minimalism. While Apple's app embodies simplicity, Samsung focuses on intuitive user interfaces. Could usability hold more value for Android developers?

Read more

Top Limited-Time Free Apps Now Available for Download

Explore the latest free apps, now available on the Apple App Store and Google Play for a limited time. Act quickly to download these mobile treasures before they revert to paid versions.

Read more

Candy Crush Continues to Captivate Mobile Gamers Worldwide

Candy Crush Saga remains a beloved puzzle game, engaging players with its strategic challenges and vibrant visuals across multiple platforms.

Read more

NotebookLM Enhances Gaming Guide Consolidation for Handhelds

Explore how NotebookLM leverages AI capabilities for strategy guide management on gaming handhelds, overcoming limitations of new chatbots like Gemini.

Read more

Phishing Risk from Fake Android Apps Threatens Wallets

Phishing scams via fake Android apps are on the rise, endangering users' cryptocurrency wallets. It's crucial for users to verify app legitimacy and safeguard mnemonic phrases to protect their assets.

Read more

Magnifier App Advances with Live-View Text Search Feature

Google's Magnifier app, an accessibility tool, now includes live-view text search, simplifying real-time text retrieval and enhancing user experience.

Read more

Gemini Enhances Google Docs AI Features on Android

Google Docs on Android introduces Gemini, boosting AI features for users. This update aids in document management, offering tools like content summarization and draft generation. Business users benefit first, as Gemini saves time by automating tasks through new functionalities.

Read more

Foundation Empowers Developers with Third-Party AI Access

Apple introduces Foundation Models framework, offering iOS developers seamless AI integration with minimal code, enhancing app capabilities offline.

Read more