Google Removes 1.8 Million Low-Quality or Non-Compliant Apps from Play Store

Google has removed approximately 1.8 million apps from the Play Store since the beginning of 2024, representing around 47% of its total app count at the start of the year. According to analytics firm Appfigures, the total number of apps dropped from 3.4 million to roughly 1.6 million. This massive decline is part of Google’s intensified efforts to enhance app quality and user safety. The company implemented stricter review processes in 2023, which include requiring developers to test apps with at least 20 users for two weeks before publication. Apps deemed to have limited functionality or content were targeted for removal. A Google spokesperson stated that this aligns with their commitment to user safety and the fight against bad actors. Among the removed apps, nearly 200,000 were categorized as games, followed by over 160,000 in education and more than 115,000 in business. Despite the drop, new app releases have increased globally by 7.1% compared to last year. Meanwhile, Apple’s App Store saw a modest increase in app count, growing from 1.6 million to 1.64 million. The overall trend indicates a shift toward quality over quantity in major app marketplaces.