Apple Starts Cleaning Up Outdated Apps In Its App Store

Apple is reportedly going to kick out outdated apps. (photo: doc. unsplash)

JAKARTA - Apple is reportedly going to expel applications that no longer receive updates from their developers on the App Store.

In a screenshot of the email sent to the developer, titled "App Upgrade Notice," the announcement contains a warning about Apple removing apps that haven't been updated in a long time.

In fact, Apple only gives developers 30 days to update their own apps. "You can make these apps available for new users to discover and download from the App Store by submitting the update for review within 30 days," Apple wrote in an email.

"If no updates are submitted within 30 days, the app will be removed from sale."

Although Apple will remove obsolete apps from the App Store, all previously downloaded apps will remain on the user's device.

Application makers, such as Protopop Games developer Robert Kabwe, via Twitter expressed disappointment with Apple's move. According to them, Apple is threatening to remove its fully functional game, Motivoto, because it hasn't been updated since March 2019.

I feel sick. Apple just sent me an email saying they're removing my free game Motivoto because its more than 2 years old.

It's part of their App improvement system.

This is not cool. Console games from 2000 are still available for sale.

This is an unfair barrier to indie devs. pic.twitter.com/7XNcLfiEcR

— Protopop Games (@protopop) April 23, 2022

Meanwhile, the developer of the FlickType Apple Watch keyboard, Kosta Eleftheriou found that Apple removed a version of its app made specifically for the visually impaired because it had not been updated in the last two years.

As Eleftheriou pointed out in his tweet, the once-popular Pocket God app is still on the App Store even though users received its last update in 2015.

Knowing that this change will make most developers protest and disappointed, Apple has prepared the answer in advance through Apple's App Store Improvements page.

"We're implementing an ongoing app evaluation process, removing apps that no longer work as intended, don't follow current review guidelines, or are outdated," Apple explained.

Citing The Verge, Monday, April 25, earlier in 2016, Apple had said it would start removing abandoned apps from the App Store.

At the same time, the company also warns developers that they only have 30 days to update their apps before they are removed. Apple's decision is claimed to concern compatibility with the latest iOS versions.

Not only Apple, but Google through its Play Store also announced that it will start limiting the visibility of apps that don't target the API level within two years of the latest major Android release version.

Android developers have until November 1, 2022, to update their apps, but also have the option to apply for an extension for another six months if they can't meet the deadline.