Android has an app problem, that much is clear. But it’s changing. Last year, Google made clear that low-quality apps would be purged from its store. And that means removing many of the apps most likely to come with more than expected — adware, scam subs, data harvesting, even dangerous malware. But now there’s a new warning available to all that should tell you which apps to install and which to delete.
As reported by Android Authority, Play Store “now has an app quality warning. If an app has a potential issue with its overall quality, a yellow alert box on its Play Store page will inform you. Warnings include frequent uninstalls, less frequent engagement, and a low user count.” We knew this was coming, but it’s great to see it go live. It goes without saying, but you should consider deleting apps with quality warnings unless you need them. Certainly don’t install lots of low-quality, trivial apps on your phone.
The quality warnings show as a yellow box under an app’s header and cover engagement, uninstalls, and how an app compares to its peers. It’s an attempt to avoid rudimentary judgements based on numbers of downloads and star reviews, both of which are open to manipulation.
It’s not cut and dry. As Android Authority says, “seeing one of these warnings doesn’t mean an app is dangerous or should be avoided. It just adds context to the app so the user is more informed about what to expect.” But to an extent it will do exactly that. Users will get a feel for how the warnings relate to their experience, and critically it will encourage (force?) developers to up their game when it comes to design and build.
Google has long pushed its “four pillars of app quality,” which are intended to set a bar for developers to meet to allow their apps onto Play Store. But in reality, there have been too many apps that turn up in the store with much lower quality than expected. And while an app’s technical quality and privacy/security (two of the four values) are critical, so are its value-add and the actual experience in using it.
It’s clear that 2025 is a big year for Google and Android. While AI takes many of the headlines, the reality is that Android 15 — the latest OS — has security and privacy at its center, as Android plays catch-up with iPhone to narrow the gap. And even AI has been co-opted into this mission, with live threat detection and scam protection kicking off a new wave of AI-fueled safety and security features. This is the latest brick in the wall around Play Store, and it’s very welcome.
