Google bans millions of dodgy apps - check your Android phone today

Owning an Android phone is a portal to a veritable universe of near-limitless applications, with choices of different social media, photography, banking, creative and entertainment options extending into literally millions of different apps.

According to a new report, that number was just too many. App analytics firm Appfigures has released new research that claims since the start of 2024 to now, Google has cut the number of apps available on the Google Play Store from 3.4 million down to 1.8 million, a 47 percent decrease.

This means the apps are no longer available to download, but these banned apps won’t be automatically deleted if you have them on your phone. It’s best to go and check your phone now and make sure you fully trust every app you have installed.

As reported by TechCrunch, Appfigures said this dramatic culling of approximately 1.6 million Android apps - a mind-boggling number - is largely down to quality control. Google is considered to have more lax rules for app developers to get their creations onto the Google Play Store compared to the Apple App Store, thus resulting in millions more Android apps being available over the past few years.

Apple’s iOS App Store currently hosts 1.64 million apps, only slightly more than the amount that were totally cut from Android.

In July 2024, Google raised the minimum quality requirements for apps to enter the Store, and promised to remove those already there that did not meet the standard, which has evidently now taken place.

At the time, Google said it would remove apps it felt had “limited functionality and content”, which appears to have applied to millions of the things.

Google said it would “ensure apps can meet the uplifted standards for the Play catalog and engage users through quality functionality” going forward.

If you own an Android phone you may have been overwhelmed by search results on the Play Store. Searching for popular apps and games often surfaces reams of little-known apps with poor design, stuffed with ads or efforts to get you to pay to play.

Google also confirmed to TechCrunch it has upped the number of human reviewers of apps to try and ensure apps aren’t trying to defraud Android users, plus said it had recently prevented 2.36 million “policy-violating” apps from being uploaded to the Play Store, a number that shines a light on the level of dodgy apps people are trying to get you to download.

It’s a reminder to think twice before installing an app. Even though Google is wanting it known it has culled the Play Store of some of the worst offenders, it has been relatively easy for these apps to make it past Google’s old quality control measures and, presumably, downloaded on people’s Android phones and tablets.

Even if you think that the app you’re about to download is safe to use, it’s best to double check before using it and do a bit of online research if you suspect it could be up to no good.