Google Play "Minimum Functionality" Policy: What Constitutes Low-Quality Apps & How to Address Them

With the introduction of the latest Google Play Store policies, apps that do not meet the updated standards face the risk of removal.

This article delves into the criteria for low-quality apps and provides preventive measures to ensure developers' apps comply with the new policy requirements, thus avoiding removal.

Overview of Google Play's Latest Policy

Policy Summary

In July 2024, Google Play updated its policies, which will take effect on August 31, 2024. The new policy aims to enhance the quality of apps on the Play Store, attracting users through superior functionality and content user experience.

👉 Read more >>> Google Play Policy Updates July: New Standards for App Developers

Minimum Functionality Policy

Under the new "Minimum Functionality" policy, apps must provide a stable, responsive, and engaging user experience. Apps that crash, lack basic utility, have monotonous content, or exhibit other inconsistent behaviors will not be permitted on the platform.

Criteria for Identifying Low-Quality Apps

Limited Functionality and Content

Definition

• Apps with limited functionality and content.
• Apps lacking specific functionality, such as those containing only text or PDF files.
• Apps with minimal content that fail to provide an engaging user experience, such as single wallpaper apps.
• Apps designed without practical functionality.

Common Violations

• Static apps with no specific functionality.
• Apps with minimal and unappealing content.
• Apps with designs that lack practical functionality.

Functional Failures

Definition

• Apps that crash, force close, freeze, or operate abnormally.

Common Violations

• Apps that cannot be installed.
• Apps that fail to load after installation.
• Apps that do not respond after loading.

Precautions: How to Reduce Your App Risk?

Enhancing App Functionality

To enhance app functionality, it is essential to ensure that the app has practical and specific features, rather than just static content. Adding interactive features, such as user reviews and rating systems, can significantly improve user engagement.

💡 Expert tips: The essence is to increase user engagement by adding more in-app features, allowing users to interact more during their app usage.

>>> How Mobile User Engagement Strategy Drive Your App Business?

Increasing App Content

To increase app content, developers should provide rich and diverse content to ensure an engaging user experience. Regularly updating the content is also crucial to keep the app fresh and appealing to users.

💡 Expert tips: Regular updates and optimizations are essential for maintaining user interest and engagement. Frequent updates not only improve the app's functionality and fix bugs but also show users that the app is actively maintained, which can enhance user trust and retention.

>>> How Often Should You Update Your App Store Metadata?

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Ensuring App Stability

Ensuring app stability involves conducting comprehensive testing to guarantee the app's stability across different devices and operating systems. Developers should also promptly fix known bugs and issues to provide a stable and reliable user experience.

💡 Expert tips: Conducting mobile app usability testing is crucial to ensure that when you release a product, new features, or updates, real users in your target market can easily navigate and find value in the app.

Usability testing helps identify potential issues that users might face, allowing developers to make necessary adjustments before the app goes live. This process ensures that the app is user-friendly, which can significantly enhance user satisfaction and retention.

>>> How to Improve User Experience and Conversion with Usablity Testing?

Optimizing User Experience

To optimize user experience, developers should pay close attention to user feedback and make necessary improvements to the app. Providing a clean and intuitive user interface can also significantly enhance user satisfaction.

💡 Expert tips: One of the most effective ways to improve the quality of your app is to look at how top apps in your category are performing and conduct a competitive analysis. By understanding the features and strategies that successful apps use, you can apply similar tactics to your own app.

🔍 ASO Case Study: Dive into how a dating app achieved a 430% increase in user retention rates through user experience optimization.

📌 Highlights:

Developers should recognize that any app marketing is fundamentally based on the quality of the app itself. Providing a superior user experience is the key to success.

ASOWorld is committed to helping developers improve app optimization performance and continuously enhance service standards. If your app has been accepted by Google Play Store, App store optimization(ASO) will be a crucial next step, and ASOWorld is ready to assist.



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Conclusion

With the impending implementation of Google Play's new policies, developers must ensure their apps meet the new standards for functionality, content, and user experience. By enhancing app functionality, providing rich content, ensuring stability, and optimizing user experience, developers can effectively avoid the risk of app removal and increase user satisfaction.

This discussion and the provided suggestions aim to help developers better understand and comply with Google Play's new policy requirements, creating high-quality apps.