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by lm411 1009 days ago
Google is worse, in my opinion.

"Currently, existing apps (across mobile, Android Auto, Android TV) must target API level 31 or above by August 31, 2023 (target API 30 or up API level 33 for Wear OS). Otherwise, they will stop being discoverable to all Google Play users whose devices run Android OS versions newer than your app’s target API level"

https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ...

It is now a yearly requirement to target the latest API version.

You might have "working apps that target Android 6" but no one with a phone built after 2017 can find them. I often run into incompatibilities between API versions.
2 comments
DarkmSparks 1008 days ago
Thats only new listings. And while old ones dont get listed for new installs.

They dont stop working if you installed them before the minimum requirements for new apps came into force, and you can still install them on new phones from the list of applications attached to your account.

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lm411 1008 days ago
Right.

But there have been changes in the Android API that have been non-backwards compatible and if your app is using those API's, they will break when run on newer versions. Same as for iOS.

Many simple apps targeting very old versions of their respective API/SDK will still work on both platforms.

Ultimately, keeping an app active and functional does require maintenance.

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DarkmSparks 1007 days ago
> keeping an app active and functional does require maintenance.

Only for _acquiring_ new customers on _very new_ devices.

Old customers on new devices are just fine.

https://developer.android.com/topic/libraries/support-librar...

Goes all the way back to Android 4.

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lelanthran 1008 days ago
> Otherwise, they will stop being discoverable to all Google Play users

Sounds like they still work though. GP's Android 6 application won't stop working, would it?

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