Google Removes 1.8 Million Apps from Play Store in 2024 to Make Android Safer

Highlights

• Google removed 1.8 million apps in 2024, cutting the total by 47% to make the Play Store safer.
• Google blocked 2.36 million apps, banned 158,000 developer accounts, and introduced new verification/testing processes.
• Despite removals, new app launches rose 7% YoY and EU regulations requiring developer address listings contributed to the decline.

Caption – 1.8 Million Apps removed from Play Store in 2024. (Photo by Pathum Danthanarayana on Unsplash)

The Google Play Store has seen a big drop in the number of apps available this year. According to a report from Appfigures, the total number of apps on the Play Store went from about 3.4 million at the start of 2024 to just 1.8 million by 2025, a sharp 47% decrease.

Meanwhile, Apple’s App Store actually grew slightly and now has around 1.64 million apps.

The massive cleanup is part of Google’s effort to make the Play Store safer for users. The company has been tightening its rules and cracking down on apps that break policies or pose security risks.

Google now uses a mix of human reviewers and AI tools to scan apps more thoroughly. It also introduced mandatory testing for all new developer accounts and expanded its developer verification process.

In 2024 alone, Google blocked 2.36 million apps for violating its policies. It also banned more than 158,000 developer accounts as part of its safety push.

Other factors may have contributed too. For example, new EU rules now require developers to publicly list their addresses, which may have prompted some to remove their apps. However, Apple followed the same rule without losing as many apps suggesting that Google’s stricter enforcement played the biggest role.

Even with the decline, Appfigures noted that the number of new apps launched on the Play Store has actually gone up by 7% year-over-year as of April 2025.

In the end, this cleanup may be a good thing for Android users. With fewer low-quality or risky apps, it’s now easier to discover safer and better apps on the Play Store.

FAQs

Q1. Why did Google remove 1.8 million apps from the Play Store in 2024?

Answer. Google is tightening its security measures, cracking down on apps that violate policies or pose security risks, using a mix of AI tools and human reviewers.

Q2. How many developer accounts were banned by Google?

Answer. Google banned 158,000 developer accounts and introduced mandatory testing for new developers, along with an expanded verification process.

Q3. Did the Play Store see any growth despite app removals?

Answer. Yes, despite a 47% decline in total apps, the number of new app launches increased by 7% year-over-year as of April 2025.

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