Overview
- The discovery comes from strings found in a Google Play Store APK teardown published Tuesday that reference notifications for apps that have been removed or delisted from the store.
- The code samples include wording that an app “was removed from Google Play and will no longer receive updates” and show variants for one app, two apps, or multiple apps being removed.
- Play Protect currently only warns about malicious or suspended apps, so these new notices would fill a gap by telling users when an installed app is no longer eligible for Play Store updates or security patches.
- The feature is still unconfirmed and appears in pre-release code, so Google may change the messages or decide not to ship the alerts at all.
- Reporters note the discovery fits into a wider Play Store tightening that also includes plans for stricter sideloading rules and developer verification, changes that aim to boost security but could add friction for power users.