Back in 2017, Google set out to enhance Android apps by means of mandating they target a certain API level and take advantage of the most modern platform features. With new and updated applications all targeting Android 8. Zero as of November, Google is detailing the Pie assist requirement set for later this year.
Starting this August, new apps submitted to the Play Store are required to target API degree 28 and above. By November, updates to current packages can even need to support Android nine. The rolling yearly mandate changed into established while Google first released this initiative. Existing apps in the shop that do not get hold of updates are unaffected.
Google notes that enforcement of this rule has led to “Android users now revel in[ing] extra apps the usage of present-day APIs than ever earlier than.” Over the direction of 2018, over one hundred fifty,000 applications delivered guide for runtime permissions and other functions added with Oreo.
Besides Google Play, Chinese app stores like Huawei, OPPO, Vivo, Xiaomi, Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent are requiring that developers as a minimum goal API degree 26 in 2019.
We anticipate many others to introduce similar necessities – an essential step to improve the safety of the app ecosystem.
However, Google is taking other steps to protect Android, particularly while customers installation via sideloading. The enterprise notes that over 95% of adware detected outside the Play Store goals API stage 22 or lower to avoid runtime permissions.
To defend customers from malware, and guide this surroundings initiative, Google Play Protect will warn users once they attempt to set up APKs from any supply that doesn’t target a current API level:
August 2019: New apps will get hold of warnings at some stage in setting up if they do no longer goal API degree 26 or higher.
November 2019: New variations of current apps will obtain warnings throughout installation in the event that they do not goal API degree 26 or higher.
2020 onwards: The target API stage requirement will enhance yearly.
