A WARNING has been issued for millions of iPhone users as more than 750,000 apps could stop receiving updates.
That figure equates to roughly 37.5 percent of all apps currently available on the App store.
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Apple said in a statement that it would be removing apps if they no longer meet its criteria.
“To make it easier for customers to find great apps that fit their needs, we want to ensure that apps available on the App Store are functional and up to date,” the tech giant said.
“We are implementing an ongoing process of evaluating apps, removing apps that no longer function as intended, don’t follow current review guidelines, or are outdated.”
Apps that are slated to be removed include those which have not been updated in three years.
Furthermore, apps that fail to meet a minimal download threshold are at risk of being removed.
Apple defined these apps as those that “have not been downloaded at all or extremely few times during a rolling 12-month period”.
On the bright side, if an app is removed from the Store, it will remain “fully functional” for current users.
“They won’t experience interruption to services and will still be able to buy in-app purchases,” Apple said.
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However, the app will not be able to receive updates.
If an app has been identified for possible removal, the company is planning to send a notification to developers beforehand via email.
Developers will also be given the opportunity to make any necessary changes for their app to stay on the App Store.
“You’ll be asked to submit an update within 90 days to keep your app on the App Store,” Apple said.
“If you’re unable to make the changes within this time frame, your app will be removed from the App Store until you submit an update and it’s approved.”
However, Apple noted, “apps that crash on launch will be removed immediately from the App Store”.
Should an app be removed from the Store, the Cupertino-based company said they’re not deleted from a person’s account.
“Your app name will continue to be associated with your app,” they added.
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