Apple has removed thousands of apps from the iTunes App Store over the years. There are a few key questions around this:
Why does Apple remove apps from the App Store?
Apple removes apps from the App Store for a variety of reasons, including:
- The app violates Apple’s guidelines and policies
- The app contains illegal, dangerous or offensive content
- The developer manipulates reviews or charts
- The app crashes frequently or has technical issues
- The developer abandons the app and stops supporting it
Apple aims to maintain quality standards and ensure users have a safe, enjoyable experience on the App Store. Removing problematic or abandoned apps helps achieve this goal.
How many apps has Apple removed?
Apple has removed over 2 million apps from the App Store since it first launched in 2008. Here is a breakdown of app removals over the years:
| Year | Apps Removed |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Less than 100 |
| 2009 | Around 800 |
| 2010 | Nearly 20,000 |
| 2011 | Around 100,000 |
| 2012 | Over 150,000 |
| 2013 | Around 250,000 |
| 2014 | Around 250,000 |
| 2015 | Around 300,000 |
| 2016 | Around 200,000 |
| 2017 | Around 700,000 |
| 2018 | Around 700,000 |
| 2019 | Over 500,000 |
| 2020 | Around 215,000 |
| Total | Over 2 million |
App removals spiked in 2017 and 2018 as Apple cracked down on outdated and abandoned apps. The company still removes hundreds of thousands of apps per year as part of its ongoing app maintenance.
Major App Removals by Apple
While Apple has removed millions of apps in total, some major removals stood out over the years:
I Am Rich App – 2008
One of the first controversial app removals was “I Am Rich” in 2008, priced at $999.99. It displayed a glowing red ruby icon and implied wealth. Apple removed it for lack of functionality.
Adult Content Apps – 2010
In 2010, Apple removed over 5,000 adult content apps due to public pressure over inappropriate content. It eased restrictions in 2013.
AppGratis – 2013
App discovery app AppGratis was removed in 2013 for violating a guideline about push promotions based on app downloads. It had been the top free iOS app.
Vault Apps – 2014
In 2014, Apple removed several “vault” apps used to hide photos and messages. It cited an incentive to illegal content.
Confederate Flag Apps – 2015
After the Charleston church shooting in 2015, Apple removed apps containing the Confederate flag, citing offensiveness.
VPN Apps – 2017
In 2017, Apple removed many VPN apps from the China App Store to comply with government requests.
Vaping Apps – 2019
In late 2019, Apple removed all vaping-related apps over concerns teen vaping was reaching epidemic levels.
Fortnite – 2020
In 2020, Apple removed Fortnite after Epic Games introduced direct payment functionality, violating App Store policies. It became a major legal dispute.
Reasons Apps Get Removed
As seen in some of the examples above, these are the main reasons Apple removes apps from the App Store:
Guideline Violations
Apple outlines detailed review guidelines apps must comply with for issues like content, privacy, payments, spam, metadata, etc. Violating these guidelines often leads to removal.
Legal Issues
Apple removes apps that facilitate illegal activity, depict unlawful content, infringe intellectual property, or enable user harm. App removal helps limit Apple’s legal exposure.
Security/Privacy Risks
Apple removes apps that put user data or devices at risk through malware, insecure data handling, privacy violations or other dangerous flaws.
Technical Issues
Apps that crash frequently, drain battery life excessively, lose user data or interfere with core iPhone/iPad functionality face removal until issues are fixed.
Spam/Manipulation
Apps removed for chart or review manipulation, fake installs, fake reviews and extremely aggressive monetization maintain an unfair competitive advantage.
Abandonment
Developers who abandon their apps and stop updating them eventually face removal once the app is too outdated or broken to be usable.
Controversial Removals
While Apple aims to be fair in app review, some high-profile removals sparked controversy:
Rejection of Third-Party Browsers
For many years, Apple rejected third-party web browsers over objections they would interfere with the iOS experience. The company eventually reversed this policy in 2010.
Google Voice – 2009
In 2009, Apple rejected Google’s official Google Voice app, though similar third-party apps remained. The move faced FCC scrutiny over competitive motives.
Drone Strike Apps – 2012
In 2012, Apple removed several apps allowing users to track U.S. drone strikes overseas. It cited objectionable content without further details.
Dash Wallets – 2019
Cryptocurrency community Dash accused Apple of anti-competitive behavior after its wallet app was abruptly removed in 2019 despite no guideline violations.
XcodeGhost Malware Incident – 2015
Developers criticized Apple’s response after the XcodeGhost malware impacted thousands of iOS apps. Apple took over a week to address the issue.
AppGratis Removal – 2013
The founder of AppGratis claimed Apple’s removal of the popular app discovery app was intended to eliminate competition with the App Store itself.
Developer and User Impact
App removals significantly impact both developers and users:
Developer Impacts
- Loss of revenue and downloads from removed apps
- Reputational damage if app was removed for guideline violations
- Lost time and resources spent building the app
- Potential need to lay off employees or shut down the business
- Bans from submitting new apps for a period of time after violations
User Impacts
- Loss of access to paid apps and in-app purchases
- Disruption to users who relied on removed apps
- Exposure of personal data if removed for privacy violations
- Potential security risks if apps contained malware
- Higher quality standards long-term as problematic apps are removed
Preventing App Removal
Developers can take these steps to minimize risks of app removal:
- Carefully follow all App Store Review Guidelines
- Promptly address any guideline violations Apple identifies
- Maintain robust security and privacy protections for user data
- Perform extensive testing before launch to minimize technical issues
- Avoid manipulative practices like fake reviews or chart manipulation
- Regularly update apps with new features and bug fixes
- Engage with users to build a loyal audience less likely to complain to Apple
Conclusion
Apple has removed over 2 million apps from the App Store since its inception, from minor developers to major players like Fortnite. While this can significantly impact developers and users in the short-term,App Store removals generally aim to create a safer, more consistent experience long-term by enforcing Apple’s guidelines and policies.
Controversial removals do occur, but developers can minimize removal risks by following best practices, valuing users, avoiding shady tactics and keeping apps updated and functional. As the iOS ecosystem continues evolving, Apple will likely continue periodically pruning the App Store catalogue to maintain its standards.