Force users to update to the latest version of my app on the Google Play Store

Question

Is there a way to have a "critical update" for my app on the Google Play Store that would require the user to update the app to keep using it?

For instance, let say I push an update that brings a few bugfixes. Nothing mandatory, the user updates it if he wants to: that's a non-critical update.

Now, say I correct a very serious security issue on my app and want all the users to update to this version to keep using the app: this is a critical update.

Basically, if there is a critical update and the user has not updated yet, he cannot use the app until he does so.

Is this possible using the Play Store?

Thanks for your feedback!

Answer 1

For this to work, some kind of logic the app uses needs to be under your control. And then without that part of logic the app won't work and you can show a message: "your app is out of date, please download the new version to continue use."

Consider a messenger app where traffic goes through your servers. Just refuse to deliver messages of clients using an outdated version.

Answer 2

It should not be your responsibility to decide what users need or want to run on their devices.

The best way to handle the situation you describe is to notify users that a critical security bug fix has been released and that everybody should update the app.

Answer 3

Application Licensing

The only way to force a user to update to the latest version is to use a licensing schema. There already exists the Application Licensing SDK that will allow you to register user's. Once they are registered you can revoke the license of old versions. Forcing the user to update if they want to continue to use the application.

You have to check the terms and conditions for licensing to see if Google allow licenses to be used in that fashion.

What you can do, what the user can do and who should do it. Is all technical/legal issues around the usage of your application. Did the user click an agreement for terms/conditions before using the application? Did you specify that the user agrees to accept updates, and to stop using old versions?

Unless you have put these terms in place for the user to agree to, and these terms don't conflict with Google's terms/conditions for apps, then I don't see a problem with forcing them to update.

With that said, I wouldn't agree to those terms and won't use the app ;)