Android limits viewing which apps are installed by other apps

Google will introduce a restriction for Android in May that restricts apps from detecting which other apps a user has installed on their smartphone.

Google will limit the use of query_all_packages for Android apps from May 5, the company reports. In practice, the step means that Android apps can only request which other apps are installed on a user’s device if this is necessary for the core functionality of that app.

Apps that don’t comply, but use query_all_packages, will need to modify their manifest to comply with the changed Google Play policy. Otherwise, developers risk having the app removed. Only Android apps based on API level 30 or higher, targeting devices with Android 11 or higher, can be allowed to use query_all_packages. From November 2021, new apps for Google Play must target Android 11 to be allowed in the download store.

Google is making the change because it considers installed apps to be personal and sensitive information and wants to better protect users’ privacy in this area.