Android 14 could stop you from installing older apps – and that’s a good thing

Android 14, the latest operating system (OS) from Google, is set to bring with it a big update which could drastically change the way we install and use apps on our smartphones – and the news has been welcomed by those keen to keep their devices secure and up to date.

Android 14 promises a range of features, but one of the most interesting is its ability to stop users from downloading and using apps that are deemed to be too old. This means that only apps which meet Google’s minimum standards for security and performance will be allowed – an important step in keeping our phones safe and performing as they should.

The new feature has been met with approval from both tech companies and security researchers, who have praised the move as a necessary step towards better safeguarding devices from malicious software. Android 14’s new restriction means that those downloading apps from unknown developers or third-party stores will struggle to install apps which are no longer supported on the latest version of the OS.

The benefits of such a feature are two-fold; it helps to protect users from outdated, vulnerable apps that may put their data at risk, and it also improves the overall performance of the device by ensuring it is not weighed down by out-of-date apps. Older apps are often less likely to be optimised for the current version of the OS and can therefore cause lags and stutters, or even crashes, for which the user has no ready solution.

This move should also mean an increase in the overall security of Android devices, as users are less likely to fall victim to bugs or malicious code that have been fixed in later versions.

For many of us, keeping up with the latest updates to our phone’s OS can be a tricky task – particularly if our older devices are no longer supported. However, the introduction of Android 14’s restrictions could actually make this easier, by protecting us from the perils of using outdated apps even if we don’t stay on top of frequent OS updates.

Overall, Android 14’s new protections against outdated apps mark an important step towards ensuring the safety and performance of our devices, which is something that all Android users should be able to get on board with.