Google's new feature allows apps to check the security status of Android devices

Statues of the Android and Google Play logos on the Google campus.. Source: approov

Google has updated the Play Integrity API, which allows app developers to require devices to have the latest Android security updates.

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This update is especially important for banking and financial apps, which can now restrict access to their features on devices that haven't received security updates in over a year. The Play Integrity API authenticates software and devices to protect sensitive transactions.

Apps will now be able to get information about when a device last received a security update and decide whether to grant access to its features based on that information. This change is aimed at improving the overall security of Android devices, but could negatively impact users of rare or older phone models that rarely receive updates, or those who prefer to unlock bootloaders and root their devices.

Google is not requiring developers to apply the new requirements to all app features, but is giving them the option to do so. Full implementation of the updates is expected in May 2025.

Source: Android Developers Blog