Based on the information provided by Ghisler, it seems like Google either thinks Total Commander is updating itself from within, is accidentally linking to specific APK-hosting websites, or is using a custom app installation process before navigating the user to Android's default installer. It's possible that this block could have wide-reaching ramifications on file and web browsers in the Play Store, though the language used - not to mention Google's poor reputation on false takedowns - seems to hint at something less insidious. He resubmitted, only to receive this vague message in return:Īs mentioned previously, your app (APK versions 1031, 1032, 1033, 1034, 10) causes users to download or install applications from unknown sources outside of Google Play.Īccording to Ghisler, he then made the decision to remove APK installations altogether, for fear of losing access to his account after a third warning - as has happened to other developers in a similar situation.
Ghisler says he did attempt to block Total Commander's own APK from installing when you click on it, but automated systems checking his app for potential abuse didn't catch the change. This restriction does not apply to code that runs in a virtual machine or an interpreter where either provides indirect access to Android APIs (such as JavaScript in a webview or browser).Īpps or third-party code (e.g., SDKs) with interpreted languages (JavaScript, Python, Lua, etc.) loaded at run time (e.g., not packaged with the app) must not allow potential violations of Google Play policies.īased on these rules, the Play Store's moderation system might believe Total Commander is attempting to update itself, thereby passing Google Play's update service altogether. so files) from a source other than Google Play.
Likewise, an app may not download executable code (e.g., dex, JAR. The company's automated response pointed the developer to the "Device and Network Abuse" policy - specifically, these two sections:Īn app distributed via Google Play may not modify, replace, or update itself using any method other than Google Play's update mechanism. It's a shocking twist for the service and, seemingly, a bad omen of things to come for other mobile file managers.Ī forum post from Ghisler sheds some more light on what's going on here, as Google sent him a notice warning of his app's removal from the Play Store within a week if the app went unmodified. With a new update, developer Christian Ghisler has removed the ability to install APK files on Android, blaming Google Play policies in the patch notes for the app.
The app has more than 10 million downloads on the Play Store, still supporting OS versions as far back as Android 2.2. Total Commander has been around since the 90s, eventually expanding into Android after the platform launched over a decade ago.
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