When you upload an APK, it must meet Google Play’s target API level requirements.
Starting on August 31, 2023:
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New apps must target Android 13 (API level 33) or higher; except for Wear OS apps, which must target a version between Android 11 (API level 30) and Android 13 (API level 33), inclusive.
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App updates must target Android 13 or higher and adjust for behavioral changes in Android 13; except for Wear OS apps, which must target Android 11.
Permanently private apps—which are restricted to users in a specific organization and are intended for internal distribution only—aren’t required to meet the target API level requirements.
I have a small app on the play store. It’s finished, has a small user base and doesn’t really need updates.
But I’ll now let google delist it. The API level isn’t even the main reason, it’s the other X warnings which jumped at me when logging into developer console about new rules and guidelines I need to satisfy. I’ve had enough of the hamster wheel.
the app won’t be delisted. you just won’t be able to submit an update unless you up the targetSDK at that moment
I think the plan is to have them delisted after a while without updates iirc