In this February 2026 edition of ASO News, we take a detailed look at the key updates in the App Store and Google Play that impact mobile app optimization strategies. These changes will help us stay ahead of the competition and effectively adapt our ASO tactics to new opportunities.
App Store Updates & ASO News
Apple reminds developers to update their app builds to align with the latest operating systems. To work with the current SDKs, it is recommended to use Xcode 26, which supports the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. This will allow developers to take advantage of new capabilities across the Apple ecosystem and ensure that apps run smoothly on devices running the latest OS versions.
Starting April 28, 2026, all apps and games submitted to App Store Connect must meet the following minimum requirements:
- iOS and iPadOS apps must be built using the iOS/iPadOS 26 SDK or later
- tvOS apps must be built using the tvOS 26 SDK or later
- visionOS apps must be built using the visionOS 26 SDK or later
- watchOS apps must be built using the watchOS 26 SDK or later
Developers are encouraged to verify compatibility with the latest OS versions in advance to avoid issues during submission and review.
Submissions for the Swift Student Challenge are now open. Students from around the world can submit their App Playground projects through February 28.
Key things to know
- No prior development experience is required — students of all skill levels are welcome, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Participation is free. All you need is a Mac or iPad with Xcode or Swift Playground installed.
- Your project can cover any topic — the best ideas often come from personal interests and passions.
- The App Playground experience should be designed to run for no more than three minutes.
The Swift Student Challenge is a great opportunity to develop your skills, showcase creativity, and build a project within the Apple ecosystem.
Participants can also access new videos featuring insights from past winners and Apple experts, along with learning resources to support their preparation.
Apple has revised the App Review Guidelines. The updated version clarifies that apps that feature random or anonymous chat functionality fall under section 1.2 on User-Generated Content.
Developers of such services should ensure their apps comply with moderation and user content control requirements to avoid issues during the App Store review process.
Apple has released beta versions of iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, macOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, visionOS 26.4, and watchOS 26.4.
Developers are encouraged to test their apps on the latest OS beta versions to ensure proper performance. It is also recommended to build and test using Xcode 26.4 beta to leverage the latest SDK advancements and prepare for upcoming public releases.
Google Play Updates & ASO News
In February, Google rolled out another package of system updates via Google Play Services and the Google Play Store. These updates improve core Android functionality and components delivered through Google Play services — for both end users and developers. They include:
- Play services v26.04 & v26.05 — improvements to device setup flows, Google Account storage purchases, developer tools, expanded Google Wallet functionality, and enhancements to maps integration and data management.
- Play Store v50.1 — discontinued support for publishing content from outdated versions of EngageSDK on Android, TV, Wear, and other platforms.
- Subsequent updates v26.06 and v26.07 introduce new security features, context/location improvements, visual updates to earthquake alerts, and automatic backup of downloaded files to Google Drive.
These updates are being rolled out gradually and may appear on devices at different times.
While not directly related to the Google Play Store as a marketplace, a large international coalition of more than 40 organizations (including Proton, Tor, AdGuard, and the EFF) has spoken out against Google’s new policy requiring mandatory registration of all developers — including those distributing apps outside of Google Play. The coalition warns that this could undermine anonymity and developer freedom within the Android ecosystem.
Google has published its 2025 safety report covering the Google Play and Android ecosystem.
According to the company, the deployment of advanced AI-powered detection tools significantly strengthened platform security. Over the course of the year:
- More than 1.75 million policy-violating apps were prevented from being published on Google Play.
- Over 80,000 developer accounts were banned for attempting to distribute harmful applications.
The primary focus was on combating threats that can cause real-world harm to users — including malware, financial fraud, and other forms of abuse.
In addition, Google continued strengthening protections across the broader Android ecosystem. Google Play Protect now scans more than 350 billion Android apps daily. The company also introduced new real-time protection mechanisms, including in-call scam-detection features.
Stay tuned for more updates 💙
