Android 7 and up will get prompts to update crashing apps

Google Play Store will soon apply automatic update prompts specifically for those pesky, frequently crashing apps.

Your phones or tablets running Android 7.0 and above will be prompted to update an app if it crashes in the foreground and a newer version of the app with a statistically relevant lower crash rate is available.

The update prompt is generated by the Play Store (not by the app), thus even if the app crashes on startup or still keeps on crashing, the prompt is still shown.

Google says this will reduce user-perceived crash rate.

To determine the delivery of the prompt, Google will use certain thresholds, including analyzing user activity level using data from Android vitals and limiting the number of times the prompt can appear if a user declines to update the app. Google will also consider the foreground crash rate of an app version compared to its newer version.

Do note that apps installed from alternative app stores or sources other than the Play Store will not receive these types of update prompts.

Google, however, did not specify a release window.