--- title: "Pixalate’s Q3 2023 Abandoned Mobile Apps Report: Google & Apple Now Host 2 Million Abandoned Apps" description: Pixalate's Q3 2023 Abandoned Mobile Apps Report analyzes apps from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store that have been “abandoned.” image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Pixalate%20-%20Q3%202023%20Abandoned%20Mobile%20Apps%20Report.png --- [![pixalate-full-logo](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixalate_Logos/pixalate-full-logo.jpg?width=150&height=60&name=pixalate-full-logo.jpg "pixalate-full-logo")](https://www.pixalate.com) Search **Menu** ** ** ![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/pixalate-blog-bg.png) [Company News](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/company-news) | [Mobile Apps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/mobile-apps) | [Privacy](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/privacy) | [Abandoned Apps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/abandoned-apps) | 2 min read # Pixalate’s Q3 2023 Abandoned Mobile Apps Report: Google & Apple Now Host 2 Million Abandoned Apps Written by [Pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/pixalate) Dec 18, 2023 8:00:00 AM *Research into “abandoned apps” (2+ years with no update) finds that 49% of likely child-directed apps from the Apple App Store and 33% in the Google Play Store are abandoned* **LONDON, UK December 18, 2023** -- [Pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/), the global market-leading ad fraud protection, privacy, and compliance analytics platform, today released the [Q3 2023 Abandoned Mobile Apps Report](https://www.pixalate.com/abandoned-mobile-apps-report), analyzing apps from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store that have been “abandoned.” An app is considered abandoned if it has not been updated in at least two years. As of Q3 2023, over two million apps are now abandoned between the Google (1.4+ million) and Apple (565k) app stores - up 14% YoY. Abandoned apps may pose privacy risks for both children and consumers as updates to apps could incorporate not only bug fixes but also changes to data collection practices, consumer opt-in or age verification practices, and notices of privacy policy updates. In a [note to developers](https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=gi6npkmf) regarding app abandonment, Apple emphasized the importance of keeping apps up-to-date to keep pace with “innovations in security and privacy.” Pixalate’s report analyzes profile information about abandoned apps such as developer country of origin, app store category, and child-directedness under COPPA (as determined by Pixalate). The report also contains insight into the apps’ behaviors in the programmatic advertising bid stream, such as transmission of personal information, location data, and estimated ad spend. ## **Key Findings:** - **2,006,456 abandoned **mobile apps across Google & Apple app stores as of Q3 2023 - **14% increase** YoY in the # of abandoned mobile apps - **253k** abandoned mobile apps with open programmatic advertising (nearly $4MM in ad spend on these apps in Q3 2023) - **8.5k** abandoned mobile apps share user GPS location data in the advertising bid stream - **49% of Apple-hosted apps** are likely **directed to children** are abandoned (33% on Google-hosted) The full abandoned apps report includes: - Abandoned apps by app store - “Super” abandoned apps (5+ years with no update) - Abandoned apps with ads - Ad spend on abandoned apps - Likely child-directed apps that are abandoned - Abandoned apps by country/region of registry - Abandoned apps by app store category Download a free copy of the report today here. [![Download Report](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2364596/7d4b7823-e8e0-4bf9-8b3d-41a4c1f352ec.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2364596/7d4b7823-e8e0-4bf9-8b3d-41a4c1f352ec) **About Pixalate** Pixalate is the market-leading fraud protection, privacy, and compliance analytics platform for Connected TV (CTV) and Mobile Advertising. We work 24/7 to guard your reputation and grow your media value. Pixalate offers the only system of coordinated solutions across display, app, video, and CTV for better detection and elimination of ad fraud. Pixalate is an MRC-accredited service for the detection and filtration of sophisticated invalid traffic (SIVT) across desktop and mobile web, mobile in-app, and CTV advertising. [www.pixalate.com](https://www.pixalate.com/) **Disclaimer** *The content of this press release, and the **Abandoned Mobile Apps Report: Q1 2023 **(the "****Report****"), reflect Pixalate's opinions with respect to factors that Pixalate believes can be useful to the digital media industry. Pixalate’s opinions are just that, opinions, which means that they are neither facts nor guarantees. Pixalate is sharing this data not to impugn the standing or reputation of any entity, person or app, but, instead, to report findings and trends pertaining to programmatic advertising activity across mobile apps in the time period studied.* ### Search Blog Search ### Follow Pixalate ### Subscribe to our blog *By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use ](https://www.pixalate.com/terms)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) Previous Story [← Pixalate Week in Review: December 11 - 15, 2023](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/december-15-2023-weekly-recap) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [Pixalate Releases Q3 2023 Global Ad Fraud Benchmarks for Desktop & Mobile Web: 12% Global Invalid Traffic (IVT) Rate on Desktop Web →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/q3-2023-desktop-and-mobile-web-invalid-traffic-benchmarks-report) ## You May Also Like These Stories on Company News 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](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalate-launches-defased-pre-bid-blocklist-a-daily-updated-list-of-apps-delisted-from-google-play-and-apple-app-store) [Company News](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/company-news) ### [Pixalate Launches DEFASED Pre-Bid Blocklist: A Daily Updated List of Apps Delisted From Google Play and Apple App Store — With Bundle ID, App Name, Removal Date for 100+ Countries](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/pixalate-launches-defased-pre-bid-blocklist-a-daily-updated-list-of-apps-delisted-from-google-play-and-apple-app-store) Mar 6, 2026 8:00:01 AM | 4 min read ** ### Subscribe to our blog *By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use ](https://www.pixalate.com/terms)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) ![pixalate-logo-red-small](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2018NewTemplate/pixalate-logo-red-small.png?width=208&name=pixalate-logo-red-small.png "pixalate-logo-red-small") ** By entering 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