Launching an app feels like the finish line. In practice it is the start of a second phase that many businesses do not budget for. Android and iOS change every year, app stores update their rules, libraries need security fixes, and real users find problems testing never did.
An app that nobody maintains does not just get outdated. Eventually it stops installing on new phones, gets restricted in the store or breaks when its backend changes. This guide explains what app maintenance involves, why it is unavoidable, and how to plan and budget for it.
Why apps need ongoing work
Operating system updates
Google and Apple release major Android and iOS versions every year. Each one can change how permissions, notifications, background tasks or storage work. Apps built for older versions may behave differently, or lose features, on new phones.
App store policies
Both stores enforce rules that change over time. A clear example is Google Play’s target API level requirement. According to Google’s Play Console Help, from 31 August 2026 new apps and app updates must target Android 16 (API level 36) or higher, and existing apps that target older levels stop being available to new users on devices running newer Android versions. Requirements like this move forward each year, so an app that is never updated gradually loses its reach.
Libraries and security
Every app uses third-party libraries for payments, maps, analytics, login and more. These get updated for security issues and compatibility. Leaving them for a long time makes the eventual update larger and riskier.
The backend and integrations
Your app talks to servers, payment gateways, SMS or WhatsApp providers and other services. When any of those change their APIs or pricing, the app or its backend needs to change too.
Real user problems
Crashes on a specific phone model, slow screens on older devices, or confusing steps only show up once real people use the app at scale.
The four types of app maintenance
- Corrective: fixing bugs and crashes reported by users or monitoring tools.
- Adaptive: updating the app for new Android and iOS versions, store policies and third-party changes.
- Preventive: updating libraries, improving performance and cleaning up code before it causes problems.
- Improvements: small features and usability changes based on how people actually use the app.
A good maintenance plan covers the first three by default and budgets separately for the fourth.
A simple maintenance schedule
Every month
- Review crash reports and fix the most common crashes.
- Check store ratings and reviews for recurring complaints.
- Apply urgent security updates to libraries and the server.
- Confirm backups of the backend database are running.
Every quarter
- Update libraries and dependencies, then test on a range of devices, including older Android phones many Indian users still have.
- Review analytics: which screens are used, where users drop off.
- Release a planned update with fixes and small improvements.
Every year
- Prepare for the new Android and iOS versions and test on beta releases when available.
- Meet the stores’ updated requirements, such as the target API level for Google Play.
- Renew developer accounts, certificates and any expiring keys.
- Review hosting, costs and whether larger improvements are due.
How to budget for app maintenance
There is no fixed figure that fits every app, because the effort depends on how many features carry real logic, how many integrations there are, and how often you want improvements. A practical approach:
- Agree a fixed monthly or annual arrangement for monitoring, fixes, security updates and OS compatibility.
- Keep improvements and new features as separately estimated work, so maintenance does not quietly turn into an open-ended development budget.
- Budget separately for hosting, store developer accounts, and usage-based services such as SMS, maps or notification providers.
Ask for maintenance costs in writing before the app is built, not after launch.
Ownership: the part most businesses miss
Make sure the following are in your business’s name, not your developer’s:
- The Google Play Console and Apple Developer accounts.
- The source code repository.
- The server, database and domain accounts.
- Keys and certificates used to sign app releases.
If any of these sit with a developer who becomes unavailable, even a small update can turn into a major recovery effort.
Signs an app is being neglected
- No update has been released in over a year.
- Ratings mention crashes or login problems that have not been fixed.
- The store shows warnings about policy compliance.
- Nobody on your side knows who has access to the developer accounts.
- Your developer cannot say which library versions the app uses.
If several of these apply, start with a code and account review before planning new features.
Plan maintenance from day one
App maintenance is easiest and cheapest when it is planned as part of the project, not discovered after launch. Naryon Tech scopes store review, OS updates and crash monitoring from the start of every build, and we can take over an existing app after a code review. Learn how our mobile app development team handles releases, or see our software maintenance and support service. To discuss your app, book a free assessment.