Google’s iOS apps have been sending ominous messages to users recently, telling them they’re out of date and that it’s risky to continue using them.
These messages are the result of a bug, which has already been fixed, Google told The Verge on Wednesday.
“This app is out of date. You should update this app. The version you’re using doesn’t include the latest security features to keep you protected. Only continue if you understand the risks,” said a notice on some Google apps on iOS, including Gmail, Google Maps and Google Photos.
The apps worked normally after clicking the “Continue” button, but the notice certainly rattled some users — and the apps weren’t technically out of date, as newer versions simply weren’t available.
The “out of date” notice isn’t entirely inaccurate, though. Google hasn’t updated some of its apps on iOS since December — possibly due to Apple’s new privacy features which will require apps to display detailed labels on what each app does to a user’s privacy.
In a blog post in early January, Google said its apps will be updated to conform with Apple’s requirements, but many of its major apps haven’t been updated yet.
Techmeme editor Spencer Dailey, who first reported on the “out of date” notices, speculated that Google may be internally changing things so that its apps’ privacy nutrition labels don’t look too horrible once they finally do show up.
The delay in updates certainly seems suspicious; as one commenter on MacRumors noticed, Google typically updates its major apps at least twice per month. We’ve checked, and it’s true for several major Google apps, including Google Maps, Google Search and Gmail.
We’ve asked Google about this and will update the article when we hear back.