Google Is Restricting Apps From Seeing All Installed Apps For Privacy Google will now restrict Android apps from being able to see which all apps are installed on a smartphone. Akarsh Verma | April 4, 2021 | Updated 12:27 IST Highlights Google has announced an update to its Developer Program Policy. The policy update will help prevent applications from viewing which other apps are installed on an Android device. Apple made a similar change to its mobile operating system in 2015 to prevent advertisers from accessing app download data. Google today announced a series of policy updates for apps distributed through the Play Store. Most importantly, the company will restrict most developers from seeing what Android apps are installed on a device.