Creative Marketing
    App Maintenance & Support

    Keep your app live, compliant and improving

    Ongoing maintenance for iOS and Android apps: OS releases, store policy changes, monitoring, security patches and a planned cadence of updates.

    An app left alone doesn't stay still — it degrades. Apple and Google keep moving, and an app that falls behind their requirements eventually stops being distributable.

    Developer monitoring app release health on a laptop dashboard

    Image: AI Generated

    Why does a mobile app need ongoing maintenance?

    Apple and Google each release a major OS version every year and periodically raise the minimum SDK or target API level an app must meet. Combined with security patches, deprecated third-party APIs, new devices and policy changes, an unmaintained app gradually breaks and can eventually be blocked from receiving updates or shown to fewer new users.

    What maintenance covers

    OS releasesA major iOS and Android version every year, each requiring testing and often code changes.
    Target API requirementsGoogle Play requires apps to target a recent API level to publish updates; falling behind restricts distribution to new users.
    SecurityDependency and SDK patching, plus response to disclosed vulnerabilities.
    MonitoringCrash rate, ANRs, performance and API error rates tracked continuously.
    Inherited appsWe take on apps built by other agencies, starting with a code and compliance audit.
    OwnershipStore accounts, code and data stay yours throughout.
    The Service

    Why apps need ongoing maintenance

    Both platforms release a major OS version every year, and both periodically raise the minimum target API or SDK level an app must meet to stay updatable and visible to new users.

    On top of that: dependency and security patches, third-party APIs deprecating, payment and privacy policy changes, new device sizes, and the ordinary crashes that only appear at real-world scale.

    We take on apps we built and apps we didn't. For inherited apps we start with an audit — code health, dependencies, store compliance and security — then quote the work honestly, including when the right answer is a rebuild rather than a patch.

    Outcomes

    Real business outcomes, not vanity metrics

    Every engagement is built around measurable commercial impact — from revenue and leads to retention, efficiency and operational scale.

    An app that stays compliant with both stores
    Crashes caught by monitoring, not by users
    Security and dependency patches applied
    Support for new OS versions and devices
    A predictable release cadence
    One team accountable for the app staying up
    What's Included

    What we build & deliver

    OS & SDK updates

    Annual iOS and Android releases handled, target API and SDK levels kept current.

    Store policy compliance

    Privacy, permissions, Data Safety and billing policy changes actioned before deadlines bite.

    Monitoring & crash response

    Crash, ANR and performance monitoring with agreed response times for critical issues.

    Bug fixes & small changes

    A monthly allowance of fixes and improvements, prioritised with you.

    Dependency & security patching

    Libraries, SDKs and backend dependencies kept current and vulnerabilities closed.

    Release management & reporting

    Planned releases through both stores, with monthly reporting on stability and usage.

    Who It's For

    Built for growing businesses

    Apps that have just launched

    The first six months generate the most fixes and the most valuable improvements.

    Businesses whose developer has gone

    An app still live but nobody left who can update it — we take over the accounts and the code.

    Apps failing store requirements

    Warnings about target API levels, privacy declarations or deprecated billing.

    Companies with a business-critical app

    Apps that customers or field teams rely on daily and cannot be left unmonitored.

    Our process

    01

    Audit & takeover

    Code, dependencies, store accounts, compliance and security reviewed and documented.

    02

    Stabilise

    Critical crashes, security issues and store compliance gaps fixed first.

    03

    Set the cadence

    An agreed release rhythm, monitoring, and response times for urgent issues.

    04

    Maintain & improve

    OS updates and patches, plus a monthly allowance of prioritised improvements.

    05

    Report & plan

    Monthly stability and usage reporting, feeding a forward roadmap.

    Free App Scope & Estimate

    Get a real scope and a real number for your app

    Tell us what the app needs to do and we'll come back with a scoped feature list, a realistic timeline to App Store and Google Play approval, and an itemised cost — including what it costs to run, not just to build.

    No spam. Unsubscribe any time.

    FAQ

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Apple and Google release a major OS version each year and periodically raise minimum SDK and target API requirements. Add security patches, deprecated third-party APIs and new devices, and an unmaintained app degrades until it can no longer be updated.

    It will start breaking on new OS versions, may fail store requirements for publishing updates, and can become less visible or unavailable to new users on Google Play.

    Yes. We start with an audit of the code, dependencies, store accounts, compliance and security, then tell you honestly whether maintaining or rebuilding is the better use of your money.

    OS and SDK updates, store policy compliance, security and dependency patching, crash and performance monitoring, bug fixes, a monthly allowance of improvements, and managed releases to both stores.

    Critical crashes and outages are covered by agreed response times set out in the support arrangement, with monitoring alerting us rather than waiting for user complaints.

    Yes. The Apple Developer and Google Play Console accounts, the code and the data all remain in your company's ownership.

    App Development

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    Related app development pages

    Each platform, stage and budget question has its own page, because the answers genuinely differ. Start wherever your project is.

    Ready to talk about app maintenance & support?

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