Google has decided to postpone the end of Chrome App support: developers will still have a few months to convert their apps
Google takes a step back on Chrome Apps: they won’t be abandoned by this year, as announced in early 2020, but the company will still support them for a few more months. No change, however, for Chrome extensions for which Google has reiterated full support.
Google, in fact, in its Chromium project blog specified that “Fostering a robust extension ecosystem is fundamental to Chrome’s mission and we’re committed to providing a useful platform of extensions to personalize the browsing experience for all users.” Apps, on the other hand, will disappear but at a different time than initially planned because Google has changed the timeline based on feedback received from customers and partners. The new date for the final goodbye to Chrome Apps, on all platforms, is now June 2022. By that date, Chrome Apps must be converted to another form, or they will disappear altogether.
Chrome Apps: the new timeline
In March 2020, Google stopped accepting new “public” apps on the Chrome Web Store, meaning they can be downloaded by all users of Chrome and Chromium-based browsers. Existing apps, however, can be updated until June 2022. Private apps (not shown to the public) developed by companies for internal use will not be affected: administrators can continue to develop new apps and distribute them through the Chrome Web Store.
In June 2021, general support for Chrome Apps on Windows, Mac and Linux will end, but companies will be able to offer an extension of support to their users until June 2022. By that time, if there are no other changes, everyone will have to say goodbye to Chrome apps, both public and private.
What will happen to Chrome Apps
Chrome apps haven’t been very successful and that’s the reason why Google has decided to get them out of the way. To respect the needs of the few users and companies that use them, however, Google has created a specific site to give information to app administrators in order to make the transition from Chrome App to one of the possible alternatives: Progressive Web App (PWA), which according to Google is the ideal choice, PWA with Chrome extension attached and simple extension. The site also offers specific information for apps developed for Chrome for Android.