Mandatory updates
Updated: Dec 18, 2024
As a developer, you might need to block users from using your app until they install a specific update. Mandatory updates ensure version compatibility, but they also delay app access while users install the update. This delay is sometimes necessary, especially for updates containing critical fixes that prevent users with outdated versions from accessing the app. The mandatory updates feature allows you to manage this process.
For apps with optional updates, a challenge arises from the diversity of app versions among users, which complicates testing and maintenance. Updates that include critical, security, or privacy fixes should be installed immediately. The mandatory updates feature ensures that apps on headsets connected to the internet update to the required version, updating all users to the latest version before they can launch the app.
For apps whose updates are already blocking by default, the mandatory updates feature can be used to mark the update as non-blocking, thereby reducing user friction, which should result in more users being able to use the app immediately.
Additional considerations
By marking updates mandatory, you can quickly deploy critical security or privacy fixes, as well as hotfixes to key features, to your entire app user base. In addition, it can also reduce the long tail of versions that need to be supported. With that said, marking any update as mandatory will add user friction. This is due to the fact that headset users won’t be able to use your app until updated. We recommend using this feature sparingly, carefully weighing whether an update is critical enough to justify the added user friction.
How to set up mandatory updates
Use the following steps to set up mandatory updates for your app:
- Move or upload a build to the Production (Store) channel.
- Open your browser and navigate to the Developer Dashboard.
- Select your app.
- From the left-side navigation, go to Distribution > Builds.
- Select the build you want to make mandatory.
- On the Details tab, look for Required Update? and click Change.
- In the dialog box that appears, click Yes.
- Click Continue.
- Review the information to be sure, and then click Confirm.