The App Store free list and hot search list fluctuated abnormally, followed by a cleanup. What is Apple trying to do? !

Taking the Top 150 free apps list as an example, compared with the list on March 29 (the list when the App Store free apps list was last updated on the 29th), there are 27 apps whose rankings have increased by more than 1000. What is worth noting is that the rankings of 25 of them have increased by between 1300 and 1500.

Screenshot of the App Store free list at 9:18 on the 30th

An app's overall ranking improved significantly and then disappeared from the Top 1500

Compared with the abnormal phenomena and reasons of previous lists, we analyzed this incident:

1. The ranking of the App list has increased or decreased significantly, and returned to the original position (the ranking before the fluctuation) a few hours later. This inevitably reminds people that Apple is testing a new algorithm . However, according to the current data statistics, only some apps have returned to normal ranking, not all (if it is really testing the algorithm, Apple tends to restore all apps after testing);

2. The time when the anomalies appeared in the free overall list and the hot search list was extremely similar, which was very similar to the bug caused by Apple cleaning up the hot search list or adjusting the hot search list algorithm. However, ASO100 data monitoring has shown many times in recent days: The App Store list (the free overall list and each sub-list) has had similar abnormal fluctuations, but the range is smaller. In other words, this phenomenon of abnormal increase/decrease in App rankings has existed for a long time, and this time it may have happened together with the abnormality in the hot search list.

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In addition, we cannot ignore one factor, that is, Apple also issued a fine in this incident : some apps whose rankings on the list increased significantly were punished by being cleared from the list.

ASO 100 will continue to follow up on whether this matter will continue to ferment, whether similar incidents will occur again, and whether Apple will really adjust the ranking or hot search ranking algorithm in the future. We will share the latest developments with you as soon as possible. In addition, word clearing, ranking clearing, ranking locking , delisting, slower and stricter review, repeated submissions and rejection of review... recently it seems to have reached the forefront again. It is recommended that you pay more attention to Apple and App Store developments, and act conservatively!