Gmail For iOS Prompts New Users For Updates When There Isn't One. Google Claims It's A Bug

Google hasn't updated its entire suite of iOS apps for a while now and that's reportedly been done to prevent Google from having to submit to Apple an App Privacy report for all of the iOS apps it offers. This report reveals all of the user data that a particular app can acquire from an iOS and iPadOS user before the latter installs said app.

Now, Apple demanded that all apps updated after 7th December include the App Privacy report with its listing in the App Store. In early January 2021, Google said that it would soon update most of its iOS apps but that hasn't happened yet.

As per a tweet from Techmeme editor Spencer Dailey (via MacRumors), it has been so long since the Gmail app for iOS has been updated that those who log into a new account for the app have begun receiving a warning that says that they should update the app because the version being used does not have the latest security features.

But this is merely a warning, and you can still continue to sign in with a new account "if you understand the risks." Besides, Google does not offer an update to the iOS/iPadOS version of the app. The version of Gmail currently available for the iPhone and iPad is version 6.0.201115 and it has not been updated since 1st December.

Do note that this warning isn't showing up for everyone signing up for a new Gmail account. That's because Google has already begun work on pushing out a server side update that removes the out of date warning when attempting to sign into a new account.

Google has added the required information to some of its apps, like YouTube, Google Translate, Stadia, WearOS and a bunch of other popular apps, but others including Gmail, Google Photos and Google Maps have been left untouched for months.

Source: Mashable

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