Google’s mobile Shopping apps for both iOS and Android is shutting down and it is directing users to its web Shopping site instead, 9to5 Google reported. Xda Developers discovered on Friday, that several strings of codes have seen the term “sunset” added in the Shopping app, suggesting the apps were being discontinued.
As per a Google spokesperson, the apps will continue to function through June. “Within the next few weeks, we’ll no longer be supporting the Shopping app. All of the functionality the app offered users is available on the Shopping tab,” the spokesperson said, according to The Verge. “We’ll continue building features within the Shopping tab and other Google surfaces, including the Google app.” The shopping.google.com site will remain active.
Though the Android version uses a bottom bar rather than a navigation drawer like the web experience, both are essentially identical. The “Home” feed stores recommended products that you might be interested in, while you can see a list of products that you “Saved.” Order updates and promotions are in the “Notifications” tab, while “Cart” lets you start the purchase process. Tapping your profile avatar in the search bar lets you quickly reorder from your past “Orders.” With the Android app built using Flutter, the web and Android app share feature parity.
Until a rebrand in 2019, Google Shopping’s Android app used to be known as ‘Express’. Before Google confirmation late last week about the app’s impending death, users started experiencing “Something went wrong” error messages that directed them to visit the web version instead.
A user tweeted, “RIP Google Shopping’s mobile app. Google is preparing to sunset it. New fragment in v59 of the Android app.”
The mobile Shopping app is now added to the list of Google apps getting the ax back to back— Reader, Hangouts, Plus— the list goes on.
