The Ultimate Mobile App Maintenance Checklist: 12 Steps to Keep Users, Ratings, and Revenue Climbing

Keeping an app in top form is no small feat in 2025. Maintenance now absorbs about 20 % of the original build cost (≈ US $2 000–2 500 per month), according to industry averages.
Miss the mark and you risk joining the 47 % of Google Play apps that vanished in the latest store purge.
On the flip side, apps that maintain a 99.9 % crash-free session rate and respond quickly to feedback earn higher than four-star ratings and retain users far better.

Use the checklist below to stay ahead.

1. Track OS & Device Updates

• Test on beta iOS/Android releases.
  
  

• Verify UI on new form factors (foldables, wearables).
  
  

2. Apply Security Patches Promptly

• Average breach cost: US $4.44 million—prevention is far cheaper.
  
  

• Run quarterly penetration tests and rotate keys.
  
  

3. Monitor Crashes & Performance in Real Time

• Aim for ≥ 99.9 % crash-free sessions.
  
  

• Set alerts for ANR spikes and memory leaks.
  
  

4. Stay Compliant with Store Policies

• Review guideline updates monthly.
  
  

• Refresh screenshots, privacy labels, and age ratings.
  
  

5. Gather & Act on User Feedback

• In-app surveys and review prompts.
  
  

• Close the loop within one sprint to boost ratings.
  
  

6. Update Third-Party SDKs & APIs

• Schedule dependency reviews every 30 days.
  
  

• Use semantic-versioning alerts for breaking changes.
  
  

7. Optimize Cloud Infrastructure

• Rightsize instances and apply autoscaling—can cut 20–30 % of hosting spend.
  
  

• Enable cost-anomaly detection.
  
  

8. Maintain Databases & Back-End APIs

• Add indexes, archive stale data, and version endpoints to avoid breaking older clients.
  
  

9. Improve UX & Accessibility

• Micro-UI tweaks can lift conversion by double digits.
  
  

• Audit against WCAG 2.2 every quarter.
  
  

10. Automate Testing & CI/CD

• Automated suites slash manual QA time by up to 40 %.
  
  

• Use staged rollouts to catch issues early.
  
  

11. Implement Robust Backup & Disaster Recovery

• Daily encrypted backups with geo-redundancy.
  
  

• Run restoration drills twice a year.
  
  

12. Review Documentation & Roadmap

• Update API docs, architecture diagrams, and onboarding guides.
  
  

• Align maintenance items with product goals each quarter.
  
  

Why Royex Technologies Is Your Maintenance Partner of Choice

Why Royex?

• 12 years in Dubai with 500 + successful projects.
  
  

• FinOps focus—we routinely save clients 20–30 % on cloud bills.
  
  

• 24/7 monitoring & ISO-aligned security keep your reputation intact.
  
  

• Dedicated squads for iOS, Android, Flutter, and cloud mean faster turnarounds.
  
  

Let Royex handle the heavy lifting while you focus on product innovation—and happier users.

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