What happens with current installs in Google Play when you raise minSdkVersion?

Question

What happens to existing users with the app installed when minSdkVersion is raised and their SDK version is less than that?

Do they still get the update from Google Play with a subsequent crash? Or do they stop getting updates from Google Play?

Answer 1

Below happens on minSdkVersion change

1. On apk upload, Google plays warns you on minSdkVersion telling how many users will be affected.
2. Existing users lower than minSdkVersion won't get update and cannot see app in PlayStore
3. Existing users lower than minSdkVersion, if they uninstall, cannot reinstall the application.

I suggest you use multiple apk option in PlayStore and continue to update your newer apk. Just keep the old one as it is.

For example, you can publish your application with one APK that supports API levels 4 - 7 (Android 1.6 - 2.1)—using only APIs available since API level 4 or lower—and another APK that supports API levels 8 and above (Android 2.2+)—using APIs available since API level 8 or lower.

For more, read the android documentation on multiple apk support.