App maintenance after launch: what it covers and why it matters

Why apps need maintenance

An app depends on many things outside your control: the operating systems on phones, the app stores' rules, third-party libraries, servers, payment providers and other services it connects to. When any of these change, the app may crash, look broken or fail store review. Regular maintenance keeps the app compatible, secure and available, and avoids emergency fixes that are more stressful and expensive.

What maintenance covers

• Operating system updates: testing and adjusting the app for new iOS and Android versions and devices.
• Store requirements: meeting new rules for privacy, permissions, minimum versions and listing information.
• Library and security updates: updating dependencies and fixing known vulnerabilities.
• Bug fixes: investigating and fixing problems reported by users or found by monitoring.
• Backend and server care: updates, backups, monitoring and scaling for the services behind the app.
• Small improvements: minor changes based on user feedback.

Monitoring and crash reporting

Ask your developer to set up crash reporting and basic analytics if they are not already in place. Crash reports show which errors affect real users and on which devices, so fixes can be prioritized. Monitoring for servers and APIs alerts the team when something stops working. Without monitoring, you often learn about problems only from negative reviews.

Getting ready for maintenance

Make sure you have everything a maintenance developer needs: access to the code repository, app store developer accounts, server and hosting accounts, third-party services and their keys, and any documentation. All accounts should be in your business's name. If the original developer is moving on, ask for a handover covering how to build, test and release the app, plus known issues. A code review by a new developer can assess the code's condition before they commit to maintaining it.

Planning and budgeting

Common arrangements are a monthly retainer with a set number of hours, or hourly work for occasional updates. A retainer suits apps with active users and regular releases; hourly suits simple apps with few changes. Set aside a yearly budget for maintenance, separate from new features. Plan time around major operating system releases, which usually arrive at predictable times each year, so updates are ready when users upgrade.

Release process

Agree on how updates are tested and released: testing on real devices, beta testing with a small group, staged rollouts and release notes. A predictable release process reduces the risk of a broken update reaching all users. DevOps specialists can automate builds and releases, which saves time on every update.

What to look for in a maintenance developer

• Experience with your app's technology and platforms.
• Clear communication about what was updated and why.
• A sensible approach to testing before release.
• Willingness to document changes and keep code tidy.
• Defined response times for urgent issues.

Maintenance and improvement

Maintenance keeps the app working; improvement makes it better. Separate the two in your planning and budget. Use crash data, reviews, support messages and analytics to choose a small number of improvements each quarter, such as fixing a confusing screen or speeding up a slow feature. Combining these with regular maintenance releases keeps users engaged and shows in store reviews that the app is actively cared for. Apps that receive steady, thoughtful updates tend to earn better ratings than those updated only when something breaks.

Maintenance checklist

• All accounts, code and keys owned by your business.
• Documentation and handover from the original developer.
• Crash reporting, analytics and server monitoring.
• Yearly maintenance budget and arrangement agreed.
• Plan for operating system and store updates.
• Testing and release process defined.

Our mobile app maintenance guide explains how to compare developers, and our MVP preparation article covers planning before the first launch.