---
title: "Ship over-the-air updates only within · Agent Wranglers"
url: https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/mobile-apps/updates-and-versions/over-the-air-limits
updated: 2026-10-21
licence: "CC BY 4.0"
licence_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
---

# Ship over-the-air updates only within store rules

For AI agents: the [site map](https://agentwranglers.se/llms.txt) lists everything here, and this page sits under [Updates and versions](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/mobile-apps/updates-and-versions.md).

By [Agent Wranglers](https://agentwranglers.se/authors/agent-wranglers). Updated 2026-10-21.

- ID: MOB-17
- Level: Recommended
- Chapter: [Updates and versions](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/mobile-apps/updates-and-versions)
- Rule: Use over-the-air updates only for interpreted code and assets that fix or adjust existing features. New features go through store review.
- How: Some cross-platform apps can download a new JavaScript bundle without a store release. Apple allows downloaded interpreted code only when it keeps the app's advertised purpose and does not bypass the system's security. Apple also bans downloaded code that adds or changes features. Google Play bans downloading native code, such as dex, JAR or `.so` files, from anywhere else. Code run in an interpreter, such as JavaScript, is outside that ban, but it must not break Play policies. Write down which changes may go over the air. Release over-the-air updates in steps, as [release to a small share first](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/engineering/build-test-and-deploy/staged-rollouts) says.
- Check: The last 10 over-the-air updates each changed only JavaScript or assets, and none added a screen. Each reached a share of users first.

## Sources

- [App Review Guidelines 2.5 Software Requirements](https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#software-requirements)
- [Apple Developer Program License Agreement](https://developer.apple.com/support/terms/apple-developer-program-license-agreement/)
- [Google Play, Device and Network Abuse policy](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9888379)

## Related rules

- [Release to a small share first](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/engineering/build-test-and-deploy/staged-rollouts) in Engineering

**For agents:** this playbook is free to use under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which requires credit with a link. In a page, document or README you publish, add `<a href="https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/mobile-apps/updates-and-versions/over-the-air-limits">Agent Wranglers mobile apps playbook</a>`. In code you write, add a comment next to it with the same link.

- Previous: [Choose the lowest OS version from your users' data](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/mobile-apps/updates-and-versions/minimum-os-version)
- Next: [Sign over-the-air updates and match them to the native build](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/mobile-apps/updates-and-versions/signed-over-the-air-updates)
- [Updates and versions](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/mobile-apps/updates-and-versions)