We monitor 217 Google Play storefronts to answer one question —

Is Ash censored by Google?

Gone.

Ash is gone from every Google Play storefront we test. It was last seen available on Feb 23, 2025.

551 tests on record·last checked 31 hours ago

Why it is unavailable

Five things can put an app out of one Google Play. Each is weighed below against what can be seen from outside — open a card for the reasoning.

  • A government or a court demanded itPossible

    and Google complied. Google publishes a count of these per country each year and never says which apps they were. Google’s Transparency Report

  • A local rule about paying for itPossible

    gambling licences, financial rules, tax — the kind of law that governs a transaction. Google can obey every one of them by refusing the payment, which is why this is the only restriction we would accept and the only one that cannot touch a free app.

  • Google applied a rule, unaskedPossible

    either its own review guidelines, or its own reading of a local law, with nobody having demanded anything. This is the largest category in Google’s own removal figures by a wide margin, and it covers distribution permits as well as content — Google kept a free Bible app out of mainland China in 2021 for want of one. Google’s Transparency Report

  • The developer withheld itPossible

    freely, or under legal advice of their own, or because Google’s guidelines require that kind of app to be limited to certain countries. Switching a country off is easy for a developer to do in Google’s own tools: it needs no new version of the app, and it leaves no public trace other than the app being unavailable.

  • Something brokeUnlikely

    a rejected update, a lapsed certificate, a payment or licensing problem, a mistake nobody has got round to noticing.

    • Gone for 1 years.
How this is weighed, and what it cannot tell you

Weighed from the evidence under each card, not from a model. There is no published figure for how Google’s removals divide up, so these are ordered words rather than percentages. For scale on the same-day counts: across the whole record an app leaves a storefront with fewer than two others, so a dozen at once is not a dozen coincidences.

None of this is certain, and a citation does not make it so: Google naming a Chinese agency tells you what Google said, not everything that happened. What can be said is that the readings alone cannot separate these five — a developer switching off a country and a government ordering it removed arrive at Google’s catalogue looking identical — and that nobody has ever measured how they divide across Google Play. The one careful study of the question was done on Google's store, using an error message Google does not emit.

Google publishes no record of which apps are unavailable in which countries. Its Transparency Report counts the removal requests governments send it, across its products together, and names no app in any of them — so even the part it does disclose cannot be matched to a single thing missing from your store. Where a reason reaches the public at all, it is usually because a developer chose to say so. Google’s Transparency Report

Know of a statement, notice or order we have missed? Tell us →

Ash

Developer: Ash Group · Released: Aug 31, 2024 ·

View in Google Play ↗
0stores where available
133stores where blocked
4.97Bpeople behind the block
133of 217 stores tested
551tests on record

Life of this app

  1. Aug 31, 2024Released on Google Play
  2. Aug 31, 2024First tested by GooglePlayCensorship
  3. Feb 23, 2025Last seen available anywhere
  4. Jul 31, 2025Gone from 133 storefronts
  5. Sep 27, 2026Most recent test

Testing history

One column per month, every month from the first reading to the last. Height follows how many readings we took that month; red is the share of them that found the app unavailable. An empty month is one nobody tested.

2024-082026-09

Found availableFound unavailable

Availability by storefront

Every storefront we test, current status first. Data is a measurement, not a promise: each row carries its own date.

Test now
AfghanistanAF↗UnavailableJul 24, 20259 months ago
AlbaniaAL↗UnavailableJul 28, 202513 months ago
AlgeriaDZ↗UnavailableAug 10, 202514 months ago
AnguillaAI↗UnavailableAug 26, 202512 months ago
Antigua & BarbudaAG↗UnavailableJul 4, 202515 months ago
ArgentinaAR↗UnavailableJul 27, 202510 months ago
ArmeniaAM↗UnavailableJul 17, 202510 months ago
ArubaAW↗UnavailableJun 21, 202531 hours ago
BahamasBS↗UnavailableJul 14, 202510 months ago
BahrainBH↗UnavailableJul 4, 202515 months ago
BangladeshBD↗UnavailableAug 7, 202513 months ago
BarbadosBB↗UnavailableOct 17, 202511 months ago
BelarusBY↗UnavailableJun 21, 20257 months ago
BelgiumBE↗UnavailableJul 31, 202513 months ago
BelizeBZ↗UnavailableFeb 19, 20267 months ago
BermudaBM↗UnavailableJul 24, 202514 months ago
BhutanBT↗UnavailableJul 4, 202513 months ago
Bosnia & HerzegovinaBA↗UnavailableSep 11, 202513 months ago
British Virgin IslandsVG↗UnavailableJul 29, 202513 months ago
BulgariaBG↗UnavailableAug 7, 202514 months ago
Burkina FasoBF↗UnavailableSep 1, 202510 months ago
Cape VerdeCV↗UnavailableSep 6, 202513 months ago
Caribbean NetherlandsBQ↗UnavailableAug 9, 202514 months ago
Cayman IslandsKY↗UnavailableSep 21, 202510 months ago
Central African RepublicCF↗UnavailableJul 22, 202514 months ago
ChadTD↗UnavailableJul 17, 202513 months ago
ChileCL↗UnavailableJun 28, 202512 months ago
China (Mainland)CN↗UnavailableJun 21, 202531 hours ago
Christmas IslandCX↗UnavailableAug 13, 202514 months ago
Cocos (Keeling) IslandsCC↗UnavailableAug 2, 20256 months ago
Cook IslandsCK↗UnavailableJul 19, 202514 months ago
Costa RicaCR↗UnavailableJul 14, 202531 hours ago
Côte d’IvoireCI↗UnavailableAug 28, 202513 months ago
CroatiaHR↗UnavailableJun 30, 202514 months ago
CubaCU↗UnavailableOct 16, 202511 months ago
CuraçaoCW↗UnavailableNov 3, 202511 months ago
CyprusCY↗UnavailableJun 21, 202515 months ago
DjiboutiDJ↗UnavailableJun 21, 202514 months ago
EcuadorEC↗UnavailableAug 24, 202513 months ago
EgyptEG↗UnavailableJul 24, 202510 months ago
El SalvadorSV↗UnavailableAug 16, 202512 months ago
Equatorial GuineaGQ↗UnavailableJul 23, 202512 months ago
EritreaER↗UnavailableOct 16, 202511 months ago
EstoniaEE↗UnavailableJul 1, 20256 months ago
EswatiniSZ↗UnavailableAug 13, 202514 months ago
EthiopiaET↗UnavailableDec 7, 202510 months ago
Falkland IslandsFK↗UnavailableDec 16, 20259 months ago
FijiFJ↗UnavailableJul 2, 20259 months ago
FinlandFI↗UnavailableJul 17, 202514 months ago
GabonGA↗UnavailableSep 7, 202513 months ago
GambiaGM↗UnavailableNov 30, 202510 months ago
GeorgiaGE↗UnavailableDec 3, 202510 months ago
GibraltarGI↗UnavailableJul 28, 20257 months ago
GreeceGR↗UnavailableJul 24, 202514 months ago
GrenadaGD↗UnavailableApr 4, 20266 months ago
GuernseyGG↗UnavailableJul 8, 202515 months ago
GuineaGN↗UnavailableJun 23, 202512 months ago
GuyanaGY↗UnavailableAug 2, 202510 months ago
Hong KongHK↗UnavailableJul 24, 202514 months ago
IcelandIS↗UnavailableJun 30, 202515 months ago
IndiaIN↗UnavailableJun 25, 202515 months ago
IranIR↗UnavailableJul 7, 202515 months ago
IraqIQ↗UnavailableAug 7, 202514 months ago
IsraelIL↗UnavailableDec 10, 202510 months ago
JamaicaJM↗UnavailableApr 1, 20266 months ago
JerseyJE↗UnavailableAug 2, 202513 months ago
JordanJO↗UnavailableDec 6, 202510 months ago
KazakhstanKZ↗UnavailableAug 16, 202513 months ago
LesothoLS↗UnavailableJul 4, 202511 months ago
LiberiaLR↗UnavailableAug 7, 202513 months ago
LibyaLY↗UnavailableSep 11, 202513 months ago
LiechtensteinLI↗UnavailableJun 23, 202515 months ago
LuxembourgLU↗UnavailableJul 14, 202510 months ago
MalaysiaMY↗UnavailableAug 2, 202514 months ago
MaldivesMV↗UnavailableAug 4, 202513 months ago
MaliML↗UnavailableJun 23, 202515 months ago
MaltaMT↗UnavailableJul 29, 202513 months ago
MauritaniaMR↗UnavailableOct 6, 202512 months ago
MoldovaMD↗UnavailableAug 12, 202514 months ago
MonacoMC↗UnavailableAug 16, 202513 months ago
MongoliaMN↗UnavailableJun 25, 202513 months ago
MontenegroME↗UnavailableJul 17, 202514 months ago
MontserratMS↗UnavailableAug 9, 202512 months ago
MoroccoMA↗UnavailableJul 2, 202514 months ago
NauruNR↗UnavailableJul 20, 202514 months ago
NepalNP↗UnavailableJul 13, 20254 days ago
NetherlandsNL↗UnavailableJul 7, 202512 months ago
NicaraguaNI↗UnavailableJul 6, 202514 months ago
NiueNU↗UnavailableJun 21, 202514 months ago
Norfolk IslandNF↗UnavailableSep 13, 202510 months ago
OmanOM↗UnavailableAug 2, 202511 months ago
PanamaPA↗UnavailableJun 28, 202514 months ago
Papua New GuineaPG↗UnavailableAug 4, 202514 months ago
ParaguayPY↗UnavailableJul 22, 202514 months ago
PeruPE↗UnavailableSep 18, 202512 months ago
Pitcairn IslandsPN↗UnavailableAug 4, 202510 months ago
PortugalPT↗UnavailableSep 27, 202631 hours ago
QatarQA↗UnavailableNov 20, 202510 months ago
Republic of the CongoCG↗UnavailableOct 7, 202512 months ago
RussiaRU↗UnavailableJul 31, 202514 months ago
SamoaWS↗UnavailableJul 27, 202514 months ago
San MarinoSM↗UnavailableJul 12, 202510 months ago
São Tomé & PríncipeST↗UnavailableAug 24, 202510 months ago
SeychellesSC↗UnavailableSep 21, 202512 months ago
SingaporeSG↗UnavailableJul 6, 202515 months ago
SlovakiaSK↗UnavailableNov 3, 202511 months ago
SloveniaSI↗UnavailableAug 16, 202513 months ago
Solomon IslandsSB↗UnavailableJul 23, 202512 months ago
SomaliaSO↗UnavailableDec 27, 20259 months ago
South AfricaZA↗UnavailableJun 21, 20257 months ago
SpainES↗UnavailableJun 21, 20254 days ago
St. HelenaSH↗UnavailableDec 10, 202510 months ago
St. LuciaLC↗UnavailableJun 21, 202515 months ago
St. Vincent & GrenadinesVC↗UnavailableAug 12, 202511 months ago
SwedenSE↗UnavailableJul 8, 202515 months ago
SwitzerlandCH↗UnavailableJun 21, 202515 months ago
ThailandTH↗UnavailableJul 24, 202514 months ago
Timor-LesteTL↗UnavailableMar 4, 20267 months ago
TogoTG↗UnavailableAug 28, 202513 months ago
TokelauTK↗UnavailableSep 5, 202510 months ago
TongaTO↗UnavailableJul 17, 202513 months ago
TunisiaTN↗UnavailableDec 2, 20254 days ago
Turks & Caicos IslandsTC↗UnavailableAug 19, 202513 months ago
TuvaluTV↗UnavailableDec 27, 20259 months ago
UgandaUG↗UnavailableJul 19, 202514 months ago
UkraineUA↗UnavailableJul 30, 202514 months ago
United Arab EmiratesAE↗UnavailableJun 21, 202510 months ago
United StatesUS↗UnavailableJun 21, 202531 hours ago
UruguayUY↗UnavailableJul 31, 20256 months ago
VanuatuVU↗UnavailableJul 1, 20256 months ago
Western SaharaEH↗UnavailableJun 23, 202512 months ago
YemenYE↗UnavailableSep 21, 20259 months ago
ZimbabweZW↗UnavailableSep 16, 202510 months ago
AndorraAD↗Not tested——0
AngolaAO↗Not tested——0
AustraliaAU↗Not tested——0
AustriaAT↗Not tested——0
AzerbaijanAZ↗Not tested——0
BeninBJ↗Not tested——0
BoliviaBO↗Not tested——0
BotswanaBW↗Not tested——0
BrazilBR↗Not tested——0
BruneiBN↗Not tested——0
BurundiBI↗Not tested——0
CambodiaKH↗Not tested——0
CameroonCM↗Not tested——0
CanadaCA↗Not tested——0
ColombiaCO↗Not tested——0
ComorosKM↗Not tested——0
CzechiaCZ↗Not tested——0
DenmarkDK↗Not tested——0
DominicaDM↗Not tested——0
Dominican RepublicDO↗Not tested——0
DR CongoCD↗Not tested——0
FranceFR↗Not tested——0
GermanyDE↗Not tested——0
GhanaGH↗Not tested——0
GuatemalaGT↗Not tested——0
Guinea-BissauGW↗Not tested——0
HaitiHT↗Not tested——0
HondurasHN↗Not tested——0
HungaryHU↗Not tested——0
IndonesiaID↗Not tested——0
IrelandIE↗Not tested——0
Isle of ManIM↗Not tested——0
ItalyIT↗Not tested——0
JapanJP↗Not tested——0
KenyaKE↗Not tested——0
KiribatiKI↗Not tested——0
KosovoXK↗Not tested——0
KuwaitKW↗Not tested——0
KyrgyzstanKG↗Not tested——0
LaosLA↗Not tested——0
LatviaLV↗Not tested——0
LebanonLB↗Not tested——0
LithuaniaLT↗Not tested——0
MacaoMO↗Not tested——0
MadagascarMG↗Not tested——0
MalawiMW↗Not tested——0
MauritiusMU↗Not tested——0
MexicoMX↗Not tested——0
MicronesiaFM↗Not tested——0
MozambiqueMZ↗Not tested——0
Myanmar (Burma)MM↗Not tested——0
NamibiaNA↗Not tested——0
New ZealandNZ↗Not tested——0
NigerNE↗Not tested——0
NigeriaNG↗Not tested——0
North MacedoniaMK↗Not tested——0
NorwayNO↗Not tested——0
PakistanPK↗Not tested——0
Palestinian TerritoriesPS↗Not tested——0
PhilippinesPH↗Not tested——0
PolandPL↗Not tested——0
RomaniaRO↗Not tested——0
RwandaRW↗Not tested——0
Saudi ArabiaSA↗Not tested——0
SenegalSN↗Not tested——0
SerbiaRS↗Not tested——0
Sierra LeoneSL↗Not tested——0
South KoreaKR↗Not tested——0
Sri LankaLK↗Not tested——0
St. Kitts & NevisKN↗Not tested——0
SudanSD↗Not tested——0
SurinameSR↗Not tested——0
TaiwanTW↗Not tested——0
TajikistanTJ↗Not tested——0
TanzaniaTZ↗Not tested——0
Trinidad & TobagoTT↗Not tested——0
TürkiyeTR↗Not tested——0
TurkmenistanTM↗Not tested——0
United KingdomGB↗Not tested——0
UzbekistanUZ↗Not tested——0
Vatican CityVA↗Not tested——0
VenezuelaVE↗Not tested——0
VietnamVN↗Not tested——0
ZambiaZM↗Not tested——0

Testing asks Google whether it will sell this app in that storefront, right now, by the same method the crawler has used since 2019. Your browser asks Google directly, so the answer describes what Google serves your connection — and if your browser cannot reach Google at all, we ask on your behalf and say so. The result is a link: open it to see Google’s own answer and check ours. Readings are added to the record above; roughly a quarter of the readings taken each day come from people testing.

How we test

Availability is checked against Google’s own catalog servers for every storefront, the same way Google Play app asks. "Unavailable" means Google’s servers say the app cannot be offered in that country — it does not say who asked for the removal. Removals initiated by the developer and removals demanded by governments look the same from outside; the history and context on this page are how we tell them apart.