What is the ‘Android Pulse’ app that just appeared in Google Play Store updates? [U]

On Saturday morning, you might have noticed an app called “Android Pulse” appearing in the list of available Google Play updates.

Update 8/25: In a statement today, Google explained that “Android Pulse is a Google system service.” 

The app’s appearance in the Play Store was accidental, and Google has “pushed an update so users will now see it in their settings.” It now appears in the usual list alongside Google Play services and Android System Intelligence. On Pixel, go to Settings app > Google services > All services > Privacy & security > System services to check.

Original 8/22: Instead of an application icon, there’s just a blank square. Opening the Play Store listing does reveal it’s a first-party Google app meant for “Defining anomalies for debugging” rather than anything malicious.

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Google adds: “This app facilitates rule distribution for anomaly detection in critical system resource consumption by the Android operating system and installed applications.”

That’s not a very user-friendly description, but our interpretation is that this service — which does not have an interface you can access — helps with software diagnostics for the OS itself and any installed apps. The “critical system resource consumption” could be a reference to battery, CPU, or memory usage.

This application is already installed on our Pixel devices, and it’s just referred to as “Pulse” in system Settings. The App info page also reveals a heart rate-inspired icon in green (as seen in the cover image above).

Let us know if you’re seeing this app or update on non-Pixel devices

According to APKMirror, this app has existed since March, with seven previous builds. The Play Store notes over 10 million downloads.

However, today is the first time it appears to have surfaced in the Play Store as an update you can manually install. It’s curious that Google did not use its dedicated System Services approach to update this kind of app.

In short, “Android Pulse” is a Google app that’s okay to have on your phone.