4 Apps That Should Never Have Been Shut Down

Google has a history of shutting down some of its most useful and popular apps. Over the years, countless users have seen services that had become part of their daily routine suddenly pushed aside. It’s a running joke at this point: Just when a Google app or service finally gains momentum, Google is ready to pull the plug.

That said, a few of these shutdowns were hit harder than others. These weren’t just niche experiences or mediocre tools that few users cared about. These were products with passionate user bases. These were apps that people relied on to work, create, or just stay connected. When Google decided to kill them, the reaction was strong. Here are the services I wish still existed today.

Google Reader

Since its launch, Google Reader, a web-based RSS/Atom aggregator, has served as a daily ritual for many Internet power users and information junkies. It was a centralized dashboard where dozens of blogs, news sites, and feeds could be consolidated into a single stream of clean, distraction-free content important to the user. For journalists and avid readers, like me, it provided an easy way to stay on top of content and save what was important to read at another time.

When Google announced it was shutting down Reader in 2013, user reactions were intense. There were petitions signed and many lengthy forum posts about the loss of something users depended on. Beyond personal convenience, this felt like a push toward the algorithm-driven feeds we see today, moving controls away from the user. The good news is that if you’re missing RSS feeds, you can create your own.

Google Play Music

Play Music was more than just a music streaming service. Yes, you could subscribe and listen to a library of music similar to what you’d find on Spotify or Apple Music, but it also offered the option to upload your own library of songs. As an avid CD collector, I had checked out a large library of music that Google hosted for me for free. It put all the music I love in one place, making it more personal.

When Google announced its closure in 2020, the reaction wasn’t just about the loss of a familiar and useful app, but rather a loss of connection. YouTube Music eventually stepped in, but the transition was never smooth. No other service has really stepped in to fill the void. Spotify never offered cloud uploading, Apple Music’s library had limitations, and YouTube Music seemed clunky at best. These days I use Plex for my streaming media, but it’s not quite the same.

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Spotify is a pioneer in music streaming. It offers an extensive library, impressive bitrate, curated and personalized playlists, and offline streaming. Spotify is available for free and for a monthly or annual fee.

Google Hangouts

For a long time, Google Hangouts has been the perfect way to stay connected in the Google ecosystem. It was integrated with Gmail, was used on Android phones, and allowed users to easily make text, video, and voice calls. It was simple to use and reliable.

When Google began phasing out Hangouts, the frustration wasn’t just about losing the Hangouts app itself, but also the bigger picture. Google already had a long history of launching and removing messaging apps. From the outside, this lack of a targeted messaging strategy looked like chaos. Over time, Google’s messaging strategy shifted from Talk to Hangouts to Allo and Duo, before switching again to Chat and Meet. This long list of apps has left users frustrated and unsure which one to rely on.

Meanwhile, years of conversations were scattered across Google’s changing platforms, and users were fed up with Google pulling the rug out from under them regarding popular apps and services. For me, this highlighted the fact that even a widely used and loved service could disappear without a clear plan for what comes next.

Google Inbox

If you’ve ever tried Inbox, you know it was more than just an email client. It was a different vision of how email should work. Instead of Gmail’s busy interface, Inbox gave you a more streamlined design that grouped similar messages together, let you snooze emails, and even turn messages into reminders. It was designed for power users who were drowning in emails and wanted to work smarter and more intuitively.

When Google shut it down in 2019, the backlash was immediate. The small group of dedicated users who had come to rely on its intuitive workflow were pushed back into the clutter of Gmail. Google promised to keep the best features, but users said it’s never been the same. Several petitions were filed to keep Inbox alive, but the die was cast.

Looking at these rulings, Google has a pattern. The company launches bold, often surprising products that garner a loyal following, only to pull the plug once strategy changes or internal priorities shift. For users, this cycle can be more than frustrating: it undermines trust.

When an app becomes part of your daily routine and then suddenly disappears, you wonder what will disappear next. Services like Reader, Play Music, Inbox, and Hangouts haven’t just disrupted workflows or playlists, they’ve also sent the message that even what appear to be Google’s most beloved or promising ideas aren’t safe.

Google has arguably created some of the best digital products and services of our time, but its longevity history makes it difficult to fully invest in the next one. That’s the irony, isn’t it? The very apps that proved Google could innovate meaningfully are the same ones that many users still mourn. If anything, the negative reactions to these closures show how much people cared.

What is your favorite app or service that you wish was still there?