Russian users have faced significant changes in access to popular digital services. The applications for the social network VK and the new messenger Max have been removed from the official Google Play store. This was officially announced by representatives of the VK holding.

How to download the apps after removal

Despite disappearing from Google Play, the operation of already installed programs remains unaffected. Users who managed to download VK or Max earlier can continue using them without restrictions. For those who have not installed the apps, the company has suggested alternative download paths:

  • RuStore
  • Samsung Galaxy Store
  • Xiaomi GetApps
  • Other third-party Android app stores

Furthermore, it has become known that VK and Max apps have also disappeared from the Huawei AppGallery store, as reported by the Mash Telegram channel.

Previous removals and restrictions

The situation regarding the removal of VK apps is not isolated. In early July, the Max messenger was removed from the App Store. Apple explained this decision as compliance with international sanctions. Following this, developers warned iPhone users that notifications for new messages and calls would stop arriving automatically, recommending that they open the app manually from time to time.

Other products of the VK holding have also disappeared from Google Play: the social network "Odnoklassniki", the "Zen" platform, and the Mail.ru email service.

Reasons for EU sanctions

Last week, the European Union imposed sanctions on the VK holding and LLC "Communication Platform" — the legal entity owning the Max messenger. In justifying the sanctions, the EU stated that the development of Max took place under FSB control, and the application is used by Russian authorities to increase control over users.

Why Max did not become popular

The beta version of the Max messenger was presented in March 2025 as a Russian alternative to Telegram and WhatsApp. Despite support from the authorities, the app did not gain widespread adoption. Experts cite several reasons:

  • Lack of end-to-end encryption
  • No secret chat feature
  • Inability to self-destruct messages
  • Lack of two-factor authentication

What users should do

Users wishing to continue using VK and Max are advised to download the apps via alternative stores. It is also worth noting that on iPhone devices, notifications may not arrive automatically, so the app will need to be opened manually.