BY VIEWCAST UPDATED January 12, 2026
The BBC News app has undergone significant changes with its recent version 8.0.1.3, eliciting a wide range of feedback from its user base. This article delves into the evolution of the app, highlighting the positive strides made post-feedback, the setbacks experienced through certain updates, and the features highly regarded by its users.
Version 8.0.1.3 of the BBC News app was met with criticism from users who found the update to be a step back in terms of usability and content accessibility. Key issues included harder readability on screens, removal of the 'My News' section, and a perceived lack of news from England.
Negative feedback highlighted the app's departure from user preferences and customization options. Topics like music, movie, and entertainment news became harder to find, along with a general dissatisfaction with the navigation layout. However, the BBC team took this feedback seriously, working on updates to address these concerns and improve the overall user experience.
Following revisions, users have noted significant improvements in the app's usability and design. The new UI has been praised for its clean, easy-to-navigate layout, reminiscent of competitor apps but without a paywall. Updates have made the app more concise, easy to use, and a reliable source of news for a diverse audience, reinstating it as a premier news provider.
The app has been commended for its comprehensive coverage of global politics and events, being seen as an essential source of news. User-friendly features for those not technologically savvy, and a smooth experience over Wi-Fi, were also points of praise. The effort to listen to user feedback and make necessary changes was noted and appreciated, with newer versions of the app restoring lost features like personalization and improving on performance on a variety of devices.
The BBC News app's journey through updates shows a commitment to improving user experience and adapting to feedback. While the loss of the 'My News' feature was a setback for personalized news consumption, the BBC's openness to changes and future updates has kept users hopeful for the app's continued evolution.
No, the initial reaction to a major update included concerns over lost features, but the BBC has worked on reintroducing personalization options based on user feedback.
Yes, recent updates have focused on improving navigability with a clean and easy-to-use interface, addressing previous complaints about the user experience.
Yes, the BBC News app is free to download and use, offering an ad-supported experience for accessing news content without a subscription model.
The latest updates aim to improve performance across a range of devices, including older models, though some users initially experienced compatibility issues.
BBC News is primarily a mobile app designed for smartphones. However, you can run BBC News on your computer using an Android emulator. An Android emulator allows you to run Android apps on your PC. Here's how to install BBC News on your PC using Android emuator:
Visit any Android emulator website. Download the latest version of Android emulator compatible with your operating system (Windows or macOS). Install Android emulator by following the on-screen instructions.
Launch Android emulator and complete the initial setup, including signing in with your Google account.
Inside Android emulator, open the Google Play Store (it's like the Android Play Store) and search for "BBC News."Click on the BBC News app, and then click the "Install" button to download and install BBC News.
You can also download the APK from this page and install BBC News without Google Play Store.
You can now use BBC News on your PC within the Anroid emulator. Keep in mind that it will look and feel like the mobile app, so you'll navigate using a mouse and keyboard.
