# The Charlotte Observer | News

> Latest local North & South Carolina News | Politics, weather, business & sports.

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.charlotteobserver.android](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.charlotteobserver.android)

## Overview

- **ID:** `com.charlotteobserver.android`
- **Platform:** Android
- **Type:** Android app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** McClatchy
- **Category:** NEWS\_AND\_MAGAZINES
- **Downloads:** 57,933
- **Rating:** 2.76 / 5 (440 ratings)
- **Version:** 11.1.16
- **Last updated:** 2026-08-12
- **First published:** 2011-06-01
- **Publisher country:** US
- **Size:** 166 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-14
- **Store listing:** [Google Play Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.charlotteobserver.android)
- **Website:** [https://www.charlotteobserver.com/customer-service](https://www.charlotteobserver.com/customer-service)
- **Privacy policy:** [https://www.mcclatchy.com/privacy-policy](https://www.mcclatchy.com/privacy-policy)

## Description

The Charlotte Observer News Chrome extension delivers up-to-date local news from the Charlotte area and the Carolinas. Read daily coverage, investigative reporting, national headlines, crime, sports, and business, with AI-generated summaries reviewed by our newsroom. Covers Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, York, Iredell, Gaston, and Catawba counties and keeps you updated on Charlotte, Concord, Fort Mill, and surrounding communities.

Personalize your experience: choose topics, search articles, bookmark reads, and read in dark or light mode. Browse by category, share stories, comment, download previous issues, and enjoy puzzles and games for downtime.

## Rankings

- #281,532 — Overall
- #78 — News and magazines (Gross)

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID`
- `android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION`
- `android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_TOPICS`
- `android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE`
- `android.permission.AD_SERVICES_CONFIG`
- `android.permission.DOWNLOAD_WITHOUT_NOTIFICATION`
- `android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE`
- `android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK`
- `android.permission.INTERNET`
- `android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS`
- `android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE`
- `android.permission.USE_BIOMETRIC`
- `android.permission.USE_FINGERPRINT`
- `android.permission.WAKE_LOCK`
- `android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE`
- `com.android.vending.BILLING`
- `com.charlotteobserver.android.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION`
- `com.google.android.c2dm.permission.RECEIVE`
- `com.google.android.finsky.permission.BIND_GET_INSTALL_REFERRER_SERVICE`
- `com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID`
- `com.huawei.appmarket.service.commondata.permission.GET_COMMON_DATA`
- `com.samsung.android.mapsagent.permission.READ_APP_INFO`

## Review summary

Users appreciate the local news content, e-edition features, and the availability of puzzles within The Charlotte Observer app. However, many report frequent crashes, instability, and repeated login requirements. Push notifications often fail to open the intended articles. The app is slow and lacks an effective search function, making navigation frustrating. Additionally, sharing articles is problematic, and users desire improvements such as direct article access from notifications and better memory management.

### Pros

- Provides access to local Charlotte news and content.
- Offers an electronic edition (e-edition) allowing article tapping and easier reading.
- Includes puzzles and games that are playable within the app.
- Allows subscribers to support and access local news efficiently on multiple devices.

### Cons

- App crashes frequently and is unstable, often hanging on launch or during use.
- Requires users to log in repeatedly, sometimes after every few articles, losing saved login information.
- Push notifications fail to take users directly to the article, instead opening the home page.
- The app is slow to load and has poor navigation, including issues like scrolling jumping unpredictably and lack of search functionality.
- Sharing articles is broken; it only shares images instead of article links.

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.charlotteobserver.android)