The variety of Google Play moderation rejections has been steadily rising over the previous few years. Necessities for API, knowledge safety, stability, and proper description of performance — all of this has lengthy been extra than simply formalities.
On this article, we’ve compiled probably the most up-to-date suggestions on making ready for publication: what to contemplate earlier than submitting an app for moderation, what errors most frequently trigger rejection, and tips on how to work successfully with Google tech help if rejection does happen.
Why Getting on Google Play App Retailer Issues
Android is without doubt one of the hottest cellular platforms on the earth. Greater than 3 billion energetic units, and tens of millions of potential customers — sounds like several developer’s dream.
Nonetheless, due to its large viewers, Google is very attentive to software safety, knowledge safety, and stability. The slightest violations and the publication is rejected. That’s why it’s essential to grasp upfront what necessities Google Play imposes on purposes and tips on how to go moderation the primary time.
Step-by-Step: Easy methods to Publish an App on the Google Play Retailer
Even you probably have beforehand had the expertise of releasing an iOS app, take into account that Google has a distinct algorithm that require particular consideration. Additionally, there could also be facets of the app that won’t be apparent whereas creating however will change into essential whereas checking.
Google Play Console: Account and Mission Preparation
Earlier than importing an software, it’s good to correctly arrange a developer account and put together primary details about the mission. This step appears easy, however it’s typically the place the place potential causes for app rejection throughout moderation are laid down.
Developer account
To publish in Google Play, it’s good to register a Google Play Developer Account. You possibly can create it as a person or as a corporation — if the applying is developed for enterprise, it’s higher to decide on a company account immediately.
In the course of the registration course of, Google verifies the id of the developer and the accuracy of the information supplied. Errors or inaccuracies at this stage might end in account rejection, making it unattainable to publish purposes.
Developer Web page
The developer profile should embrace:
- The precise title of the corporate or developer
- A legitimate e-mail deal with for communication
- A working web site (if any)
This knowledge is displayed within the retailer and helps Google confirm the legitimacy of the account.
Privateness Coverage
Google requires an app to have a broadcast privateness coverage, particularly if it collects or processes person knowledge (which just about any app does now).
Your coverage ought to:
- Absolutely describe what knowledge is collected and the way it’s used
- Clarify who the information is shared with and the way it’s protected
- Be accessible through a secure hyperlink (Google checks it)
The hyperlink is specified within the Google Play Console and should result in a working web page with out 404 errors, redirects, or inaccessibility.
Play Integrity API (beneficial)
Though it isn’t but a compulsory requirement, Google is actively selling the usage of the Play Integrity API. It helps defend the app from tampering, hacking, and rogue installations. The mixing of this API is an efficient sign for moderation to concentrate to safety.
APK/AAB: Getting ready the Utility Construct
After organising your account and filling within the primary data, the important thing technical stage comes — making ready the app construct. That is the place a lot of the necessities that Google checks throughout moderation are established.
Utilizing the Android App Bundle (AAB)
The Android App Bundle (AAB) format is now obligatory for publishing new apps to Google Play. It permits Google to dynamically construct optimized APKs for every person’s gadget, lowering obtain dimension and enhancing efficiency. If you happen to’re nonetheless utilizing the previous APK format, it’s time to modify.
Goal API Degree: All the time Up-to-date
Google strictly screens the compliance of apps with present Android variations:
- Each new app is required to make use of the minimal Google Play-supported API goal stage
- There are separate deadlines for updates, which Google publishes upfront
- Utilizing an outdated API is a frequent motive for the denial of publication
An up to date record of goal API necessities is all the time out there right here:
Goal API stage necessities
Stability Test: Actual-world Testing
Google pays particular consideration to software stability. Moderation might reject a construct throughout pre-release testing or when downloading happens:
- ANR (Utility Not Responding)
- Crashes and crashes throughout launch or runtime
- Compatibility points with completely different units
To reduce such dangers:
- All the time check the app on actual units, protecting completely different Android variations and configurations
- Use Firebase App Distribution to distribute check variations throughout the crew or to a restricted group of customers
- Combine Firebase Crashlytics to gather real-time crash knowledge
These instruments mean you can proactively detect and repair bugs earlier than submitting your app to Google Play.
Permissions: Minimal Essential Entry
Permissions are some of the delicate areas for Google moderators:
- Request solely these permissions which are truly mandatory for the applying to work
- Any entry to location, digital camera, reminiscence, contacts, SMS, calls, and different delicate knowledge have to be justified
- When submitting for publication, Google would require you to elucidate the aim for utilizing every requested permission
- Requesting unreasonable permissions is a standard motive for denial or further evaluate
App Content material, Pricing, Metadata: Filling within the Utility Data
When the construct is prepared and uploaded, the subsequent essential stage comes — filling in all of the details about the app within the Google Play Console. Right here moderators look not on the code, however on the means you describe the performance, work with person knowledge, and design the app’s pages within the retailer.
Description of the Utility — Honesty and Consistency With Performance
The applying description ought to mirror its precise performance as precisely as attainable. It is very important keep away from conditions when the outline claims options that aren’t current within the software or work in a different way than said — this is without doubt one of the frequent causes for rejection throughout moderation.
The textual content needs to be clear, skilled, and trustworthy, with out extreme advertising and marketing guarantees or exaggerations. Google pays explicit consideration to doubtlessly deceptive language, so any claims in regards to the app’s options ought to match its precise capabilities.
Additionally, don’t overuse key phrases within the description — makes an attempt to artificially enhance the visibility of the app by way of spammy or irrelevant phrases might end in further scrutiny or rejection of the publication.
Media content material (Screenshots, Icons, Movies)
All visible supplies — screenshots, icons, movies — should precisely show the precise operation of the applying. Using photographs that mislead the person or don’t mirror the precise performance is unacceptable.
Google rigorously checks screenshots for accuracy, prohibited, offensive, or inappropriate content material, and compliance with common design necessities.
For instance, textual content in screenshots mustn’t take up nearly all of the picture — the main target needs to be on the applying interface and person expertise. Compliance with these guidelines helps keep away from pointless checks and will increase belief from each customers and moderators.
Google Play Content material Coverage
Google Play strictly enforces its content material coverage. The platform prohibits the publication of apps that comprise malicious, offensive, or unlawful content material, violate copyrights, or use misleading monetization and knowledge assortment schemes.
Any type of manipulation of customers’ private data, hidden charges, or deception might trigger the app to be rejected or eliminated. If the app consists of monetization of digital content material, all funds should undergo the official Google Play Billing cost system — the usage of third-party cost techniques is prohibited on this case.
Failure to adjust to these necessities might end result not solely within the rejection of the publication but in addition within the full elimination of the app from the shop.
Pricing
If the applying is distributed on a industrial foundation, it’s essential to specify the value upfront. After publication, it is going to be rather more tough to vary the value of a free app to a paid model, so you will need to make this alternative earlier than sending it for moderation.
For in-app monetization (buy of options, content material, subscriptions), all funds have to be appropriately arrange through Google Play Billing. Utilizing third-party cost techniques for digital content material is in opposition to Google’s coverage and will result in publication rejection.
Knowledge Security
The Knowledge Security part is without doubt one of the most delicate and totally checked by Google Play moderation. The developer should absolutely and actually specify all kinds of person knowledge that the app collects: private, technical, location, and every other knowledge.
Additionally it is mandatory to tell whether or not this knowledge is transferred to 3rd events, whether or not third-party SDKs and companies are used, in addition to point out whether or not encryption and safety measures are used within the transmission and storage of data.
As well as, it’s best to describe the aim for which the information is collected, whether or not it’s for analytics, personalization, promoting, or different functions.
Content material Ranking Questionnaire
Each app printed on Google Play should go a content material ranking questionnaire. All solutions within the questionnaire have to be correct and truthful. If the app comprises user-generated content material (e.g., chats, boards, social options), inside promoting, or offers with delicate subjects, this could all the time be thought of when deciding on an age class.
Goal Viewers and Content material
The age class of the audience is specified individually within the questionnaire. If the applying is geared toward kids, it’s topic to a particular Program for households with particular and stricter necessities.
If the audience is grownup customers, you will need to specify this appropriately to keep away from pointless restrictions or further checks. It isn’t beneficial to pick a broader viewers “simply in case” — this may occasionally additionally set off further checks from Google.
Overview Timelines
After submitting your app to Google Play Console, the moderation stage begins. It is very important perceive how the method works, what to anticipate, and tips on how to act in case of rejection.
Moderation Timeframe
Utility validation can take wherever from a number of hours to 3-7 enterprise days. You probably have advanced performance, delicate permissions, or a particular audience, the method might take longer. Google doesn’t set a set timeframe — the extra advanced the app, the longer the moderation course of will take.
Getting ready for Potential Rejection
Even with correct preparation, an app might be rejected — as a result of rule updates or outcomes of computerized checks. After rejection, the developer receives an electronic mail and a notification in Play Console. It is very important analyze the e-mail rigorously: the usual textual content is commonly supplemented with a particular motive for rejection. The most typical causes are:
- Non-compliance with the required Goal API Degree;
- Unreasonable permissions are requested;
- Errors or incompleteness within the privateness coverage;
- Underestimated age ranking or errors within the audience questionnaire;
- The said performance within the description doesn’t correspond to the precise performance.
Along with the rationale for the denial, Google’s letter might discuss with particular paperwork from the official documentation — these references ought to all the time be studied to grasp the precise nature of the violation.
Working with Google Help and Moderation Guidelines
In case your software is rejected, however you might be positive that the rejection is unjustified — there’s all the time a possibility to problem the choice. Google Play Console has a particular attraction kind for this objective.
It is very important describe the essence of the state of affairs in as a lot element and clearly as attainable, connect screenshots, movies and every other supplies that may verify the corrections or compliance of the applying with the foundations of the platform.
The extra particular and clear your attraction is, the upper the possibilities for a fast and optimistic choice. In advanced and controversial circumstances, you possibly can contact a separate Google help crew through the Coverage Help kind.
The primary rule of publishing stays the identical: by no means attempt to cheat carefully. Google actively detects any makes an attempt to bypass the foundations — whether or not it’s importing a light-weight construct for moderation after which changing the code, hidden performance, bypassing permission restrictions, or utilizing hidden SDKs activated by way of the server.
For such actions Google applies the hardest sanctions: not solely rejects the publication, however can even utterly block the developer’s account with deletion of all printed purposes with out the potential for restoration.
Prime Causes for Google Play Retailer Rejection
Many apps are turned down throughout Google Play moderation even with nice planning.
Listed here are the principle causes it’s best to pay particular consideration to:
Privateness and Knowledge Assortment Violations
- Incomplete or inaccurate knowledge in Knowledge Security
- Lacking or incorrect Privateness Coverage
- Unreported third-party SDKs
- Unreasonable knowledge assortment functions
Deceptive Metadata
- Promising non-existent talents
- Exaggerated wording
- Inaccurate screenshots
- Key phrase spamming
Delicate Permissions
- Requesting unreasonable permissions (location, contacts, digital camera, reminiscence, calls)
- Failure to elucidate the aim of every permission
- Makes an attempt to achieve extreme entry to the gadget with no clear want
Inappropriate Content material
- Violence, abuse, discrimination, pornography
- Hidden subscriptions, deceptive purchases
- Violations of native legal guidelines
- Weak moderation of user-generated content material
Copyright/IP Points
- Unlicensed use of music, photographs, movies
- Infringement of emblems and types
- Copying interfaces or ideas of different purposes
Easy methods to Keep away from Rejection
In an effort to go Google Play moderation the primary time (and to not waste time debating with help), we’ve put collectively a easy and workable guidelines for you. Undergo it earlier than every publication — and the probabilities of rejection will lower dramatically.
Earlier than Publication:
- Remember to check the app on actual units. Bugs on completely different fashions typically pop up throughout testing.
- Run the exams through Google Play Console. Pre-launch Report will aid you discover vital bugs upfront: crashes, hangs, and efficiency points.
- Use check tracks in Google Play: inside, closed, or open — to check the app on a restricted viewers earlier than the official launch.
Google’s Necessities:
- Undergo the official coverage checklists. Google itself gives helpful lists for the principle sections — privateness, permissions, knowledge assortment, age restrictions, and so on.
- Test the Knowledge Security part. All knowledge that the app collects, transmits, or processes — have to be trustworthy and detailed.
- Replace the Privateness Coverage. It needs to be full, updated, at a working hyperlink, with no redirects or “404 Not Discovered”.
- Be sure to’re solely asking for the best permissions. No “simply in case” — each permission have to be justified.
Technical Stability:
- Join Firebase Crashlytics. It’ll aid you catch and shortly repair software failures.
- Use Firebase App Distribution for crew testing. This fashion you’re going to get suggestions even earlier than importing for moderation.
- Combine Play Integrity API. That is a further plus for app safety.
Proper Earlier than the Launch:
- Test the outline, screenshots, and movies. Every thing a person sees in Google Play ought to strictly correspond to what she or he will get after set up.
- Don’t attempt to trick the system with lovely however unrealistic promo supplies.
- Specify the proper age class and audience. You don’t want to pick a wider viewers — there isn’t any want for pointless verification.
Within the Case of a Rejection:
- Learn the Google electronic mail rigorously. Typically, essential particulars are hidden within the textual content itself or in references to official paperwork.
- Put together well-reasoned appeals. Screenshots, movies, detailed explanations — the clearer your place, the upper the prospect that the moderation will rethink the choice.
Ultimate Suggestions
Earlier than submitting your app for evaluate to the Apple App Retailer or Google Play, it can be crucial not solely to go the obligatory performance test but in addition to handle assembly the necessities of the platforms upfront.
Correct design of retailer itemizing, preparation of right app icon, description of app content material, organising cost techniques, and privateness — all this impacts how easily the app evaluate will go.
On the stage of preparation for publication, attempt to totally check your app on completely different units to ensure that it really works stably in numerous situations. This may aid you detect attainable bugs upfront and keep away from disagreeable surprises after the discharge.
Additionally it is value ensuring that your app meets all the present platform necessities: from the API stage to the foundations of person knowledge processing. If you happen to plan to launch not solely on iOS but in addition on Android, take care to fulfill the necessities of each platforms.
Remember to test how your app works throughout the app when utilizing completely different eventualities. That is very true for apps which are associated to cellular app improvement for enterprise or comprise advanced performance. Even minor deviations can result in delays or failures in validation.
To keep away from issues, it’s value going by way of the checklists beforehand: be certain your app asks for less than the mandatory permissions, comprises an up-to-date privateness coverage, and actually describes all performance within the retailer itemizing. Ideally, contain professionals within the course of to assist be certain that your app is absolutely prepared for publication and meets all necessities.
If you happen to don’t wish to perceive all of the nuances your self, the SCAND crew is prepared that can assist you at any stage. We audit apps earlier than they’re printed, aid you create a correct retailer itemizing, test all of the capabilities contained in the app, assess compliance with Google Play and Apple App Retailer necessities, and put together full documentation for app evaluate.
Because of our in depth expertise in cellular app improvement, we all know tips on how to put together the app in order that the moderation course of is as quick as attainable and with out pointless rejections.
