The variety of Google Play moderation rejections has been steadily growing over the previous few years. Necessities for API, information 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 getting ready for publication: what to contemplate earlier than submitting an app for moderation, what errors most frequently trigger rejection, and the way 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 cell platforms on the planet. Greater than 3 billion energetic gadgets, and tens of millions of potential customers — sounds like several developer’s dream.
Nonetheless, due to its large viewers, Google is particularly attentive to software safety, information 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 functions and the way to cross moderation the primary time.
Step-by-Step: Methods to Publish an App on the Google Play Retailer
Even you probably have beforehand had the expertise of releasing an iOS app, understand that Google has a special algorithm that require particular consideration. Additionally, there could also be elements of the app that won’t be apparent whereas creating however will turn into essential whereas checking.
Google Play Console: Account and Challenge Preparation
Earlier than importing an software, you should correctly arrange a developer account and put together fundamental details about the venture. 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, you should register a Google Play Developer Account. You possibly can create it as a person or as a company — if the applying is developed for enterprise, it’s higher to decide on a company account straight away.
Throughout the registration course of, Google verifies the id of the developer and the accuracy of the info offered. Errors or inaccuracies at this stage might lead to account rejection, making it unimaginable to publish functions.
Developer Web page
The developer profile should embrace:
- The precise identify of the corporate or developer
- A legitimate e-mail handle for communication
- A working web site (if any)
This information is displayed within the retailer and helps Google confirm the legitimacy of the account.
Privateness Coverage
Google requires an app to have a printed privateness coverage, particularly if it collects or processes consumer information (which just about any app does now).
Your coverage ought to:
- Absolutely describe what information is collected and the way it’s used
- Clarify who the info is shared with and the way it’s protected
- Be accessible by way of a steady 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’s not but a compulsory requirement, Google is actively selling using the Play Integrity API. It helps shield the app from tampering, hacking, and rogue installations. The combination of this API is an effective sign for moderation to concentrate to safety.
APK/AAB: Getting ready the Software Construct
After establishing your account and filling within the fundamental info, the important thing technical stage comes — getting 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 consumer’s system, decreasing obtain measurement and bettering efficiency. If you happen to’re nonetheless utilizing the previous APK format, it’s time to change.
Goal API Stage: At all times 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 cause for the denial of publication
An up to date listing of goal API necessities is at all times obtainable right here:
Goal API stage necessities
Stability Examine: Actual-world Testing
Google pays particular consideration to software stability. Moderation might reject a construct throughout pre-release testing or when downloading happens:
- ANR (Software Not Responding)
- Crashes and crashes throughout launch or runtime
- Compatibility points with totally different gadgets
To attenuate such dangers:
- At all times take a look at the app on actual gadgets, protecting totally different Android variations and configurations
- Use Firebase App Distribution to distribute take a look at variations inside the workforce or to a restricted group of customers
- Combine Firebase Crashlytics to gather real-time crash information
These instruments mean you can proactively detect and repair bugs earlier than submitting your app to Google Play.
Permissions: Minimal Crucial Entry
Permissions are one of the vital delicate areas for Google moderators:
- Request solely these permissions which can be really needed for the applying to work
- Any entry to location, digital camera, reminiscence, contacts, SMS, calls, and different delicate information 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 cause for denial or further evaluation
App Content material, Pricing, Metadata: Filling within the Software Info
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 approach you describe the performance, work with consumer information, and design the app’s pages within the retailer.
Description of the Software — Honesty and Consistency With Performance
The applying description ought to replicate its precise performance as precisely as attainable. You will need to keep away from conditions when the outline claims options that aren’t current within the software or work in another way than acknowledged — this is without doubt one of the frequent causes for rejection throughout moderation.
The textual content must be clear, skilled, and trustworthy, with out extreme advertising and marketing guarantees or exaggerations. Google pays specific consideration to doubtlessly deceptive language, so any claims concerning the app’s options ought to match its precise features.
Additionally, don’t overuse key phrases within the description — makes an attempt to artificially improve the visibility of the app via spammy or irrelevant phrases might lead to further scrutiny or rejection of the publication.
Media content material (Screenshots, Icons, Movies)
All visible supplies — screenshots, icons, movies — should precisely display the precise operation of the applying. Using photos that mislead the consumer or don’t replicate 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 the vast majority of the picture — the main target must be on the applying interface and consumer 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 information assortment schemes.
Any type of manipulation of customers’ private info, 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 — using third-party cost programs 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 removing of the app from the shop.
Pricing
If the applying is distributed on a business foundation, it’s essential to specify the worth upfront. After publication, it is going to be far more troublesome to vary the worth of a free app to a paid model, so it is very important make this alternative earlier than sending it for moderation.
For in-app monetization (buy of options, content material, subscriptions), all funds have to be accurately arrange by way of Google Play Billing. Utilizing third-party cost programs for digital content material is towards Google’s coverage and will result in publication rejection.
Information Security
The Information Security part is without doubt one of the most delicate and completely checked by Google Play moderation. The developer should absolutely and truthfully specify all varieties of consumer information that the app collects: private, technical, location, and every other information.
It is usually needed to tell whether or not this information is transferred to 3rd events, whether or not third-party SDKs and providers 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 is best to describe the aim for which the info is collected, whether or not it’s for analytics, personalization, promoting, or different functions.
Content material Score Questionnaire
Each app printed on Google Play should cross a content material score 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 at all times be thought of when choosing an age class.
Goal Viewers and Content material
The age class of the target market is specified individually within the questionnaire. If the applying is aimed toward kids, it’s topic to a particular Program for households with particular and stricter necessities.
If the target market is grownup customers, it is very important specify this accurately to keep away from pointless restrictions or further checks. It isn’t beneficial to pick out a broader viewers “simply in case” — this will additionally set off further checks from Google.
Evaluate Timelines
After submitting your app to Google Play Console, the moderation stage begins. You will need to perceive how the method works, what to anticipate, and the way to act in case of rejection.
Moderation Timeframe
Software validation can take wherever from just a few hours to 3-7 enterprise days. You probably have complicated performance, delicate permissions, or a selected target market, the method might take longer. Google doesn’t set a set timeframe — the extra complicated the app, the longer the moderation course of will take.
Getting ready for Attainable Rejection
Even with correct preparation, an app may be rejected — on account of rule updates or outcomes of computerized checks. After rejection, the developer receives an e-mail and a notification in Play Console. You will need to analyze the e-mail rigorously: the usual textual content is usually supplemented with a selected cause for rejection. The commonest causes are:
- Non-compliance with the required Goal API Stage;
- Unreasonable permissions are requested;
- Errors or incompleteness within the privateness coverage;
- Underestimated age score or errors within the target market questionnaire;
- The acknowledged 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 at all times 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 may be at all times a possibility to problem the choice. Google Play Console has a particular attraction kind for this objective.
You will need to 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 affirm the corrections or compliance of the applying with the principles of the platform.
The extra particular and clear your attraction is, the upper the possibilities for a fast and constructive determination. In complicated and controversial instances, you possibly can contact a separate Google help workforce by way of 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 avoid the principles — 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 via the server.
For such actions Google applies the hardest sanctions: not solely rejects the publication, however can even fully block the developer’s account with deletion of all printed functions with out the opportunity of restoration.
High 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 is best to pay particular consideration to:
Privateness and Information Assortment Violations
- Incomplete or inaccurate information in Information Security
- Lacking or incorrect Privateness Coverage
- Unreported third-party SDKs
- Unreasonable information 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 realize extreme entry to the system and not using a 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, photos, movies
- Infringement of emblems and types
- Copying interfaces or ideas of different functions
Methods to Keep away from Rejection
With a purpose to cross 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 possibilities of rejection will lower dramatically.
Earlier than Publication:
- Make sure to take a look at the app on actual gadgets. Bugs on totally different fashions typically pop up throughout testing.
- Run the assessments by way of Google Play Console. Pre-launch Report will allow you to discover crucial bugs upfront: crashes, hangs, and efficiency points.
- Use take a look at 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 useful lists for the principle sections — privateness, permissions, information assortment, age restrictions, and so on.
- Examine the Information Security part. All information that the app collects, transmits, or processes — have to be trustworthy and detailed.
- Replace the Privateness Coverage. It must be full, updated, at a working hyperlink, with no redirects or “404 Not Discovered”.
- Be sure to’re solely asking for the suitable permissions. No “simply in case” — each permission have to be justified.
Technical Stability:
- Join Firebase Crashlytics. It would allow you to catch and rapidly repair software failures.
- Use Firebase App Distribution for workforce testing. This manner you’re going to get suggestions even earlier than importing for moderation.
- Combine Play Integrity API. That is an extra plus for app safety.
Proper Earlier than the Launch:
- Examine the outline, screenshots, and movies. Every part a consumer 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 stunning however unrealistic promo supplies.
- Specify the proper age class and target market. You don’t want to pick out a wider viewers — there isn’t any want for pointless verification.
Within the Case of a Rejection:
- Learn the Google e-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.
Closing Ideas
Earlier than submitting your app for evaluation to the Apple App Retailer or Google Play, it can be crucial not solely to cross the obligatory performance verify but in addition to care for assembly the necessities of the platforms upfront.
Correct design of retailer itemizing, preparation of right app icon, description of app content material, establishing cost programs, and privateness — all this impacts how easily the app evaluation will go.
On the stage of preparation for publication, attempt to completely take a look at your app on totally different gadgets to make it possible for it really works stably in several situations. This may allow you to detect attainable bugs upfront and keep away from disagreeable surprises after the discharge.
It is usually value ensuring that your app meets all the present platform necessities: from the API stage to the principles of consumer information processing. If you happen to plan to launch not solely on iOS but in addition on Android, take care to satisfy the necessities of each platforms.
Make sure to verify how your app works inside the app when utilizing totally different situations. That is very true for apps which can be associated to cell app growth for enterprise or comprise complicated performance. Even minor deviations can result in delays or failures in validation.
To keep away from issues, it’s value going via the checklists beforehand: ensure that your app asks for under the required permissions, comprises an up-to-date privateness coverage, and truthfully describes all performance within the retailer itemizing. Ideally, contain professionals within the course of to assist make sure 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 workforce is prepared that can assist you at any stage. We audit apps earlier than they’re printed, allow you to create a correct retailer itemizing, verify all of the features contained in the app, assess compliance with Google Play and Apple App Retailer necessities, and put together full documentation for app evaluation.
Due to our intensive expertise in cell app growth, we all know the way to put together the app in order that the moderation course of is as quick as attainable and with out pointless rejections.