The variety of Google Play moderation rejections has been steadily rising 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 essentially the most up-to-date suggestions on getting ready for publication: what to think about earlier than submitting an app for moderation, what errors most frequently trigger rejection, and easy methods to work successfully with Google tech help if rejection does happen.
Why Getting on Google Play App Retailer Issues
Android is among the hottest cellular platforms on this planet. Greater than 3 billion lively gadgets, and hundreds of thousands of potential customers — sounds like several developer’s dream.
Nevertheless, due to its enormous viewers, Google is particularly attentive to utility 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 purposes and easy methods to move moderation the primary time.
Step-by-Step: How you can Publish an App on the Google Play Retailer
Even if in case you have beforehand had the expertise of releasing an iOS app, remember the fact that Google has a distinct algorithm that require particular consideration. Additionally, there could also be elements of the app that won’t be apparent whereas growing however will become essential whereas checking.
Google Play Console: Account and Undertaking Preparation
Earlier than importing an utility, you might want to correctly arrange a developer account and put together fundamental details about the venture. This step appears easy, however it’s usually the place the place potential causes for app rejection throughout moderation are laid down.
Developer account
To publish in Google Play, you might want to register a Google Play Developer Account. You may 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.
Throughout the registration course of, Google verifies the identification of the developer and the accuracy of the info offered. Errors or inaccuracies at this stage could end in account rejection, making it not possible to publish purposes.
Developer Web page
The developer profile should embrace:
- The precise title of the corporate or developer
- A sound 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 broadcast privateness coverage, particularly if it collects or processes consumer information (which just about any app does now).
Your coverage ought to:
- Totally 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 through 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 (really useful)
Though it’s not 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 combination of this API is an efficient sign for moderation to concentrate to safety.
APK/AAB: Making 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 necessary for publishing new apps to Google Play. It permits Google to dynamically construct optimized APKs for every consumer’s gadget, lowering obtain measurement and bettering efficiency. When you’re nonetheless utilizing the outdated APK format, it’s time to modify.
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 motive for the denial of publication
An up to date record of goal API necessities is at all times out there right here:
Goal API stage necessities
Stability Examine: Actual-world Testing
Google pays particular consideration to utility stability. Moderation could 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 reduce such dangers:
- At all times check the app on actual gadgets, masking totally different Android variations and configurations
- Use Firebase App Distribution to distribute check variations throughout the group 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 Essential Entry
Permissions are probably the most 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 information have to be justified
- When submitting for publication, Google would require you to clarify the aim for utilizing every requested permission
- Requesting unreasonable permissions is a standard motive for denial or further overview
App Content material, Pricing, Metadata: Filling within the Software Info
When the construct is prepared and uploaded, the following 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 manner 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 appliance description ought to replicate its precise performance as precisely as doable. You will need to keep away from conditions when the outline claims options that aren’t current within the utility or work in a different way than said — this is among the frequent causes for rejection throughout moderation.
The textual content ought to be clear, skilled, and sincere, with out extreme advertising guarantees or exaggerations. Google pays explicit consideration to probably 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 by spammy or irrelevant phrases could end in 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 pictures that mislead the consumer or don’t replicate the precise performance is unacceptable.
Google fastidiously checks screenshots for accuracy, prohibited, offensive, or inappropriate content material, and compliance with basic design necessities.
For instance, textual content in screenshots mustn’t take up the vast majority of the picture — the main target ought to 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 could 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 methods is prohibited on this case.
Failure to adjust to these necessities could 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 worth upfront. After publication, it is going to be rather more tough to alter the worth 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 methods for digital content material is towards Google’s coverage and should result in publication rejection.
Knowledge Security
The Knowledge Security part is among the most delicate and totally checked by Google Play moderation. The developer should absolutely and truthfully specify all kinds of consumer information that the app collects: private, technical, location, and some other information.
Additionally it is mandatory 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 knowledge.
As well as, it’s 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 Ranking Questionnaire
Each app printed on Google Play should move a content material ranking questionnaire. All solutions within the questionnaire have to be correct and truthful. If the app incorporates user-generated content material (e.g., chats, boards, social options), inner promoting, or offers with delicate matters, this could at all times be thought-about when deciding on 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 geared toward youngsters, it’s topic to a particular Program for households with particular and stricter necessities.
If the target market is grownup customers, you will need to specify this appropriately to keep away from pointless restrictions or further checks. It’s not really useful to pick out a broader viewers “simply in case” — this will additionally set off further checks from Google.
Overview 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 easy methods to act in case of rejection.
Moderation Timeframe
Software validation can take anyplace from a couple of hours to 3-7 enterprise days. If in case you have advanced performance, delicate permissions, or a selected target market, the method could take longer. Google doesn’t set a hard and fast timeframe — the extra advanced the app, the longer the moderation course of will take.
Making ready for Doable Rejection
Even with correct preparation, an app could be rejected — as a consequence of rule updates or outcomes of computerized checks. After rejection, the developer receives an electronic mail and a notification in Play Console. You will need to analyze the e-mail fastidiously: the usual textual content is commonly supplemented with a selected motive for rejection. The most typical causes are:
- Non-compliance with the required Goal API Stage;
- Unreasonable permissions are requested;
- Errors or incompleteness within the privateness coverage;
- Underestimated age ranking or errors within the target market questionnaire;
- The said performance within the description doesn’t correspond to the precise performance.
Along with the rationale for the denial, Google’s letter could confer 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 Assist and Moderation Guidelines
In case your utility is rejected, however you’re positive that the rejection is unjustified — there’s at all times a possibility to problem the choice. Google Play Console has a particular attraction type for this function.
You will need to describe the essence of the scenario in as a lot element and clearly as doable, connect screenshots, movies and some other supplies that may verify 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 advanced and controversial circumstances, you’ll be able to contact a separate Google help group through the Coverage Assist type.
The principle 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 by the server.
For such actions Google applies the hardest sanctions: not solely rejects the publication, however may also fully block the developer’s account with deletion of all printed purposes with out the potential of 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 primary causes it’s best to pay particular consideration to:
Privateness and Knowledge Assortment Violations
- Incomplete or inaccurate information in Knowledge 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 clarify the aim of every permission
- Makes an attempt to realize extreme entry to the gadget 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, pictures, movies
- Infringement of logos and types
- Copying interfaces or ideas of different purposes
How you can Keep away from Rejection
So as to move 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:
- You’ll want to check the app on actual gadgets. Bugs on totally different fashions usually pop up throughout testing.
- Run the checks through Google Play Console. Pre-launch Report will enable you to discover crucial bugs upfront: crashes, hangs, and efficiency points.
- Use check tracks in Google Play: inner, 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 supplies helpful lists for the primary sections — privateness, permissions, information assortment, age restrictions, and so forth.
- Examine the Knowledge Security part. All information that the app collects, transmits, or processes — have to be sincere and detailed.
- Replace the Privateness Coverage. It ought to be full, updated, at a working hyperlink, with no redirects or “404 Not Discovered”.
- Be sure you’re solely asking for the proper permissions. No “simply in case” — each permission have to be justified.
Technical Stability:
- Join Firebase Crashlytics. It would enable you to catch and rapidly repair utility failures.
- Use Firebase App Distribution for group testing. This manner you’ll 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. The whole lot 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 lovely however unrealistic promo supplies.
- Specify the proper age class and target market. You don’t want to pick out a wider viewers — there is no such thing as a want for pointless verification.
Within the Case of a Rejection:
- Learn the Google electronic mail fastidiously. 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.
Last Ideas
Earlier than submitting your app for overview to the Apple App Retailer or Google Play, it is crucial not solely to move the necessary performance verify but in addition to care for assembly the necessities of the platforms upfront.
Correct design of retailer itemizing, preparation of appropriate app icon, description of app content material, establishing cost methods, and privateness — all this impacts how easily the app overview will go.
On the stage of preparation for publication, attempt to totally check your app on totally different gadgets to ensure that it really works stably in several circumstances. This may enable you to detect doable bugs upfront and keep away from disagreeable surprises after the discharge.
Additionally it is price ensuring that your app meets all the present platform necessities: from the API stage to the principles of consumer information processing. When you plan to launch not solely on iOS but in addition on Android, take care to fulfill the necessities of each platforms.
You’ll want to verify how your app works throughout the app when utilizing totally different eventualities. That is very true for apps which are associated to cellular app growth for enterprise or comprise advanced performance. Even minor deviations can result in delays or failures in validation.
To keep away from issues, it’s price going by the checklists beforehand: make sure that your app asks for less than the mandatory permissions, incorporates an up-to-date privateness coverage, and truthfully 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.
When you don’t need to perceive all of the nuances your self, the SCAND group is prepared that will help you at any stage. We audit apps earlier than they’re printed, enable 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 overview.
Due to our in depth expertise in cellular app growth, we all know easy methods to put together the app in order that the moderation course of is as quick as doable and with out pointless rejections.
