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 essentially 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 best way 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 the planet. Greater than 3 billion energetic units, and thousands and thousands of potential customers — sounds like several developer’s dream.
Nevertheless, due to its enormous viewers, Google is particularly attentive to software safety, knowledge safety, and stability. The slightest violations and the publication is rejected. That’s why it’s vital to know prematurely what necessities Google Play imposes on purposes and the best way to move 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, remember the fact 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 growing however will change into essential whereas checking.
Google Play Console: Account and Undertaking Preparation
Earlier than importing an software, you might want to correctly arrange a developer account and put together fundamental details about the undertaking. 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 might want to register a Google Play Developer Account. You possibly can create it as a person or as a corporation — if the appliance 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 identification of the developer and the accuracy of the information offered. Errors or inaccuracies at this stage might lead to 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 sound e-mail handle 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 consumer 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 (really useful)
Though it’s not but a compulsory requirement, Google is actively selling the usage of the Play Integrity API. It helps shield 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: 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 many 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, decreasing obtain measurement and enhancing efficiency. For those who’re nonetheless utilizing the previous APK format, it’s time to modify.
Goal API Stage: 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 degree
- There are separate deadlines for updates, which Google publishes prematurely
- 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 accessible right here:
Goal API degree 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 (Software Not Responding)
- Crashes and crashes throughout launch or runtime
- Compatibility points with totally different units
To attenuate such dangers:
- All the time check the app on actual units, masking totally different Android variations and configurations
- Use Firebase App Distribution to distribute check variations inside the workforce or to a restricted group of customers
- Combine Firebase Crashlytics to gather real-time crash knowledge
These instruments let you proactively detect and repair bugs earlier than submitting your app to Google Play.
Permissions: Minimal Mandatory Entry
Permissions are one of the crucial delicate areas for Google moderators:
- Request solely these permissions which can be truly essential for the appliance to work
- Any entry to location, digicam, reminiscence, contacts, SMS, calls, and different delicate knowledge should be justified
- When submitting for publication, Google would require you to clarify the aim for utilizing every requested permission
- Requesting unreasonable permissions is a typical motive for denial or extra assessment
App Content material, Pricing, Metadata: Filling within the Software Data
When the construct is prepared and uploaded, the subsequent vital 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 knowledge, and design the app’s pages within the retailer.
Description of the Software — Honesty and Consistency With Performance
The applying description ought to mirror its precise performance as precisely as potential. You will need to keep away from conditions when the outline claims options that aren’t current within the software or work otherwise than acknowledged — this is among the frequent causes for rejection throughout moderation.
The textual content needs to be clear, skilled, and trustworthy, with out extreme advertising guarantees or exaggerations. Google pays specific consideration to probably 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 spammy or irrelevant phrases might lead to extra scrutiny or rejection of the publication.
Media content material (Screenshots, Icons, Movies)
All visible supplies — screenshots, icons, movies — should precisely exhibit the precise operation of the appliance. Using photos that mislead the consumer or don’t mirror the precise performance is unacceptable.
Google fastidiously checks screenshots for accuracy, prohibited, offensive, or inappropriate content material, and compliance with normal design necessities.
For instance, textual content in screenshots mustn’t take up the vast majority of the picture — the main focus needs to be on the appliance 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 include malicious, offensive, or unlawful content material, violate copyrights, or use misleading monetization and knowledge 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 contains monetization of digital content material, all funds should undergo the official Google Play Billing fee system — the usage of third-party fee techniques is prohibited on this case.
Failure to adjust to these necessities might outcome not solely within the rejection of the publication but in addition within the full removing of the app from the shop.
Pricing
If the appliance is distributed on a industrial foundation, it’s essential to specify the value prematurely. After publication, it will likely be rather more troublesome to alter the value of a free app to a paid model, so it is very important make this selection earlier than sending it for moderation.
For in-app monetization (buy of options, content material, subscriptions), all funds should be accurately arrange through Google Play Billing. Utilizing third-party fee techniques for digital content material is towards Google’s coverage and will result in publication rejection.
Information Security
The Information Security part is among the most delicate and completely checked by Google Play moderation. The developer should absolutely and truthfully specify all forms of consumer knowledge that the app collects: private, technical, location, and another knowledge.
It’s also essential to tell whether or not this knowledge 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 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 move a content material score questionnaire. All solutions within the questionnaire should be correct and truthful. If the app incorporates 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 target market is specified individually within the questionnaire. If the appliance is geared 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 extra checks. It’s not really useful to pick a broader viewers “simply in case” — this may increasingly additionally set off extra checks from Google.
Evaluation 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 best way 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 particular target market, 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.
Making ready for Attainable Rejection
Even with correct preparation, an app could be rejected — attributable to rule updates or outcomes of automated checks. After rejection, the developer receives an e 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 particular motive 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 explanation for the denial, Google’s letter might confer with particular paperwork from the official documentation — these references ought to all the time be studied to know 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 type for this goal.
You will need to describe the essence of the scenario in as a lot element and clearly as potential, connect screenshots, movies and another supplies that may verify the corrections or compliance of the appliance with the foundations of the platform.
The extra particular and clear your attraction is, the upper the probabilities for a fast and optimistic choice. In advanced and controversial instances, you may contact a separate Google help workforce through the Coverage Help type.
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 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 of restoration.
High Causes for Google Play Retailer Rejection
Many apps are turned down throughout Google Play moderation even with nice planning.
Listed below are the primary causes it is best to pay particular consideration to:
Privateness and Information Assortment Violations
- Incomplete or inaccurate knowledge in Information Security
- Lacking or incorrect Privateness Coverage
- Unreported third-party SDKs
- Unreasonable knowledge assortment functions
Deceptive Metadata
- Promising non-existent skills
- Exaggerated wording
- Inaccurate screenshots
- Key phrase spamming
Delicate Permissions
- Requesting unreasonable permissions (location, contacts, digicam, 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, photos, movies
- Infringement of logos and types
- Copying interfaces or ideas of different purposes
Easy methods to 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:
- Be sure you check the app on actual units. Bugs on totally different fashions typically pop up throughout testing.
- Run the checks through Google Play Console. Pre-launch Report will show you how to discover vital bugs prematurely: 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 primary sections — privateness, permissions, knowledge assortment, age restrictions, and so forth.
- Test the Information Security part. All knowledge that the app collects, transmits, or processes — should 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 you’re solely asking for the appropriate permissions. No “simply in case” — each permission should be justified.
Technical Stability:
- Join Firebase Crashlytics. It would show you how to catch and shortly repair software failures.
- Use Firebase App Distribution for workforce testing. This fashion you’ll 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 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 right age class and target market. You don’t want to pick a wider viewers — there is no such thing as a want for pointless verification.
Within the Case of a Rejection:
- Learn the Google e mail fastidiously. Typically, vital 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 assessment to the Apple App Retailer or Google Play, it is necessary not solely to move the necessary performance verify but in addition to deal with assembly the necessities of the platforms prematurely.
Correct design of retailer itemizing, preparation of appropriate app icon, description of app content material, establishing fee techniques, and privateness — all this impacts how easily the app assessment will go.
On the stage of preparation for publication, attempt to completely check your app on totally different units to make it possible for it really works stably in numerous circumstances. This can show you how to detect potential bugs prematurely and keep away from disagreeable surprises after the discharge.
It’s also price ensuring that your app meets all the present platform necessities: from the API degree to the foundations of consumer knowledge processing. For those who plan to launch not solely on iOS but in addition on Android, take care to fulfill the necessities of each platforms.
Be sure you verify how your app works inside the app when utilizing totally different eventualities. That is very true for apps which can be associated to cellular app improvement for enterprise or include 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: be certain your app asks for under the required 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 make sure that your app is absolutely prepared for publication and meets all necessities.
For those who 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, show you how to create a correct retailer itemizing, verify 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 assessment.
Due to our intensive expertise in cellular app improvement, we all know the best way to put together the app in order that the moderation course of is as quick as potential and with out pointless rejections.
