play-policy-2026

Critical Play Store rules (2025–2026)

Metadata

• Title max 30 characters (enforced — submission rejected if exceeded)
• Short description max 80 characters
• Full description max 4000 characters
• No keyword stuffing — repeated keywords in title/description is a policy violation
• Icons and screenshots must accurately represent the app — no mockups of features that don't exist
• No "Download now" or CTAs in screenshot overlay text
• No emojis in the app title

New requirements in 2025–2026

• AI-generated content must be declared in App Content → AI-generated content section
• Financial features declaration required for any app mentioning money, investments, banking, or crypto — even informational apps
• Closed testing with 12+ testers required for 14 days before open testing for new personal developer accounts (accounts registered after November 2023)
• Developer identity verification mandatory for all new accounts and prompted for many existing accounts
• Real-time location (background location) access requires prominent in-app disclosure and a separate permission
• Health Connect integration requires additional data safety declarations for each data type accessed

Data Safety section (required for all apps)

Every app must complete the Data Safety form:

• Declare every data type collected — even analytics-only data (device identifiers, crash logs)
• Declare if data is shared with third parties (ad networks, analytics SDKs)
• Declare if data is encrypted in transit and at rest
• Declare if users can request data deletion
• Incomplete or inaccurate Data Safety = removal risk

Rating system

• Use IARC rating questionnaire in Play Console — answer all questions honestly
• Wrong or missing rating = app removal
• Apps with violent, adult, or gambling content must be correctly rated
• Re-rate after adding new features that change content type

Payments policy

• All in-app purchases for digital goods must use Google Play Billing
• No directing users to external payment for digital goods or subscriptions
• Physical goods and services are exempt (e.g., food delivery, ride-sharing, hotel booking)
• Free trials: terms must be shown before user subscribes; cancellation instructions must be accessible

Sensitive permissions

• Camera: must state use clearly in listing and privacy policy
• Background location: requires prominent disclosure, cannot be bundled with foreground location request
• Contacts: cannot be collected without clear stated purpose
• READ_CALL_LOG / READ_SMS: restricted — only approved apps in specific categories may request these