Policy announcement: July 17, 2024 (2024)

You’ll have at least 30 days from July 17, 2024 to update your app to comply with the policy changes below. For more details, go to the Policy Deadlines page.

New and updated policies

• We’re requiring developers providing the following services to register as an Organization: financial products and services, health, VPN, and government. This is to promote transparency and continuity for critical and sensitive services. This update will roll out to new developer accounts first. Existing developers will receive more information later this year.
• We’re updating the Spam and Minimum Functionality policy to ensure apps meet uplifted standards for the Play catalog and engage users through quality functionality and content user experiences.

Additionally, we’ve added clarifications to some of our existing policies. Because these changes aren’t new or updated, our enforcement standards and practices remain the same.

• We’re updating the SDK Requirements page with additional examples of SDK-caused policy violations for Spyware and Foreground Services.
• We’re updating our Malware policy to clarify that app developers must remove third-party code (such as SDKs) from their apps if the code's provider is known to distribute malicious software.
• We're updating our Permissions Policy for Personal Loans to clarify that Earned Wage Access (EWA) applications fall within its scope and are prohibited from accessing sensitive permissions.
• We’re clarifying the scope of our inappropriate content policy to cover all products containing nicotine (such as non-tobacco nicotine and nicotine pouches) and adding an exception for products marketed as nicotine cessation aids subject to age-gating safeguards.
• We're clarifying our Enforcement Process page with more explanation on our enforcement actions.
• We’re adding an exception to the Use of SMS or Call Log permission groups for System services.Learn more
• We’ve updated the list of CALL_LOG permission group exceptions to support banking and brokerage apps facilitation of secure financial transaction calls on the device.Learn more

Reminders

• Starting August 31, 2024, new apps and app update submissions must target Android 14 (API level 34), except for Wear and TV OS apps, which must target Android 13 (API level 33) or higher. Existing apps must target Android 13 (API level 33) or higher to remain available to new users on devices running Android OS higher than your app's target API level. To save time and effort, you can use the new SDK Upgrade Assistant in Android Studio. You will also be able to request an extension until November 1, 2024 if you need more time to update your app. Learn more
• Last October, we introduced the Photo and Video Permissions policy to reduce the number of apps permitted to request broad photo/video permissions (READ_MEDIA_IMAGES and READ_MEDIA_VIDEO).Starting October 31, 2024,apps may only access photos and videos for purposes directly related to app functionality. Apps that have a one-time or infrequent need to access these files are requested to use a system picker, such as the Android photo picker. Learn more
• For applications requesting access to any Health Connect permissions, starting August 31, 2024, the existing form-based application will be replaced with a new Play Console declaration.
• Please note that the Google Play Families Self-Certified Ads SDK Program will accept new applicants until October 31, 2024, after which the application window will close. The application window will reopen in 2025. Guidelines will be announced here at a later date. Current participants and their program compliance requirements will remain unchanged.
• For apps using USE_FULL_SCREEN_INTENT permission and targeting Android 14+, you are now required to complete the Play Console declaration to indicate if your app has a permitted core functionality and qualifies for automatic granting. Starting October 31, 2024, those not approved will need to prompt users to grant permission on new installs and gracefully adjust the experience if denied.