By publishing to Google Play, you agree to adhere to our Developer Programme Policies and Developer Distribution Agreement.
Rejections, removals, suspensions and warnings
We recommend that you watch this video on How to handle a policy violation on Google Play which explains the various policy review outcomes. It gives some common examples of what might cause a violation and explains the next steps for getting your flagged app or game back on Google Play.
Rejections- Don't impact the standing of your Google Play Developer account.
- If an update to an existing app is rejected, the version published prior to the update will still be available on Google Play.
Note: Until a policy violation has been fixed, don't republish a rejected app.
- Don't immediately impact the standing of your Google Play Developer account, although multiple removals may result in a suspension.
- Once your app is removed, the published version of your app won't be available on Google Play until a compliant update is submitted.
- Your users, statistics and ratings will be retained once you submit a compliant update for a removed app.
- Your subscribers will have their future subscriptions cancelled. Past subscriptions will not be refunded.
Note: Until a policy violation has been fixed, don't republish a removed app.
- Count as strikes against the good standing of your Google Play Developer account.
- Egregious or multiple policy violations can result in suspension, as can repeated app rejections or removals.
After a suspension
Once your app is suspended, you forfeit the users, statistics and ratings of the removed application. If your developer credentials are still in good standing with Google Play and if your app allows for it, you can publish a new compliant version of the application.
- Don't impact the standing of your Google Play Developer account. However, your app will be removed after the number of days found in the initial warning email.
- Once your app is removed, the published version of your app won't be available on Google Play until you submit a compliant update. If your app has been suspended after receiving a warning, an appeal is required.
- Your users, statistics and ratings will be retained once you submit a compliant update for a removed app.
Note: Until you’ve addressed the policy violation listed in your warning email, don't republish a removed app.
Google Play Protect
Google Play Protect is Google's built-in malware protection for Android. It protects users against potentially harmful apps (PHAs), which may include apps that have been removed or suspended from Google Play.
If your app has been removed or suspended from Google Play, its users may receive a push notification from Google Play Protect informing them of this change and giving them the option to remove the app from their device. Users will also have the option to keep the app.
For more information, go to Google Play Protect.
Resubmit your app following a policy violation
If Google Play contacts you regarding a policy violation, you may be able to correct the issue yourself and resubmit your app.
Here's how to resubmit your app following a policy violation:
- Read through the relevant policy noted in the enforcement message for more details (you will have received a Play Console inbox message and an email with information about the policy or policies that your app violated).
- Note: Also check that your app is compliant with all other Google Play Developer Programme Policies. Additional enforcement could occur if there are further policy violations.
- Make the appropriate changes to your app and update all release types in addition to your production release (for example, the open, closed and internal test track releases).
- Open Play Console and upload the modified, policy-compliant app bundle across all tracks, and deactivate the non-compliant app bundle(s).
- Important: If you fail to deactivate the non-compliant app bundle(s), your attempt to resubmit your app will fail, and live versions of your app bundle(s) may be removed from Google Play.
- Click Manage track and Create new release.
- If the release with the violating app bundles is in a draft state, discard the release. Otherwise, add the policy-compliant version of app bundles.
- Make sure that the non-compliant version is under the 'Not included' section of this release.
- Enter a release name and click Save. Once saved, click Review release and then roll out the release to 100%.
- If the non-compliant versions are released to multiple tracks, repeat Step 4 in each track.
Tip: If you need more information about releases, go to Prepare and roll out a release.
Appeals
You can appeal your app’s removal from Google Play. We will reinstate apps in appropriate circumstances, including if an error was made and we find that your app does not violate the Google Play Developer Programme Policies and Developer Distribution Agreement.
Note:
- Although we may send removal emails in your app's default language, we can only respond to appeals in Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean at this time.
- If you misuse our appeals process, including sending abusive or inappropriate communications to our support teams, you may become ineligible for further email support. If you become ineligible for email support, we will notify you and provide additional details to you via email.
Related content
- Learn more about Google Play's policies in Play Academy.
