Central Play Resource

Restricted Content

Expand all Collapse all

Child Endangerment

Policy Center Articles : Child Endangerment

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Best practices for your store listing

Play Academy Courses: 

• Understand content appropriateness standards for teacher-approved apps
• Build Teacher Approved apps for Google Play

Additional Resources: Google Play Policy - Restricted Content

Inappropriate Content

Sexual Content and Profanity Policy

Policy Center Articles : Sexual Content and Profanity

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Understanding moderation requirements and incidental sexual content in UGC apps

Play Academy Courses: Select your target audience and content settings

Hate Speech

Policy Center Articles : Hate Speech

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Manage target audience and app content settings

Play Academy Courses: Understand content appropriateness standards for teacher-approved apps

Violence

Policy Center Articles: Violence

Violent Extremism

Policy Center Articles : Violent Extremism

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Advocacy of Real-World Terrorism

Play Academy Courses: Restricted Content Play Policy Video

Additional Resources: Google Play Policy - Restricted Content

Sensitive Events

Policy Center Articles: Sensitive Events

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Potentially Offensive Language

Bullying and Harrassment

Policy Center Articles:  Bullying and Harassment

Dangerous Products

Policy Center Articles: Dangerous Products

Marijuana

Policy Center Articles: Marijuana

Tobacco and Alcohol

Policy Center Articles: Tobacco and Alcohol

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Tobacco

Financial Services

Binary Options

Policy Center Articles: Binary Options

Personal loans

Policy Center Articles: Personal loans

Real-Money Gambling, Games, and Contests

Policy Center Articles: Real-Money Gambling, Games, and Contests

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Random Prizes

Play Academy Courses: Maximize game revenue with price discrimination

Gambling Apps

Policy Center Articles: Gambling Apps

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Random Prizes

Play Academy Courses: Get started with rewarded ads for mobile games

Other Real-Money Games, Contests, and Tournament Apps

Policy Center Articles: Other Real-Money Games, Contests, and Tournament Apps

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Google Play games services features

Play Academy Courses: Set up games reporting in Google Analytics

Other Real-Money Game Pilots

Policy Center Articles: Other Real-Money Game Pilots

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Google Play game services statistics

Play Academy Courses:  Analyze your data with games reporting in Google Analytics

Gamified Loyalty Programs

Policy Center Articles: Gamified Loyalty Programs

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Manage blocked Games Services features

Ads for Gambling or Real-Money Games, Contests, and Tournaments within Play-distributed Apps

Policy Center Articles:  Ads for Gambling or Real-Money Games, Contests, and Tournaments within Play-distributed Apps

Play Console Help Center Support Articles:  Ending support for multiplayer APIs in Play Games Services

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Apps

Policy Center Articles: Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Apps

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Country/region allowances for gambling apps

Illegal Activities

Policy Center Articles: Illegal Activities

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: 

• Illegal or recreational drugs
• Violence Towards Vulnerable or Defenseless Characters
• Nazi Symbols or References
• Interactive Use of Illegal Drugs

User Generated Content

Policy Center Articles: User Generated Content

Play Academy Courses: Comply with Google Play’s UGC policy

Incidental Sexual Content

Policy Center Articles: Incidental Sexual Content

Health Content and Services

Policy Center Articles:  Health Content and Services

Health Apps

Policy Center Articles:  Health Apps

Health Connect Data

Policy Center Articles: Health Connect Data

Prescription Drugs

Policy Center Articles:  Prescription Drugs

Play Console Help Center Support Articles:  Prepare your app for review

Play Academy Courses:  Best practices for COVID-19 apps

Additional Resources:  Best practices for COVID-19 apps | Google Play PolicyBytes India

Unapproved Substances

Policy Center Articles:  Unapproved Substances

Play Console Help Center Support Articles:  Requirements for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) apps

Health Misinformation

Policy Center Articles:  Health Misinformation

Play Console Help Center Support Articles:  Health Connect policy requirement FAQs

Medical Functionalities

Policy Center Articles:  Medical Functionalities

Payments - Clinical Services

Policy Center Articles: Payments - Clinical Services

Blockchain-based Content

Policy Center Articles: Blockchain-based Content

Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Software Wallets

Policy Center Articles: Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Software Wallets

Cryptomining

Policy Center Articles: Cryptomining

Transparency Requirements for Distributing Tokenized Digital Assets

Policy Center Articles: Transparency Requirements for Distributing Tokenized Digital Assets

Additional Requirements for NFT Gamification

Policy Center Articles: Additional Requirements for NFT Gamification

AI-Generated Content

Policy Center Articles: AI-Generated Content

Intellectual Property

Expand all Collapse all

Intellectual Property

Policy Center Articles: Intellectual Property

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Requirements for news and news-related apps

Play Academy Courses: Introduction to Intellectual Property

Additional Resources: Google Play Policy - Intellectual Property (IP)

Unauthorized Use of Copyrighted Content

Policy Center Articles: Unauthorized Use of Copyrighted Content

Encouraging Infringement of Copyright

Policy Center Articles: Encouraging Infringement of Copyright

Play Academy Courses: Intellectual Property (IP) Play Policy Video

Trademark Infringement

Policy Center Articles: Trademark Infringement

Counterfeit

Policy Center Articles: Counterfeit

Privacy, Deception and Device Abuse

Expand all Collapse all

User Data

Policy Center Articles: User Data

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Shares Personal Information

Play Academy Courses: Minimize your use of location data to protect user privacy

Additional Resources: Google Play Policy - Privacy, Deception and Device Abuse

Personal and Sensitive User Data

Policy Center Articles: Personal and Sensitive User Data

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Run price experiments to optimize in-app product prices

Data safety section

Policy Center Articles: Data safety section

Play Academy Courses: Disclosing user data deletion on the Data safety details page

Usage of App Set ID

Policy Center Articles: Usage of App Set ID

EU-U.S., Swiss Privacy Shield

Policy Center Articles: EU-U.S., Swiss Privacy Shield

Permissions and APIs that Access Sensitive Information

Policy Center Articles: Permissions and APIs that Access Sensitive Information

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Understanding foreground service and full-screen intent requirements

Play Academy Courses: Keep users informed with prominent disclosures

SMS and Call Log Permissions

Policy Center Articles: SMS and Call Log Permissions

Play Academy Courses: Background location permission policy

Location Permissions

Policy Center Articles: Location Permissions

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Displays User's Location to Others

Play Academy Courses: Understand the location permissions review process

All Files Access Permission

Policy Center Articles: All Files Access Permission

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Use of app permissions and APIs

Play Academy Courses: Understand Play Console permissions

Package (App) Visibility Permission

Policy Center Articles: Package (App) Visibility Permission

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Understanding Google Play's VpnService policy

Accessibility API

Policy Center Articles: Accessibility API

Request Install Packages Permission

Policy Center Articles: Request Install Packages Permission

Health Connect by Android Permissions

Policy Center Articles: Health Connect by Android Permissions

VPN Service

Policy Center Articles: VPN Service

Exact Alarm Permission

Policy Center Articles: Exact Alarm Permission

Additional Resources: New permission to use exact alarms

Full-Screen Intent Permission

Policy Center Articles: Full-Screen Intent Permission

Device and Network Abuse

Policy Center Articles: Device and Network Abuse

Play Academy Courses: Privacy, Deception and Device Abuse Play Policy Video

Additional Resources: Google Play Policy - Privacy, Deception and Device Abuse

Permissions for Foreground Services (FGS)

Policy Center Articles: Permissions for Foreground Services (FGS)

User-Initiated Data Transfer Jobs

Policy Center Articles: User-Initiated Data Transfer Jobs

Flag Secure Requirements

Policy Center Articles: Flag Secure Requirements

Apps that Run On-device Android Containers

Policy Center Articles: Apps that Run On-device Android Containers

Deceptive Behavior

Policy Center Articles: Deceptive Behavior

Play Academy Courses: Comply with Google Play's deceptive behavior policies

Misleading Claims

Policy Center Articles: Misleading Claims

Deceptive Device Settings Changes

Policy Center Articles: Deceptive Device Settings Changes

Enabling Dishonest Behavior

Policy Center Articles: Enabling Dishonest Behavior

Manipulated Media

Policy Center Articles: Manipulated Media

Behavior Transparency

Policy Center Articles: Behavior Transparency

Misrepresentation

Policy Center Articles: Misrepresentation

Play Academy Courses: Impersonation Play Policy Video

Additional Resources: Google Play Policy - Impersonation

Google Play's Target API Level Policy

Policy Center Articles: Google Play's Target API Level Policy

Play Console Help Center Support Articles:

Target API level requirements for Google Play apps

Use of the AccessibilityService API

Use the Play Integrity API to detect risky interactions and fight abuse

SDK Requirements

Policy Center Articles: SDK Requirements

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Using SDKs safely and securely

Play Academy Courses: Comply with Families policies SDK requirements for your app

User Data Policy

Policy Center Articles: User Data Policy

Play Academy Courses: Best practices for integrating SDKs into your app or game

Additional Resources: Best practices for integrating SDKs into your app or game

Permissions and APIs that Access Sensitive Information Policy

Policy Center Articles: Permissions and APIs that Access Sensitive Information Policy

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Using third-party SDKs in your app

Malware Policy

Policy Center Articles: Malware Policy

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Make informed choices with Google Play SDK Index

Mobile Unwanted Software Policy

Policy Center Articles: Mobile Unwanted Software Policy

Device and Network Abuse Policy

Policy Center Articles: Mobile Unwanted Software Policy

Deceptive Behavior Policy

Policy Center Articles: Deceptive Behavior Policy

Malware

Expand all Collapse all

Malware

Policy Center Articles: Malware

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: My app has been removed from Google Play

Play Academy Courses: Malware Play Policy Video

Additional Resources: Google Play Policy - Malware

Backdoors

Policy Center Articles: Backdoors

Play Academy Courses: Google Play PolicyBytes - Spring 2020 Policy Updates

Additional Resources: Google Play PolicyBytes - Spring 2020 Policy Updates

Billing Fraud

Policy Center Articles: Billing Fraud

Stalkerware

Policy Center Articles: Stalkerware

Denial of Service (DoS)

Policy Center Articles: Denial of Service (DoS)

Hostile Downloaders

Policy Center Articles: Hostile Downloaders

Non-Android Threat

Policy Center Articles: Non-Android Threat

Phishing

Policy Center Articles: Phishing

Elevated Privilege Abuse

Policy Center Articles: Elevated Privilege Abuse

Ransomware

Policy Center Articles: Ransomware

Rooting

Policy Center Articles: Rooting

Spam

Policy Center Articles: Spam

Spyware

Policy Center Articles: Spyware

Trojan

Policy Center Articles: Trojan

A Note on Uncommon Apps

Policy Center Articles: A Note on Uncommon Apps

A Note on the Backdoor Category

Policy Center Articles: A Note on the Backdoor Category

Maskware

Policy Center Articles: Maskware

Impersonation

Expand all Collapse all

Impersonation

Policy Center Articles: Impersonation

Play Academy Courses: Impersonation Play Policy Video

Additional Resources: Google Play Policy - Impersonation

Mobile Unwanted Software

Expand all Collapse all

Mobile Unwanted Software

Policy Center Articles: Mobile Unwanted Software

Play Academy Courses: Mobile Unwanted Software (MUwS) Play Policy Video

Additional Resources: Google Play Policy - Mobile Unwanted Software (MUwS)

Hostile Downloaders

Policy Center Articles: Hostile Downloaders

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Report inappropriate reviews

Ad Fraud

Policy Center Articles: Ad Fraud

Unauthorized Use or Imitation of System Functionality

Policy Center Articles: Unauthorized Use or Imitation of System Functionality

Social Engineering

Policy Center Articles: Social Engineering

Monetization and Ads

Expand all Collapse all

Payments

Policy Center Articles: Payments

Play Console Help Center Support Articles:

• Understanding Google Play’s Payments policy
• Understanding user choice billing on Google Play
• Changes to Google Play's billing system for users in Russia and Belarus

Additional Resources:

• Google Play's billing system
• An update on Google Play billing in the EEA
• Alternative billing APIs

Ads

Policy Center Articles: Ads

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Advertising ID

Play Academy Courses: Made for Ads

Ad Content

Policy Center Articles: Ad Content

Play Academy Courses: Comply with Families Ads and Monetization Requirements

Inappropriate Ads

Policy Center Articles: Inappropriate Ads

Play Academy Courses: Monetization and Ads Play Policy Video

Additional Resources: Google Play Policy - Monetization and Ads

Families Ads Requirements

Policy Center Articles: Families Ads Requirements

Play Academy Courses: Set up and manage monetization options

Deceptive Ads

Policy Center Articles: Deceptive Ads

Disruptive Ads

Policy Center Articles: Disruptive Ads

Better Ads Experiences

Policy Center Articles: Better Ads Experiences

Made for Ads

Policy Center Articles: Made for Ads

Lockscreen Monetization

Policy Center Articles: Lockscreen Monetization

Ad Fraud

Policy Center Articles: Ad Fraud

Use of Location Data for Ads

Policy Center Articles: Use of Location Data for Ads

Usage of Android Advertising ID

Policy Center Articles: Usage of Android Advertising ID

Subscriptions

Policy Center Articles: Subscriptions

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Create and manage subscriptions

Free Trials & Introductory Offers

Policy Center Articles: Free Trials & Introductory Offers

Subscription Management, Cancellation & Refunds

Policy Center Articles: Subscription Management, Cancellation & Refunds

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Understanding subscriptions

Families Self-Certified Ads SDK Requirements

Policy Center Articles: Families Self-Certified Ads SDK Requirements

Play Console Help Center Support Articles:

Participate in the Families Self-Certified Ads SDK Program

Data practices in Families apps

Play Academy Courses: Comply with Families policies SDK requirements for your app

Store Listing and Promotion

Expand all Collapse all

App Promotion

Policy Center Articles: App Promotion

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Create promotions

Play Academy Courses: Boosting your app's growth with Promotional content

Metadata

Policy Center Articles: Metadata

User Ratings, Reviews, and Installs

Policy Center Articles: User Ratings, Reviews, and Installs

Play Console Help Center Support Articles:

View and analyze your app's ratings and reviews

Review your app's revenue and buyer data

View app statistics

Play Academy Courses:

Manage feedback, ratings, and reviews

Engage with user feedback to improve your app

Play Console: Ratings and reviews

Content Ratings

Policy Center Articles: Content Ratings

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Prepare your app for review

Play Academy Courses: Engage with user feedback

How content ratings are used

Policy Center Articles: How content ratings are used

Play Academy Courses: Test your app with users to get feedback

How content ratings are assigned

Policy Center Articles: How content ratings are assigned

Play Academy Courses: Store Listing and Promotion Play Policy Video

Additional Resources: Google Play Policy - Store Listing and Promotion

Rating appeals

Policy Center Articles: Rating appeals

Play Academy Courses: Create a Google Play Store listing

News

Policy Center Articles: News

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Requirements for news and news-related apps

Spam and Minimum Functionality

Expand all Collapse all

Spam

Policy Center Articles: Spam

Play Academy Courses: Spam and Minimum Functionality Play Policy Video

Message Spam

Policy Center Articles: Message Spam

Play Academy Courses: Webview Spam

Webviews and Affiliate Spam

Policy Center Articles: Webviews and Affiliate Spam

Play Academy Courses: Messaging Spam

Repetitive Content

Policy Center Articles: Repetitive Content

Play Academy Courses: Affiliate Spam

Minimum Functionality

Policy Center Articles: Functionality, Content, and User Experience

Play Academy Courses: Comply with Google Play's Spam and Minimum Functionality policies

Broken Functionality

Policy Center Articles: Broken Functionality

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Helpful tips to get your app published on Google Play

Play Academy Courses: Functionality, Content, and User Experience

Other Programs

Expand all Collapse all

Android Instant Apps

Policy Center Articles: Android Instant Apps

Identity

Policy Center Articles: Identity

Link Support

Policy Center Articles: Link Support

Technical Specifications

Policy Center Articles: Technical Specifications

Offering App Installation

Policy Center Articles: Offering App Installation

Play Academy Courses: Track installs, uninstalls, trends and engagement with Play Console statistics

Changing Device State

Policy Center Articles: Changing Device State

App Visibility

Policy Center Articles: App Visibility

Play Academy Courses: Fix issues with your app's visibility

Device Identifiers

Policy Center Articles: Device Identifiers

Play Academy Courses: Use a pre-launch report to identify issues

Network traffic

Policy Center Articles: Network traffic

Android Emoji Policy

Policy Center Articles: Android Emoji Policy

Families

Expand all Collapse all

Google Play Families Policies

Policy Center Articles: Google Play Families Policies

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Participate in the Teacher Approved Program

Play Academy Courses: Understand Google Play's Families policies

Play Console Requirements

Policy Center Articles: Play Console Requirements

Families Policy Requirements

Policy Center Articles: Families Policy Requirements

Play Academy Courses: Comply with Families policies and program requirements

Ads and Monetization

Policy Center Articles: Ads and Monetization

Play Academy Courses:

Comply with Families policies SDK requirements for your app
Comply with Families Ads and Monetization Requirements

Families Self-Certified Ads SDK Policy

Policy Center Articles: Families Self-Certified Ads SDK Policy

Enforcement

Expand all Collapse all

Policy Coverage

Policy Center Articles: Policy Coverage

Play Academy Courses:

Google Play Policy
How to handle a policy violation on Google Play Video

Enforcement Process

Policy Center Articles: Enforcement Process

Managing and Reporting Policy Violations

Policy Center Articles: Managing Policy Violations and Appeals

Play Console Help Center Support Articles: Check your app’s policy status

Play Academy Courses: Manage policy violations

Play Console Requirements

Policy Center Articles: Play Console Requirements

Play Academy Courses: Play Console features