The Google Play Store has some very strict rules for app listings and updates. Therefore, before listing or updating your app, I strongly recommend that you carefully read the guidelines in the Google Play Developer Policy Center and the Google Play Policy Update.
Even if you carefully read the relevant policies and guidelines, you may not be able to completely avoid your app being rejected on Google Play or when it is updated on Google Play. Previously, we analyzed why apps are rejected by the Apple store, and this time, we summarized the possible reasons and solutions for apps rejected in the Google Play store.
First, let's take a look at the various results of the Google Play policy review.
1. Google Play review results
1. Rejection
If the update of an existing application is rejected, the version released before this update will still be available on Google Play, so don't panic. Rejected updates to existing apps will also not put your Google Play developer account in standing. It's important to note that a rejected app should not be republished until the policy violation has been resolved.
2. Removal from the shelves
Removal from the shelves is a serious situation. Once your app has been removed, the published version of your app will no longer be available on Google Play until you submit a policy-compliant update. In the meantime your subscribers will cancel their future subscriptions. When you submit a policy-compliant update to a removed app, your user count, statistics, and ratings will be restored. However, there are no refunds for previous subscriptions.
A single takedown will not have an immediate impact on the standing of your Google Play Developer account, but multiple takedowns may result in your account being suspended. Therefore, please do not republish a removed app until the policy violation has been resolved.
3. Suspension
Google Play will suspend your app for serious or repeated violations, or for repeated rejections or removals. If your app is suspended, you will lose the app's user count, stats, and ratings. This will be considered a strike on your Google Play developer account and therefore will put your account in good standing.
If your developer credentials are still in good standing with Google Play and applicable to your app, you can publish a new version of your app that is compliant.
4. Warn that
Google Play will remove your app after the number of days specified in the first warning email. Once an app is removed, users will not be able to download the published version of the app from Google Play until you submit a policy-compliant update. If your app is suspended after receiving a warning, you will need to file an appeal. When you submit a policy-compliant update to a removed app, your user count, statistics, and ratings will be restored.
Warnings do not affect the standing of your Google Play developer account.
2. Reasons and solutions for Google Play application rejection
The Google Play application review results have five statuses: passed, rejected, removed, suspended, and warned. If your app fails to go on the shelf or update smoothly, but encounters one of the situations of rejection, removal, suspension, and warning, then you need to understand some of the main reasons why Google may reject your app, and what you can do What measures can be taken to avoid such problems.
Reason 1: Inappropriate content
To ensure that Google Play remains a safe and civilized platform, Google has developed a set of standards to define harmful or inappropriate content for users and prohibit such content from appearing on Google Play. If the Android app you submit for review contains any restricted content, it will be directly rejected by the Google Play Store. Common inappropriate content includes:
Pornographic and profane content: Apps that contain or promote pornographic or profane content, including obscenity or any content or service that is sexually gratifying. Common types include sexually provocative poses in-app with characters in extremely scantily clad and/or inappropriately dressed public settings, store listings or content in the app that contain profanity, lewd language, explicit text, or adult/pornographic keywords.
Hate Speech: Apps that target individuals or Groups promote violence or incite hatred.
Violence: Primarily includes terrorist content and dangerous organizations and movements.
Sensitive events: Apps exploit or lack sensitivity to sensitive events with significant social, cultural, or political impact (for example, civil emergencies, natural disasters, public health emergencies, conflicts, deaths, or other tragic events).
Bullying and Harassment: App that contains threatening, harassing, or bullying content, or that facilitates threatening, harassing, or bullying behavior.
Dangerous Goods: Apps that facilitate the sale of explosives, firearms, ammunition, or specific firearm accessories.
Cannabis: Apps that facilitate the sale of cannabis or cannabis products.
Tobacco and Alcohol: Apps that facilitate the sale of tobacco, including e-cigarettes and pen vapes, or that encourage the illegal or inappropriate use of alcohol and tobacco.
solution:
Of all the inappropriate content above, the most common is that apps contain sexual content, especially some social or entertainment apps. Of course, there are some exceptions for app content: if your app content is mainly used for educational, documentary, scientific or artistic purposes, it is really necessary to include or promote it.
If your app is rejected for inappropriate content, you must make any necessary adjustments to your app, remove content restricted by the Google Play Store, and submit for review again. Do not submit for review repeatedly without rectification. Repeated violations may result in the permanent termination of your entire account from Google Play.
Reason 2: User Generated Content Guidelines Violation
User Generated Content (UGC) is content that users submit to an app and that is visible or accessible to at least some of your app's users. UGC content that is explicitly not allowed in the app includes pornography, harassment, bullying, etc. If your app contains such inappropriate or offensive content, and there is no comprehensive review, filtering and reporting mechanism, then your app is likely to be rejected when it is submitted for review.
solution:
If the app contains or features UGC, it is necessary to continuously implement a sound and effective UGC review mechanism:
Require users to accept the app's terms of use and/or user policy before creating or uploading UGC;
define objectionable content and behavior in accordance with the Google Play Developer Program Policies and prohibit such content and behavior in the app's terms of use or user policy .
Implement UGC moderation mechanisms in a reasonable and consistent manner for the types of UGC the app hosts;
in augmented reality (AR) apps, UGC moderation (including an in-app reporting system) must also take into account: Objectionable AR UGC (such as explicit pornographic AR images) and sensitive AR anchor locations (such as AR content anchoring to restricted areas such as military bases, or anchoring to private property where AR anchoring may cause problems for property owners).
Provide an in-app reporting system for reporting objectionable UGC and users and, where appropriate, take appropriate action against such UGC and/or users; provide an in-app system for blocking
UGC and users;
implement safeguards against Monetize within the app by encouraging objectionable user behavior.
Each developer can check whether their application has a complete and effective review mechanism one by one. Among all the review mechanisms, the most common reason for apps to be rejected by Google Play is the lack of a comprehensive reporting and blocking mechanism.
Reason 3: Inappropriate app content ratings
Content ratings on Google Play are provided by the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) to help developers display locally appropriate content ratings to users.
To receive a content rating, you must complete the rating questionnaire in the Play Console, which asks questions about the nature of your app's content. Based on your responses to the questionnaire, your app will be assigned a content rating from multiple rating agencies. Misrepresentation of app content may result in app removal or suspension.
In reality, many developers are trying to "cheat" Google Play in the questionnaire and lower the content rating so as to have more audiences. The final content rating was rejected inappropriately.
solution:
Google has an easy solution for this - you get a second chance to fill out the questionnaire. In the re-rating review, you should provide all the correct information about your app to help Google Play make a correct rating for your app to avoid being rejected again.
Reason 4: Incorrect Metadata
Google Play does not allow any app to contain misleading, malformed, non-descriptive, irrelevant, excessive or inappropriate metadata, including but not limited to the app's description, name, developer name , icons, screenshots, and promotional images. The following are examples of common metadata violations:
Unidentified or anonymous user testimonials: For example, take a good review from no source and include it in the description.
App or brand data comparison information: For example, say that your app is XX% better than competing apps.
Keyword stuffing
Use of all capital letters outside of the brand name
Use of special characters that are not relevant to the app
Use of emoticons, emoticons (including kaomoji) and special characters in the title or developer name
Use of misleading text or symbols
Images or videos that contain suggestive sexual content
App icons, promotional images, or videos that prominently depict graphic violence
Solutions:
If your app is rejected due to incorrect metadata, you should modify the metadata based on the specific rejection reason.
Reason 5: Intellectual Property Infringement
Google clearly stated that it does not allow any application or developer account to infringe on the intellectual property rights of others (including trademarks, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and other proprietary rights), nor does it allow any application to encourage or induce others to infringe intellectual property.
Google will respond whenever it receives clear notices or reports of alleged copyright infringement. If Google confirms that your app is infringing, your app will face removal.
solution:
To understand and deal with infringement issues, we can first look at what are the common infringement violations:
Unauthorized use of copyrighted content: such as music, movies, TV, anime, photos of public figures, etc.
Encouraging others to infringe copyrights: Allowing users to play and download copyrighted works online without authorization (Including Music and Video)
Trademark Infringement: Improper or unauthorized use of identical or similar trademarks that may create confusion as to the origin of related goods.
Counterfeiting: Selling or promoting counterfeit goods
The above are common acts of infringement and violation, each of which is easy to step on. For example, some video applications can use unauthorized music; some utility applications may "help" users download copyrighted audio and video;
If your app has any of the above conditions, it is at risk of being removed from the market at any time. You should make rectifications in a timely manner, such as obtaining authorization and removing unauthorized content, etc.
Reason 6: Lack of Privacy Policy
Google takes privacy and data very seriously, which is one of the main reasons why apps are rejected from the Google Play Store.
The following are privacy- or data-security-related reasons your app might be rejected by the Google Play Store:
Neither the Google Play Console nor the app submits a privacy policy.
Google does not recognize that your app uses appropriate encryption (such as HTTPS) to securely collect and store user data such as passwords, credit card numbers, medical records, etc.
Your privacy policy doesn't make it clear what data you're collecting.
Your privacy policy does not clearly state how the data collected is used.
It's hard for users to find your privacy policy.
Your app doesn't provide users with an option to consent or deny the collection of their data.
For citizens of the European Union and Switzerland, your app does not comply with the protections outlined in the Privacy Shield principles.
Your app interferes with the user's device in an unauthorized manner or accesses the device without requesting additional permissions, including but not limited to device location information, phone contacts, messages, and APIs.
solution:
What you need to do is make sure your app has a solid privacy policy that is acceptable to Google. If your app is blocked due to the privacy policy, please revise the policy again and republish.
Reason 7: The application lacks the most basic functions
The function of the application should be unique and provide value to the user. In addition, the application should at least provide users with basic functions and a normal and complete user experience. Apps that crash or otherwise behave impractical for their intended purpose may not be available on Google Play.
If your app has the following conditions, it may be rejected or removed from Google Play.
Apps that have no purpose or functionality
Apps that consistently crash, force close, freeze, or otherwise
misbehave Copy content from other apps without adding any original content or value
Build multiple apps with highly similar functionality, content, and user experience
The app repeatedly displays interstitial ads that interfere with the user's ability to interact with the app and perform in-app tasks
Solutions:
Make sure your app works and provides valuable content or functionality to users.
Reason 8: Design Quality Issues
If your app follows the correct design guidelines, you don't need to worry about rejection. Google's design guidelines describe all the basic principles needed to build an app UI, and you should follow the rules to design your app. Make sure your app's fonts, colors, graphics, etc. are designed according to Google's guidelines, otherwise your app may be rejected.
solution:
If your app is rejected due to design issues, I recommend investing some money and time in redesigning your app following Google's design guidelines. This is the best solution available in this situation.
Reason 9: Malware in your code Malware
is any code that can put a user, user data, or device at risk. Due to the potential harm malware can cause to users, Google Play strictly prohibits the distribution of apps that contain malware.
Malware includes, but is not limited to, Potentially Harmful Applications (PHAs), binary or framework modifications, and covers categories such as Trojan horses, phishing and spyware applications, among others.
solution:
Generally speaking, if the application code contains risky code, the developer will know it - because most of the cases are intentionally placed by the developer for some purpose. If your app is rejected for this reason, your only option is to obediently remove the malware.
Reason 10: Requires authentication such as login credentials Description
If certain conditions are required to be met (for example, provide login credentials, based on login details, obtain membership, be in a specific location, or undergo other forms of authentication) to access your entire application or application , you must provide all required detailed instructions for users to access your app.
solution:
If your app is rejected for not meeting the authentication criteria, you can add a description of the app's access permissions by following these steps:
Open the Play Console and go to the App Content page (Policies > App Content).
Under "App access," select Get started. Note that if you've previously added instructions for app access and want to make changes, you'll see Manage instead of Start, so select Manage.
Click + to add a new description and provide a detailed description of the access rights. If there is anything special about your login mechanism (such as dynamic passwords, multi-factor authentication, or login screens with more than 2 fields), please let us know via the "Additional Notes" field.
Save your changes.
Conclusion
No matter in Google Play or App Store, application rejection is a common thing. If your app is rejected by the Google Play Store, please make sure your app complies with the guidelines of the "Google Play Store Submission Policy". If you believe that your app fully complies with Google Play's policies but was rejected or removed, you can appeal through this form.
It should be noted that when your app is rejected, we always recommend that you carefully read the email notification from Google Play. In most cases, you can make changes to your app to make it meet the relevant requirements, and then you can re-apply. Submit this app without submitting an appeal.