I have an app that includes a version of the SDK that doesn't comply with Google Play policies.
When trying to upload the new version, it does not let it go to production, it says this:
MANDATORY ACTION: Upload a new compliant version AND deactivate the non-compliant version.
I've uploaded a new version but it won't let me send it to production until I deactivate the old one, but I can't find a way to deactivate it.
I have looked through the Google Play Console for hours and there is no way to disable the App Bundle that is active. There is no option to disable it.
Related
Google has apparently decided to crack down on usage of Chinese SDKs, because both a client and a colleague got their apps suspended from the Play Store for using an old version of a Chinese SDK*.
My client got the following email:
Hi Developers at {company name},
After review, {app name},
{app package}[Version:12725], has been removed from Google
Play because it violates our personal and sensitive information
policy. This app won’t be available to users until you submit a
compliant update.
Here’s how you can submit your app for another review:
Review the Personal and Sensitive Information policy and make the
necessary changes to your app. Make sure your app is compliant with
the User Data policy and all other policies listed in the Developer
Program Policies. Remember that additional enforcement could occur if
there are further policy issues with your apps. Your app is using the
AliPay SDK which is uploading the users' phone number without proper
disclosure. Make sure to also post a privacy policy in both the
designated field in the Play Developer Console and from within the
Play distributed app itself. Please upgrade AliPay SDK version to
15.5.5 or higher. Sign in to your Play Console and upload the modified, policy compliant APK. Make sure to increment the version
number of the APK. Submit your app.
The colleague got a very similar email regarding usage of an SDK by Xiaomi.
TL;DR
We both quickly updated the apps according to Google's instructions and submitted new versions (with new versionName and versionCode).
It's been 3 days and 4 versions since and the apps were not reinstated to the store yet.
What are we doing wrong?
I've opened a support ticket with Google and the support rep notified me once more that the offending version is 12725, the old obsolete version.
It turns out that the Beta track still had this version. Even though it was superseded by the production one, Google still won't publish my app.
I had to Remove obsolete beta version from Google Play and the app was reinstated within the hour.
Same story with my colleague's app.
How can I update my Android app on Google Play Console after it has been removed by Google for violating permission policies? Is there any way? I mistakenly ignored the emails sent by them for updating the app before the 9th of March.
Here are screenshots of my google play console
You can see the reason or policy violation in play console. I think it's under alert options in Play console. please check it, correct it in the app. then update your version code and version name, the sign your app, publish it again. Go to your app in play console, then select App releases under Release management then click manage in production -> create release or publish it as beta, after get approved from play console, publish it as production.
Hope this helps.
Recently, Few of my apps which were using SEND_SMS permissions have been removed from playstore. Now you can do two things:
If your app relies on SEND_SMS permission for it's working, then you need to submit a permission declaration form with relevant information. Find it here
Remove these permissions if are not very much needed, then simply upload your app to playstore.
You'll be guided for the same when you'll push a new update on Google play console.
I sumbitted an app on the google play console, and it was removed since it didn't respect the google play policy. I can see the status of my app is "Deleted". I made a new version and uploaded it in the release manager. Is there a specific thing to re-submit the app. Because even after adding a new apk and launching it in production, the status of my app is still "Deleted". Thank you in advance for your responses
I have a native android app in google play and now I have made a new version of the app with ionic 2 framework.
How to update the app and is it possible to notify the users about the new version of the app?
I quess I have to remove the old one and upload the new one.
This is exactly what you need:
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/7159011
Because you completely rewrote your app please read this too, the most important part is "Prepare your APK":
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/113476?hl=en
If you follow these guides existing users will be notified about new version automatically by Google Play Store.
The existing users can download the update from your app listing page on the play store or when they select My apps on the Play store. Also if they have enabled auto update for your app then the update will be downloaded and installed automatically.
More about this here.
and as #Abhishek recommended, if you don't have any code for checking updates in your previous version of app then users will not get notified automatically.
also you don't have to remove the old app to upload the new one, you can deactivate the old app if you want it to no longer served to the user, OR you can retain it if you still want it to be served to the users.
Google play usually updates applications automatically. You just need to add upload APK and click Release. You don't have to remove old APK.
In less than a day or something all users of your application will be notified by Google Play that new version is available and if user configures his phone to install apps automatically, then apk will be installed in background as soon as update will be ready.
Also you can notify your users about new version using PUSH notifications. Of course if your previous release does not contain code to enable PUSHes, then you cannot send such notification.
And one more thing: if you use your previous keys to sign APK then everything is fine and you don't need to do anything with APK at developer console, otherwise you need to rollback application and/or re-publish it.
I am continuously receiving following error message while trying to upload apk in android market via Jenkins. Any thought?
Applying changes to Google Play...
Upload failed: This app does not have a new content rating that needs to be set in the Google Play Developer Console.
- No changes have been applied to the Google Play account
Build step 'Upload Android APK to Google Play' marked build as failure
I would imagine the error is to do with Google's change to how apps are rated on the Play Store. This documentation should help you, I think all you need to do is log into the developer console and set a rating for your app.
Beginning May 5, 2015, all new apps and updates to existing apps will need to have a completed content rating questionnaire before they can be published.
As a Google Play Developer, your compliance and participation with the new app ratings system is required under the Google Play Developer Distribution Agreement. Apps that aren’t rated using the new rating system may be removed from the Play Store.