I recently sumbitted an app for the Play store. The app got rejected and I have no clue as to how to fix it. The error is clear enough, but not the solution.
Issue: Violation of Permissions policy After reviewing your app, we found that it doesn’t qualify to use the requested permissions for the following reason(s):
Based on our review, we found your app’s expressed user experience did not match your declared core functionality {Default Phone handler (and any other core functionality usage while default handler)}. Please remove these permissions from your app.
Default handler capability was listed on your declaration form, but your app does not appear to have default handler capability. Please submit a revised declaration form.
I find the UI of the Google Play Store to be very confusing for me. They aren't answering any emails and I'm at a loss of what to do.
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.GET_ACCOUNTS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PROFILE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CALL_LOG" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_CALL_LOG" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE" />
If you're using any SMS or CALL_LOG related permission you need to submit a Permissions Declaration Form for your app.
This new policy is designed by Google to ensure that apps asking for these permissions have core functionality related to them and need full and ongoing access to the sensitive data in order to accomplish the app's primary use case.
Android Developers Blog SMS/Call Log Policy Changes
Please refer here to understand the details on policy
you face this error because of some critical permission in manifest file. e.g GET_ACCOUNTS,READ_PROFILE. So for this you have to mention privacy policy page url if you have website or create your own privacy policy using following link:
https://privacypolicygenerator.info/
Just to put it out there. I resolved this by removing the permissions and only rely on PHONE_STATE
for my purposes.
Related
The app keeps rejecting because of new sensitive policies. In the manifest. I have included these three permissions:
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE" />.
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_NUMBERS" />.
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS" />
Any idea how to approve this?
I think you should add a privacy policy in the play store
Need to use Google SMS API instead of current react-native basic implementation.
https://developers.google.com/identity/sms-retriever
I am trying to upload an bundle to play with the following permissions:
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CALL_PHONE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_CONTACTS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CALL_LOG" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_CALL_LOG" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PROFILE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MANAGE_ACCOUNTS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.GET_ACCOUNTS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.PROCESS_OUTGOING_CALLS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.NFC" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE" />
My app's core functionality is to work as a complete dialer like other phone apps like google phone, it shows call history, contacts place calls, etc. I have filled the declaration form and also gave reasons why I need the following permissions but still, my app is getting rejected again and again, also filed an appeal for the same still waiting for a response, please can anyone guide me what I am doing wrong.
below is the message sent by Google:-
Issue: Violation of Permissions policy After reviewing your app, we
found that it doesn’t qualify to use the requested permissions for the
following reason(s): Requested permissions do not match the core
functionality of the app You declared the Default Phone handler (and
any other core functionality usage while the default handler) as the
core functionality of your app. However, after review, we found that
your app does not match the declared use case(s). Learn more about
permitted uses and exceptions. Please either:
• Make changes to your app so that it meets the requirements of the
declared core functionality or,
• Select a use case that matches your app’s functionality
Some of requirements may not be met:
Your app must be able to perform the functionality for which it's a default handler. For example, a default SMS handler should be able to send text messages.
Your app must provide a privacy policy.
Your app must make its core functionality clear in the Play Store description. For example, a default Phone handler should describe its phone-related capabilities in the description.
Your app must declare permissions that are appropriate for its use case. For more details about which permissions you can declare as a given handler, see the guidance on using SMS or call log permission groups in the Play Console Help Center.
Your app must ask to become a default handler before it requests the permissions associated with being that handler. For example, an app must request to become the default SMS handler before it requests the READ_SMS permission.
My App got Rejected due to below Reason.
Your app is uploading users' Contact List information without a prominent 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.
I have already added Runtime Permission for contacts in my app. Including required permission in Manifest as well.
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CALL_PHONE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_CONTACTS" />
I have also added Privacy Policy in Google Play Console with valid URL and content as well.
I am not getting how to tackle this issue and what changes should i apply to my APK to approved for go Live.
I also checked with other answers but it doesn't seem to be helping to overcome this issue.
Any help or clue would be appreciated.
You need to add a privacy policy to your Google Play listing.
In the Play Console Go to App Content > Privacy Policy (Click "Manage"). There you can insert your privacy policy URL.
In your privacy policy you will need to disclose what information you are collecting from your users and why.
Make sure you have added a screen in your app that links to the privacy policy and has an "accept privacy policy" button.
Your app needs valid Privacy policy - which should explicitly mention - Why you collect Contact list from user, How the data(contact list) will be used by your app.
Prominent disclosure - You need to present Dialog/Screen to end user who can understand better, Why & How Permission should be accepted by user and take consent before displaying Default Android permission dialog.
Video to explain Prominent disclosure here
I have an android app to analyse data of calls using android.permission.READ_CALL_LOG but I got no way to upload it how can I do this.
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CALL_LOG" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_CALL_LOG" />
I don't think you can upload an app with those permission and SMS permissions to the store anymore due to an update to the playstore an applications privacy policy . However, there are a few modifications you can make to your code which might allow ou to be able to push the application. Please see the materials below as reference:
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2019/01/reminder-smscall-log-policy-changes.html
https://proandroiddev.com/no-more-sms-call-log-permissions-now-what-9b8226de7827
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9047303
My problem is that I do not want to set a privacy policy for my app, I would rather remove all of the unnecessary permission requests.
I have removed the "READ_CONTACTS" permission from my AndroidManifest.xml, but when trying to upload to Play Store, it always says:
The apk has permissions that require a privacy policy set for the app, e.g: android.permission.READ_CONTACTS. [403]
It seems to me, that "READ_CONTACTS" permission is always added automatically.
Is there a way to remove this?
I only use the following permissions:
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
It was definitely a 3rd-party library issue.