Develop Reference

The Play Console asks me to remove the location permission in every version

I have a special application for kids on the Play Console. I'm trying to update with the new version. However, I keep getting the following error.
I'm even trying to submit a pre-approved version from the library for review, but it shows the same error without submitting for review.
If your target audience only includes children under 13, you should remove the request for location permission from your app. Please go to the app content section.
I searched for my application code and sub-libraries, but location information is not accessed in any way.
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.android.vending.BILLING" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.DOWNLOAD_WITHOUT_NOTIFICATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" tools:node="remove" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.finsky.permission.BIND_GET_INSTALL_REFERRER_SERVICE" />
This is the case with permissions perceived for apk in the app package explorer on the Play Console.

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION"
tools:node="remove" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION"
tools:node="remove"/>
add this to your manifest then try it will solve your problem.

How to filter the supporting android device at the time of publishing the android app?

I had finished my android app. App build version is 4.1.2. Now, i uploaded my apk into google console, it displays more that 4000 supporting devices. I am not sure my app will work on all the 4000 devices or not. My app is developed only for mobile.Can any one guide me how to filter the supporting devices ? Do i need any configuration in manifest file ?
please, look at my manifest file:-
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
package="com.example.demo"
android:versionCode="1"
android:versionName="1.0.0" >
<uses-sdk
android:minSdkVersion="16"
android:targetSdkVersion="20" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.providers.gsf.permission.READ_GSERVICES" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.VIBRATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FLASHLIGHT" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CALL_PHONE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.EXPAND_STATUS_BAR" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.android.vending.BILLING" />
<uses-feature
android:glEsVersion="0x00020000"
android:required="true" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<application>
......
....
<activity
.....
...../>
<application/>

*No need of any changes,the permission which you have given in manifest on that it will calculate the supporting device so better you remove the permissions which are not required and recheck ....it may show the less...
NOTE :Example permissions like:Remove which are not required....

While publishing the apk there is an option for you to see in apk section the list of devices to be supported. You can view the devices supported and exclude them from the list. Pl. refer to the below stack overflow link it provides you all the option
How to restrict android app to specific device make?

App not showing on Google Play despite it's compatible

I have a serious problem concerning the compatibility of my app with some devices.
At the moment these are my configurations and permissions:
<uses-sdk
android:minSdkVersion="14"
android:targetSdkVersion="19" />
<supports-screens android:anyDensity="true" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.android.vending.CHECK_LICENSE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.GET_TASKS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
This would in my opinion mean that my application is compatible with every smartphone (not tablet) with Android 4.0.x or higher. Is that correct?
Because I recognized that it is not compatible with Samsung Galaxy S II with 4.1.1 which I simulated with Genmyotion. Also our customer described this beviour on a real device. Does anyone of you know why this problem could occur?

I think I have found the problem by myself (see android market says no device compatible?)
I have included permission
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA"/>
which by default includes auto focus feature. So I have to add the following in my manifest to disable it:
<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.camera.autofocus" android:required="false"/>
Thanks to chrish

Google Play Console unsupported devices (808)

I have just released a app on Google Play. It shows unsupported 808 devices out of which some are listed below for reference
MICROMAX
A44– tinnoes13_s7050 A45– tinnoes73_s8030_2g P300– crane-M701C_mmx A73– A73 P275– P275
Also some testing on friends devices I realize that Android 4.0 devices, dont show the app on Google Play.
My Manifest file has the following. What am I missing here ? Is there a way to support "all" devices?
android:versionCode="10"
android:versionName="1.18" >
<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.READ_PHONE_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CALL_PHONE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_LOGS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.android.vending.BILLING" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_UPDATES" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_MOCK_LOCATION" />
<!-- <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED" /> -->
<uses-sdk
android:maxSdkVersion="16"
android:minSdkVersion="8"
android:targetSdkVersion="16" />
<supports-screens
android:anyDensity="true"
android:largeScreens="true"
android:normalScreens="true"
android:smallScreens="true" />
I haven't mentioned the app since I dont want to violate SO's rules on self app promotion. If needed, I can mention it on a comment. Just request for it.

Don't use the maxSdkVersion attribute:
<uses-sdk
android:minSdkVersion="8"
android:targetSdkVersion="16" />
Any device with version > 16 will not show the app, f.e. devices running Android 4.2 (version 17).
Also, since you're requesting the android.permission.CALL_PHONE permission, the app will only be shown to devices that have phone capability. If your app can also run on devices that don't have phone capability, make it not required:
<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.telephony" android:required="false" />
Same thing with android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, the app will only be shown for devices that have GPS, unless you make it not required:
<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.location.gps" android:required="false" />
See http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/uses-feature-element.html#permissions for more info.

App compatibility with Android devices

There is an application which can not be runed on particular devices. I have this in Manifest.xml:
<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="8" />
And it works on HTC sensation with Android 4.0, but for some reason it is not compatible with Samsung Galaxy Tablet 2 7.0. (Android 4)
When I upload it in Android market, also I can see that the Tablet is not supported.
I can not understand the reason, can you please let me know why?
Manifest.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:installLocation="auto"
package="test.newversion"
android:versionCode="1"
android:versionName="2.0" >
<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="8" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MANAGE_ACCOUNTS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.USE_CREDENTIALS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.AUTHENTICATE_ACCOUNTS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.GET_ACCOUNTS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_MOCK_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.VIBRATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<application
android:icon="#drawable/app_logo"
android:label="#string/app_name" >
<uses-library android:name="com.google.android.maps" />
</application>
</manifest>

Some permissions implicitly add requirements on the hardware. For example the docu for CAMERA says:
This will automatically enforce the manifest element for all camera features. If you do not require all camera features or can properly operate if a camera is not available, then you must modify your manifest as appropriate in order to install on devices that don't support all camera features.
If you don't need all, add explicit uses-feature elements with android:required="false"

try to give a luck to the following in manifest if not yet added
<supports-screens android:smallScreens="false"
android:normalScreens="true" android:largeScreens="true"
/>
change it according to your criteria

Most likely it is the permissions that are creating a filter which makes the marketplace removes some Tablets.
For e.g. you have the PHONE permissions in your manifest and if the Tablets do not have a phone capability, then they will not be compatible. As Henry suggested, you might look at the uses-feature with the android:required="false".
I suggest you review the AndroidManifest.xml carefully and proceed from there.