Providing a safe and trusted experience for everyone

Restricted content

Before submitting an app to Google Play, ensure that it complies with these content policies and with local laws.

Impersonation

When developers impersonate others or their apps, it misleads users and hurts the developer community. We prohibit apps that mislead users by impersonating someone else.

Intellectual property

When developers copy someone else's work or deceive users, it hurts users and the developer community. Don't rely on misleading or unfair use of other people's work.

Privacy, deception and device abuse

We're committed to protecting user privacy and providing a safe and secure environment for our users. Apps that are deceptive, malicious or intended to abuse or misuse any network, device or personal data are strictly prohibited.

Use of SDKs in apps

If you include an SDK in your app, you are responsible for ensuring that their third-party code and practices do not cause your app to violate Google Play Developer Programme Policies. It is important to be aware of how the SDKs in your app handle user data and to ensure that you know what permissions they use, what data they collect and why.

Monetisation and ads

Google Play supports a variety of monetisation strategies to benefit developers and users, including paid distribution, in-app products, subscriptions and ad-based models. To ensure the best user experience, we require you to comply with these policies.

Store listing and promotion

The promotion and visibility of your app dramatically affects store quality. Avoid spammy Store Listings, low-quality promotion and efforts to artificially boost app visibility on Google Play.

Spam, functionality and user experience

At a minimum, apps should provide users with a basic degree of functionality and a respectful user experience. Apps that crash, exhibit other behaviour that is not consistent with a functional user experience are not allowed on Google Play.

Malware

Malware is any code that could put a user, a user's data or a device at risk. Because malware is potentially harmful to users, apps containing malware are strictly prohibited from Google Play.

Mobile unwanted software (MUwS)

Apps that violate mobile unwanted software principles are potentially harmful to the user experience, and we will take steps to protect users from harmful software.

Families

Before submitting an app that targets children to the Google Play Store, you are responsible for ensuring that your app is appropriate for children and compliant with all relevant laws.

Other programmes

In addition to compliance with the content policies set out elsewhere in this Policy centre, apps that are designed for other Android experiences and distributed via Google Play may also be subject to programme-specific policy requirements. Make sure that you review the list below to determine if any of these policies apply to your app.

Enforcement

Learn more about how our policies apply, how we enforce our policies and how you can manage policy violations.

How Google Play works for developers

Learn more about how Google Play works to help developers succeed.