What's new in Google Play and Android
| | | | | | | | | The latest updates to power your business on Google Play | | Grow your audience, boost engagement, and optimize revenue with our latest updates for your apps and games. | | | | | |  | Google Play and Android policy deadlines | | | Deadlines in January 2025 | | | | | The Child Safety Standards policy requires social and dating apps to follow specific standards and self-certify compliance on Play Console before publishing. | | | | | | | | | | | Latest policy updates | | We regularly update our policies to keep Google Play a safe and trustworthy platform. For a quick overview of the latest changes, watch our latest PolicyBytes video. | | | | | | | |  | What's new in Play & Android | | | | | | Announcing Gemini Nano experimental access | | Sign up to start experimenting with Gemini Nano on Android devices. Initially, you get access to features for text-to-text prompts on Pixel 9 series devices, with more features and devices coming. | | | | | | | | | | | | A look back at Q3 | | In case you missed it, get the scoop on how Google Play is becoming more than a store with new collections, more curated content, exclusive rewards, and more. | | | | | | | | |  | Google Play Academy | | | | | Win back inactive users with custom store listings | | This course, part of the Google Play Store Listing certificate, explores strategies for targeting inactive users with tailored messaging to reignite their interest in your app. | | | | | | | | | | | | #WeArePlay: Meet Michael and Shalom from the USA | | Michael and Shalom's app Nkenne provides a fun and easy way to learn African languages, such as Igbo and Yoruba, helping people connect with their culture. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Register your SDK on SDK Console | | Improve the performance, quality, and security of your SDKs with unique insights, crash reporting, and the ability to communicate with app developers. | | | | | | | | | | | | Unlock your app's earning potential with AdMob | | Join AdMob experts for our webinar on November 14 and discover if AdMob is a good fit for your app. Register to attend and get the on-demand recording. | | | | | | | | | | | Save the date for Firebase Demo Day '24 | | See how you can build and run modern, AI-powered app experiences users love with Firebase. Join the Firebase team on November 19 for a virtual showcase of short, actionable demos. | | | | | | | | | | | | Received this email from a friend? | | Subscribe here. | | | | | | | | | | |
Google Play Please review Google Play Developer policy updates. | | | | | | | | | DEVELOPER UPDATE | | Hello Google Play Developer, | | We regularly update our policies as part of our commitment to making Google Play the safest and most trusted experience possible. | | Updated policy | | You can find all the details of the latest changes to our policies, including the deadlines by which you must comply with them and additional resources, in our Policy Center. | - We're increasing the scope of the Medical functionalities policy and updating the policy language to incorporate the latest medical guidance and disclaimer requirements for health and medical apps. We're also consolidating health-related policies under the Health Content and Services page.
| Clarifications | | Additionally, we've added clarifications to some of our existing policies. Because these changes aren't new or updated, our enforcement standards and practices remain the same. | - We're updating the Enforcement Process page to provide more clarity regarding how the use of third-party code (e.g., an SDK) in your app may impact policy compliance.
- We're updating the Health Connect policy to enable regulated medical devices to access and utilize Health Connect data, provided they comply with all applicable regulations and obtain explicit user consent to use the data for their regulatory approved purposes.
- To improve developer understanding and better protect user and device data, we are updating the "Protecting User Data and Privacy" section of the Mobile Unwanted Software policy with new language to direct developers to the most useful relevant policies.
| Reminders | - Social and dating apps now have until January 22, 2025, to comply with the new Child safety standards policy, which requires self-certification on Play Console before publishing. Declarations will be made available in Console in December. Check out Tech Coalition's best practices for Combating Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA) here.
- Last October, we introduced the Photo and Video Permissions policy to reduce the number of apps permitted to request broad photo/video permissions (READ_MEDIA_IMAGES and READ_MEDIA_VIDEO). To give developers more time to adopt these changes, we are extending the deadlines. Starting January 22, 2025, apps may only access photos and videos for purposes directly related to app functionality. Apps that need additional time may request extensions until May 28, 2025. Apps that have a one-time or infrequent need to access these files are requested to use a system picker, such as the Android photo picker. See Details on Google Play's Photo and Video Permissions policy.
- We are continuously working to ensure developers have the information they need to succeed. To make a request for data that you do not believe is already available via Play Console or other tools, please use this form.
| | Please review these policy updates carefully in case any of your apps are impacted. To learn more about how to comply with these changes: | | | | | | | | | | | Thank you, | | Your Google Play team | | | | | | | | | | |
