Addressing Branded mobile app errors and rejections in Android Google Play Store

Introduction

When submitting an app for publication within the Google Play Store, Google Play Support reviews the app (and app updates as well) to determine whether it is compliant with all the Developer Program Policies (opens in a new tab).

This document provides guidelines on how to handle some warnings or errors that you may encounter in the Google Play Console and address the rejection of your branded mobile app.

For any other info on the Branded mobile app, find all of the details in the dedicated articles of the knowledge base.

Deep links may be failing error

Error messages

• Deep links may be failing because your web domains aren’t associated with your app
• Domain not verified - This affects all deep links. Fix these domains to make sure users go directly to your app
• Links not working - Fix these links to make sure users go directly to your app

Addressing the error

These messages are a warning that:

Users will not go directly to your app from links associated with this path, but will see the app picker or be directed to the web browser.

If you instead want the app to open automatically when a link to the LMS platform is opened from the mobile device, you need to configure App links in the Branded mobile app publisher page > Android tab. Refer to the articles:

• Branded mobile app publisher
• Using deep links, universal link and navigation links on mobile

Advertising ID declaration error

Error message

This release includes the com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID permission but your declaration on Play Console says that your app doesn't use advertising ID.

You must update your advertising ID declaration.

Addressing the error

This error is shown if you are updating your branded app to version 5.5.0 or higher and you have activated one or more of the following features in the Branded mobile app publisher configuration page:

• Push notifications in the Properties tab
• Mobile measurement Partner (MMP) in the Properties tab
• Google Services in the Android tab

To address this error you need to complete the advertising ID declaration in Google Play Console:

1. In the Google Play Console, Production menu item, you will see the error related to the Advertising ID permission in the Errors, warnings and messages section
2. Read the error message and click on Update declaration under the error
3. The Advertising ID page will open. Here, complete the form as follows:
   • Does your app use advertising ID?: Yes
   • Why does your app need to use advertising ID?: Analytics
4. Then save your changes.
5. In the window that opens, click Go to overview, then in the Publishing overview page click Send for review, and confirm.
6. You will see that your change (“Advertising ID” declaration updated") appears in the section showing the changes in review.
7. At this point, after a few hours, Google should approve your build!

More information about the Advertising ID permission (AD_ID) (opens in a new tab)

Rejection for QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES permission

Error messages

• Your app has been rejected and wasn't published due to the policy issue(s) listed below. If you submitted an update, the previous version of your app is still available on Google Play.

  Issue found: Less broad app-visibility method should be used

• We are unable to approve your app’s use of QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES permission because the declared task can be done with a less broad app-visibility method.

  Additionally, follow these steps to bring your app into compliance:

  Please remove the use of QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES permission from all the artifact versions within the submission. This includes production track, internal track and testing track etc.

Addressing the rejection

The issue is related to the QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES permission, which cannot be used when the required task can be done with a less broad app-visibility method. More information on the use of the broad package (App) visibility (QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES) permission (opens in a new tab).

This permission has already been removed by Docebo with Branded app version 4.7.0, but it was included in the previous versions.

Please perform the following steps in order to bring your app into compliance and submit an updated app for review:

1. Open the Google Play Console
2. Open the Production menu item
3. You will see a warning dialog box (You can't submit updates as some information about your app is incomplete). Open it and click on the Go to App content button.
4. In the Sensitive permissions and APIs section, click on the Start button
5. A section on the query all packages permission is displayed, where you can see that your app is not compliant. In this section, click on the View app bundles and APKs button.
6. Check which old bundles use sensitive permissions and copy the relative version code
7. Now access the App bundle explorer menu item and paste the version code in the search box
8. The app version will appear in the table below. Click on the View app version arrow icon at the end of the app bundle’s row to display the details of the selected app bundle.
9. In the Details tab, expand the Releases dropdown and click on the active release link. You can find four release types: internal, closed, open testing, and production. Please note that you need to repeat steps from 9 to 15 for each one of the active releases found here.
10. On the page that opens, click View in the Release Summary section
11. Please note that if you have already created a release before without publishing it (it’s a draft) and the release includes the old version with the query all packages permission enabled, you need to discard the release by clicking the Discard release button.
12. On the top right side of the page, click Create new release
13. In the App bundles section, upload a build — version 4.9.1 or later — that you have generated in the Branded mobile app publisher menu in Docebo platform and that you have re-signed following all the steps in the linked article
14. Fill in the required fields (Release name and Release notes), then click on Review
15. Fill the Roll-out percentage field with 100.0 to completely deactivate the non-compliant APK. Click on the Start rollout button to complete the rollout of your release.
16. Refresh the Google Play Console
17. Reach the Production menu item and create a new production release
18. Go to the Publishing overview menu item and press the Send changes for review button
19. Confirm your action by clicking the Send for review button in the modal that opens
20. At this point, after a few hours, Google should approve your build!