Google Play deadlines for apps with native code
Three dates, read directly from Google's own pages and quoted below, last checked 2026-10-01. No discounts or "limited time" here — these are Google's own enforcement dates, not ours.
| Date | What | Countdown |
|---|---|---|
2026-11-01 | targetSdk 36 extension ends + Play Billing Library 7 support ends The primary deadline was 2026-08-31 (new apps/updates must target API 36); Google allows an extension request to this date. Billing Library 8+ becomes required the same day. “Starting August 31, 2026: New apps and app updates must target Android 16 (API level 36) or higher to be submitted to Google Play. You will be able to request an extension to November 1, 2026 if you need more time to update your app.” — Target API level requirements “By Aug 31, 2026, all new apps and updates to existing apps must use Billing Library version 8 or later.” — Play Billing Library deprecation FAQ | — |
2027-01-27 | API 37+ permission policy changes (contacts, precise location, call log, geofencing) Four separate policy changes share this enforcement date, for apps targeting Android 17+ (API 37+). “January 27, 2027: Policy compliance is mandatory for all apps that target Android 17 or later (API level 37+).” — Contacts Permission policy “Policy compliance is mandatory for all apps… After this date, all apps in scope are subject to enforcement if not compliant.” — Location Permissions policy “Our SMS and Call Log Permissions policy will no longer permit account verification via phone call as a use case for the READ_CALL_LOG permission.” — SMS and Call Log Permissions policy “We're removing geofencing as an approved foreground services use case… effective January 27, 2027.” — Foreground service policy (geofencing) | — |
2027-02-01 | 16 KB page size: non-compliant app updates can no longer be released Applies to apps targeting Android 15 (API level 35) and higher, on 64-bit devices. This is the deadline the free checker and the kit on this site measure against. “All apps targeting Android 15 (API level 35) and higher must support 16 KB memory page sizes on 64-bit devices on Google Play. Starting February 1, 2027, if your app updates don't support 16 KB memory page sizes, you won't be able to release these updates.” — Page sizes support guide (updated 2026-09-16) | — |
Countdowns are computed in your browser from today's date; exact cutoff times aren't published by Google, so treat these as the day, not the hour.
Re-checked against the cited pages for every rebuild of this page; see Methodology. If Google moves one of these dates again (it has moved the 16 KB date twice before), this page is updated and the old date is kept in the changelog.
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