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Google Play rejectionGoogle Play: Deceptive Behavior policy

Google Play’s Deceptive Behavior policy says an app’s title, description, icon, screenshots and video must accurately show what the app does. It also bans claiming impossible features, false “official” or government affiliation, hidden features and behaving differently during review.

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Short answer

Compare the store listing with the app a new user actually gets: remove any feature, screenshot or claim the app can’t back up, drop “official” unless you have the rights, and check the category and content rating. Make sure the app behaves the same for reviewers as for users, with no features switched on remotely later. Then submit an update.

Rather not fix it yourself? App Fix Ticket starts with a fixed-price diagnosis, then a fixed price for the fix before any fix work.

Why Google Play flagged the app as deceptive, and the fix

  1. 01

    The listing promises something the app doesn’t do

    “We don't allow apps that contain false or misleading information or claims, including in the description, title, icon, and screenshots.” Google Play, Deceptive Behavior (Misleading Claims)

    Google’s examples include a “racing game” that is a puzzle game, an antivirus app that is only a text guide, and features that are not possible to implement, even when labelled a joke or prank.

  2. 02

    The app claims to be official

    “Apps that falsely claim to be the official app of an established entity.” Google Play, Deceptive Behavior (Misleading Claims)

    Using “Official” in a title, or suggesting a link to a government or an established brand, needs the rights or authorization to do so.

  3. 03

    The app behaves differently during review

    “Don't use techniques to detect the app review environment and change your app's behavior to hide non-compliant features.” Google Play, Deceptive Behavior (Behavior Transparency)

    Hidden, dormant or undocumented features, features designed to be activated remotely or after a certain amount of time, and techniques that detect the review environment to change the app’s behavior are all banned. The app has to behave the same for a reviewer as for a regular user.

  4. 04

    Settings or downloads happen without consent

    “before beginning the download, the app should prompt users and clearly disclose the download size.” Google Play, Deceptive Behavior (Enabling Dishonest Behavior)

    Also check: the app doesn’t change device settings, shortcuts or the home screen without the user’s knowledge and consent, and it shows the download size before fetching extra assets.

Checked against the vendor’s docs on : Google Play Help: Deceptive Behavior policy.

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“Very responsive, attentive to fixing bugs, and completed the project as needed! Thank you!”
A buyer in the United States, July 2022. Shopify on Fiverr
All 127 Fiverr reviews

Related: Google Play impersonation policy · Google Play minimum functionality · Google Play Ads policy · Google Play Metadata policy · Google Play ratings and reviews policy

Questions

More on this launch

Does calling the app a prank or joke help?

No. Google Play says a claim that an app is a prank or for entertainment purposes doesn’t exempt it from the policies, and features that are impossible to implement are a violation even when represented as a joke.

Can the app work differently in some countries?

Yes, if the store listing prominently says so. Different core functionality by geography, device or other user data is a violation when it isn’t prominently advertised in the listing.

Can you fix it for me?

If one bug is the whole problem, the App Fix Ticket covers it: a written diagnosis first, then the fix. If the app has more going on, the Launch Check is a written check of the whole app. Each issue found is rated critical, high, medium or low, with where it is and how it was confirmed. No issues worth fixing, no charge. If the Launch Check finds nothing rated medium or higher, Simon refunds the full $450. You keep the report either way. This applies to the first 10 Launch Checks bought after October 30, 2026.

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