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Google Play rejectionGoogle Play: User Ratings, Reviews, and Installs policy

Google Play’s User Ratings, Reviews, and Installs policy bans manipulating an app’s placement. That includes rewarding users for ratings, forced or deceptive rating pop-ups, fake or paid reviews, and inflating installs.

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Short answer

Remove any reward, discount or other incentive tied to leaving a rating or review, and any pop-up that forces or tricks users into rating. Stop paid or fake reviews and any automated services that inflate installs or ratings. Ask for ratings in a clear, non-deceptive way, and keep review replies on the user’s issue without asking for a higher rating. 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 ratings, and the fix

  1. 01

    The app rewards users for a rating

    “Asking users to rate your app while offering an incentive” Google Play, User Ratings, Reviews, and Installs

    A reward such as a discount in exchange for a rating is an incentive, and Google says not to offer rewards or incentives for ratings or reviews.

  2. 02

    Reviews or installs are bought or faked

    “inflating product ratings, reviews, or install counts by illegitimate means, such as fraudulent or incentivized reviews and ratings” Google Play, User Ratings, Reviews, and Installs

    Fraudulent or incentivized reviews, repeated ratings submitted while posing as users, and automated services that inflate installs or ratings are all banned.

  3. 03

    The rating prompt is forced or deceptive

    Google Play’s key considerations say not to use deceptive pop-ups or force users to rate the app. Ask for a rating in a clear, non-deceptive way.

  4. 04

    Reviews carry promotions

    Also check: the app doesn’t submit or encourage reviews that contain affiliates, coupons, game codes, email addresses or links, and installing other apps isn’t its main function.

Checked against the vendor’s docs on : Google Play Help: User Ratings, Reviews, and Installs policy.

Rather hand it over?

Fixed scope, fixed price, paid upfront. The work happens in writing; no call needed.

“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 Deceptive Behavior policy · Google Play Metadata policy · Google Play Ads policy · Google Play personal loans policy

Questions

More on this launch

Can the app still ask for a rating?

Yes. Google Play’s key considerations say to prompt users to leave a rating in a clear, non-deceptive way, without rewards or forced pop-ups.

How should replies to reviews read?

Keep the reply focused on the issues the user raised, don’t ask for a higher rating, and point to helpful resources such as a support address or FAQ page.

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.

Something else?

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Describe the app and where it is in the launch. You get a written scope, a fixed price and a timeline; Simon replies by email, usually within one business day.

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