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google-play-specs.md

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1# Google Play Store — Official Specs & Guidelines
2
3All data from support.google.com and developer.android.com as of March 2026.
4

Google Play Store — Official Specs & Guidelines

All data from support.google.com and developer.android.com as of March 2026.

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5## Character Limits
6
7| Field | Limit | Indexed? | Notes |
8| ----------------- | ----------- | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
9| App Title | 30 chars | Yes (strongest signal) | Reduced from 50 in Sept 2021 |
10| Short Description | 80 chars | Yes | Visible without expanding |
11| Full Description | 4,000 chars | **Yes (heavily)** | Google NLP indexes entire text |
12| Developer Name | 64 chars | Partial | Same emoji/caps restrictions as title |

Character Limits

FieldLimitIndexed?Notes
App Title30 charsYes (strongest signal)Reduced from 50 in Sept 2021
Short Description80 charsYesVisible without expanding
Full Description4,000 charsYes (heavily)Google NLP indexes entire text
Developer Name64 charsPartialSame emoji/caps restrictions as title
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14## Prohibited in Metadata (enforced since Sept 2021)
16**Title, Icon, Developer Name:**
18- Emojis, emoticons, repeated special characters
19- ALL CAPS (unless registered brand)
20- Performance claims: "top," "best," "#1," "free," "no ads"
21- Misleading store performance or endorsement
22- Calls-to-action: "update now," "download now"
24**Short Description:**
26- Same performance claims as title
27- Calls-to-action
28- Unattributed testimonials
30**Screenshots, Feature Graphic, Video:**
32- Time-sensitive taglines
33- Calls-to-action ("Download now," "Play now")
34- Must authentically showcase app functionality

Prohibited in Metadata (enforced since Sept 2021)

Title, Icon, Developer Name:

  • Emojis, emoticons, repeated special characters
  • ALL CAPS (unless registered brand)
  • Performance claims: "top," "best," "#1," "free," "no ads"
  • Misleading store performance or endorsement
  • Calls-to-action: "update now," "download now"

Short Description:

  • Same performance claims as title
  • Calls-to-action
  • Unattributed testimonials

Screenshots, Feature Graphic, Video:

  • Time-sensitive taglines
  • Calls-to-action ("Download now," "Play now")
  • Must authentically showcase app functionality
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36## Screenshot Specs
38| Device | Min | Max | Aspect Ratio | Min Resolution | Max Long Edge |
39| ---------- | ----- | ----- | ------------ | -------------- | ------------- |
40| Phone | **2** | **8** | 9:16 or 16:9 | 320px any side | 3,840px |
41| 7" Tablet | 4 | 8 | 9:16 or 16:9 | 1,080px short | 7,680px |
42| 10" Tablet | 4 | 8 | 9:16 or 16:9 | 1,080px short | 7,680px |
43| Chromebook | 4 | 8 | 9:16 or 16:9 | 1,080px short | 7,680px |
44| Wear OS | 1 | 8 | **1:1** | 384x384 | 3,840px |
45| Android TV | 1 | 8 | **16:9** | 1,920x1,080 | 3,840px |
47- **Recommended phone size:** 1080x1920 (portrait)
48- **Format:** JPEG or 24-bit PNG (no alpha)
49- **Max file size:** 8 MB each
51**Note:** Google Play max is 8 screenshots per device, not 10 like Apple.

Screenshot Specs

DeviceMinMaxAspect RatioMin ResolutionMax Long Edge
Phone289:16 or 16:9320px any side3,840px
7" Tablet489:16 or 16:91,080px short7,680px
10" Tablet489:16 or 16:91,080px short7,680px
Chromebook489:16 or 16:91,080px short7,680px
Wear OS181:1384x3843,840px
Android TV1816:91,920x1,0803,840px
  • Recommended phone size: 1080x1920 (portrait)
  • Format: JPEG or 24-bit PNG (no alpha)
  • Max file size: 8 MB each

Note: Google Play max is 8 screenshots per device, not 10 like Apple.

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53## Feature Graphic
55- **Dimensions:** 1024 x 500 px (exact, required)
56- **Format:** JPEG or 24-bit PNG (no alpha)
57- Displayed at top of listing and in featured placements

Feature Graphic

  • Dimensions: 1024 x 500 px (exact, required)
  • Format: JPEG or 24-bit PNG (no alpha)
  • Displayed at top of listing and in featured placements
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59## App Icon
61- **Dimensions:** 512 x 512 px
62- **Format:** 32-bit PNG (with alpha)
63- **Max file size:** 1,024 KB
64- **Shape:** Full square (Google applies 30% corner radius automatically)
65- **Prohibited:** Ranking claims, download counts, deal text, emoji

App Icon

  • Dimensions: 512 x 512 px
  • Format: 32-bit PNG (with alpha)
  • Max file size: 1,024 KB
  • Shape: Full square (Google applies 30% corner radius automatically)
  • Prohibited: Ranking claims, download counts, deal text, emoji
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67## Preview Video
69- **Format:** YouTube URL (public or unlisted)
70- **Duration:** 30 seconds to 2 minutes recommended
71- No ads, no monetization, must be embeddable, not age-restricted
72- **Playback:** Can autoplay inline with muted audio for up to 30 seconds, depending on device, user settings, network and placement. A play button appears when autoplay is unavailable.
73- **Creative:** Demonstrate actual app use and the main benefit early, with visuals understandable without audio. Do not assume every visitor autoplays or watches the full video.
74- **Measurement:** Tap-to-play rates exclude autoplay exposure; use listing experiments and your own conversion data before deciding whether a video is worthwhile.
76Source: [Google Play preview asset guidelines](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9866151).

Preview Video

  • Format: YouTube URL (public or unlisted)
  • Duration: 30 seconds to 2 minutes recommended
  • No ads, no monetization, must be embeddable, not age-restricted
  • Playback: Can autoplay inline with muted audio for up to 30 seconds, depending on device, user settings, network and placement. A play button appears when autoplay is unavailable.
  • Creative: Demonstrate actual app use and the main benefit early, with visuals understandable without audio. Do not assume every visitor autoplays or watches the full video.
  • Measurement: Tap-to-play rates exclude autoplay exposure; use listing experiments and your own conversion data before deciding whether a video is worthwhile.

Source: Google Play preview asset guidelines.

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78## Store Listing Experiments (A/B Testing)
80- **Variants:** Up to 3 per experiment (plus control)
81- **Testable:** Icon, feature graphic, screenshots, video, short description, full description
82- **Concurrent:** Cannot run more than 1 default graphics experiment simultaneously
83- **Audience:** Signed-in Google Play users only
84- **Metrics:** First-time installers + retained first-time installers (1-day retention)
85- **Duration:** Run at least 7 days (weekday/weekend variance)
86- **Localized:** Test across up to 5 languages simultaneously

Store Listing Experiments (A/B Testing)

  • Variants: Up to 3 per experiment (plus control)
  • Testable: Icon, feature graphic, screenshots, video, short description, full description
  • Concurrent: Cannot run more than 1 default graphics experiment simultaneously
  • Audience: Signed-in Google Play users only
  • Metrics: First-time installers + retained first-time installers (1-day retention)
  • Duration: Run at least 7 days (weekday/weekend variance)
  • Localized: Test across up to 5 languages simultaneously
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88## Custom Store Listings
90- **Max:** 50 per app (100 for Play partners)
91- **Customizable:** Title, short/full description, icon, screenshots, feature graphic, video
92- **Targeting:** Country/region, pre-registration, install state, Google Ads campaigns, inactive/churned users (28+ days)
93- **2025 addition:** Gemini AI auto-generates text for CSLs in Play Console

Custom Store Listings

  • Max: 50 per app (100 for Play partners)
  • Customizable: Title, short/full description, icon, screenshots, feature graphic, video
  • Targeting: Country/region, pre-registration, install state, Google Ads campaigns, inactive/churned users (28+ days)
  • 2025 addition: Gemini AI auto-generates text for CSLs in Play Console
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95## Promotional Content (LiveOps)
97| Type | Description | Duration |
98| ----------------- | ------------------------------ | -------------------- |
99| Offers | Discounts, free items, bundles | Up to 28 days |
100| Events | Time-limited in-app events | Must have time limit |
101| Major Update | Significant new features | Max 1 week |
102| Crossover (games) | Cross-game/IP collaboration | Varies |
104- Submit **4+ days** before start (standard review)
105- Submit **14+ days** before for featuring requests
106- **Impact:** "Over twice as many explore acquisitions during featuring" (official Google)

Promotional Content (LiveOps)

TypeDescriptionDuration
OffersDiscounts, free items, bundlesUp to 28 days
EventsTime-limited in-app eventsMust have time limit
Major UpdateSignificant new featuresMax 1 week
Crossover (games)Cross-game/IP collaborationVaries
  • Submit 4+ days before start (standard review)
  • Submit 14+ days before for featuring requests
  • Impact: "Over twice as many explore acquisitions during featuring" (official Google)
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108## Android Vitals — Ranking Thresholds
110Apps exceeding these thresholds get **reduced visibility** in search and recommendations.
112| Metric | Overall Threshold | Per-Device Threshold |
113| ---------------------------- | ----------------- | -------------------- |
114| User-Perceived Crash Rate | **1.09%** | 8% |
115| User-Perceived ANR Rate | **0.47%** | 8% |
116| Excessive Partial Wake Locks | 5% | N/A |
118**Consequences:** Reduced search visibility, warning labels on listing, quality alerts to users before install.
119**Recovery:** Google checks daily using 28-day rolling average.

Android Vitals — Ranking Thresholds

Apps exceeding these thresholds get reduced visibility in search and recommendations.

MetricOverall ThresholdPer-Device Threshold
User-Perceived Crash Rate1.09%8%
User-Perceived ANR Rate0.47%8%
Excessive Partial Wake Locks5%N/A

Consequences: Reduced search visibility, warning labels on listing, quality alerts to users before install. Recovery: Google checks daily using 28-day rolling average.

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121## Search Ranking — Official Factors
123Google confirms these affect ranking:
1251. **Metadata relevance** — Title carries most weight. NLP scans title + short desc + full desc.
1262. **App quality** — Android Vitals (crash/ANR rates)
1273. **Ratings and reviews** — Star rating + review text. 85% of featured apps have 4.0+
1284. **Install volume and velocity** — Total installs + daily/weekly frequency
1295. **Engagement and retention** — Session frequency, duration, retention rates
1306. **Update frequency** — Regular updates signal active maintenance
1317. **Localization** — Regional keyword/visual adaptation. 59% of US apps localize titles.
133Sources: support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/4448378,
134support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9898842,
135developer.android.com/topic/performance/vitals

Search Ranking — Official Factors

Google confirms these affect ranking:

  1. Metadata relevance — Title carries most weight. NLP scans title + short desc + full desc.
  2. App quality — Android Vitals (crash/ANR rates)
  3. Ratings and reviews — Star rating + review text. 85% of featured apps have 4.0+
  4. Install volume and velocity — Total installs + daily/weekly frequency
  5. Engagement and retention — Session frequency, duration, retention rates
  6. Update frequency — Regular updates signal active maintenance
  7. Localization — Regional keyword/visual adaptation. 59% of US apps localize titles.

Sources: support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/4448378, support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9898842, developer.android.com/topic/performance/vitals

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