Tag Archives: App Development

Widgets Take Center Stage with One UI 7

Posted by André Labonté – Senior Product Manager, Android Widgets

On April 7th, Samsung will begin rolling out One UI 7 to more devices globally. Included in this bold new design is greater personalization with an optimized widget experience and updated set of One UI 7 widgets. Ushering in a new era where widgets are more prominent to users, and integral to the daily device experience.

This update presents a prime opportunity for Android developers to enhance their app experience with a widget

    • More Visibility: Widgets put your brand and key features front and center on the user's device, so they're more likely to see it.
    • Better User Engagement: By giving users quick access to important features, widgets encourage them to use your app more often.
    • Increased Conversions: You can use widgets to recommend personalized content or promote premium features, which could lead to more conversions.
    • Happier Users Who Stick Around: Easy access to app content and features through widgets can lead to overall better user experience, and contribute to retention.

More discoverable than ever with Google Play’s Widget Discovery features!

    • Dedicated Widgets Search Filter: Users can now directly search for apps with widgets using a dedicated filter on Google Play. This means your apps/games with widgets will be easily identified, helping drive targeted downloads and engagement.
    • New Widget Badges on App Detail Pages: We’ve introduced a visual badge on your app’s detail pages to clearly indicate the presence of widgets. This eliminates guesswork for users and highlights your widget offerings, encouraging them to explore and utilize this capability.
    • Curated Widgets Editorial Page: We're actively educating users on the value of widgets through a new editorial page. This curated space showcases collections of excellent widgets and promotes the apps that leverage them. This provides an additional channel for your widgets to gain visibility and reach a wider audience.

Getting started with Widgets

Whether you are planning a new widget, or investing in an update to an existing widget, we have tools to help!

    • Quality Tiers are a great starting point to understand what makes a great Android widget. Consider making your widget resizable to the recommended sizes, so users can customize the size just right for them.

Leverage widgets for increased app visibility, enhanced user engagement, and ultimately, higher conversions. By embracing widgets, you're not just optimizing for a specific OS update; you're aligning with a broader trend towards user-centric, glanceable experiences.

#WeArePlay | How Memory Lane Games helps people with dementia

Posted by Robbie McLachlan – Developer Marketing

In our latest #WeArePlay film, which celebrates the people behind apps and games, we meet Bruce - a co-founder of Memory Lane Games. His company turns cherished memories into simple, engaging quizzes for people with different types of dementia. Discover how Memory Lane Games blends nostalgia and technology to spark conversations and emotional connections.


What inspired the idea behind Memory Lane Games?

The idea for Memory Lane Games came about one day at the pub when Peter was telling me how his mum, even with vascular dementia, lights up when she looks at old family photos. It got me thinking about my own mum, who treasures old photos just as much. The idea hit us – why not turn those memories into games? We wanted to help people reconnect with their past and create moments where conversations could flow naturally.

Memory Lane Games co-founders, Peter and Bruce from Isle of Man

Can you tell us of a memorable moment in the journey when you realized how powerful the game was?

We knew we were onto something meaningful when a caregiver in a memory cafe told us about a man who was pretty much non-verbal but would enjoy playing. He started humming along to one of our music trivia games, then suddenly said, "Roy Orbison is a way better singer than Elvis, but Elvis had a better manager." The caregiver was in tears—it was the first complete sentence he’d spoken in months. Moments like these remind us why we’re doing this—it’s not just about games; it’s about unlocking moments of connection and joy that dementia often takes away.

A user plays Memory Lane Games from their phone

One of the key features is having errorless fun with the games, why was that so important?

We strive for frustration-free design. With our games, there are no wrong answers—just gentle prompts to trigger memories and spark conversations about topics they are interested in. It’s not about winning or losing; it’s about rekindling connections and creating moments of happiness without any pressure or frustration. Dementia can make day-to-day tasks challenging, and the last thing anyone needs is a game that highlights what they might not remember or get right. Caregivers also like being able to redirect attention back to something familiar and fun when behaviour gets more challenging.

How has Google Play helped your journey?

What’s been amazing is how Google Play has connected us with an incredibly active and engaged global community without any major marketing efforts on our part.

For instance, we got our first big traction in places like the Philippines and India—places we hadn’t specifically targeted. Yet here we are, with thousands of downloads in more than 100 countries. That reach wouldn’t have been possible without Google Play.

A group of senior citizen gather around a table to play a round of Memory Lane Games from a shared mobile device

What is next for Memory Lane Game?

We’re really excited about how we can use AI to take Memory Lane Games to the next level. Our goal is to use generative AI, like Google’s Gemini, to create more personalized and localized game content. For example, instead of just focusing on general memories, we want to tailor the game to a specific village the player came from, or a TV show they used to watch, or even local landmarks from their family’s hometown. AI will help us offer games that are deeply personal. Plus, with the power of AI, we can create games in multiple languages, tapping into new regions like Japan, Nigeria or Mexico.

Discover other inspiring app and game founders featured in #WeArePlay.



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Widgets on lock screen: FAQ

Posted by Tyler Beneke – Product Manager, and Lucas Silva – Software Engineer

Widgets are now available on your Pixel Tablet lock screens! Lock screen widgets empower users to create a personalized, always-on experience. Whether you want to easily manage smart home devices like lights and thermostats, or build dashboards for quick access and control of vital information, this blog post will answer your key questions about lock screen widgets on Android. Read on to discover when, where, how, and why they'll be on a lock screen near you.

Lock screen widgets
Lock screen widgets in clock-wise order: Clock, Weather, Stocks, Timers, and Google Home App. In the top right is a customization call-to-action.

Q: When will lock screen widgets be available?

A: Lock screen widgets will be available in AOSP for tablets and mobile starting with the release after Android 16 (QPR1). This update is scheduled to be pushed to AOSP in late Summer 2025. Lock screen widgets are already available on Pixel Tablets.

Q: Are there any specific requirements for widgets to be allowed on the lock screen?

A: No, widgets allowed on the lock screen have the same requirements as any other widgets. Widgets on the lock screen should follow the same quality guidelines as home screen widgets including quality, sizing, and configuration. If a widget launches an activity from the lock screen, users must authenticate to launch the activity, or the activity should declare android:showWhenLocked="true" in its manifest entry.

Q: How can I test my widget on the lock screen?

A: Currently, lock screen widgets can be tested on Pixel Tablet devices. You can enable lock screen widgets and add your widget.

Q: Which widgets can be displayed in this experience?

A: All widgets are compatible with the lock screen widget experience. To prioritize user choice and customization, we've made all widgets available. For the best experience, please make sure your widget supports dynamic color and dynamic resizing. Lock screen widgets are sized to approximately 4 cells wide by 3 cells tall on the launcher, but exact dimensions vary by device.

Q: Can my widget opt-out of the experience?

A:Important: Apps can choose to restrict the use of their widgets on the lock screen using an opt-out API. To opt-out, use the widget category "not_keyguard" in your appwidget info xml file. Place this file in an xml-36 resource folder to ensure backwards compatibility.

Q: Are there any CDD requirements specifically for lock screen widgets?

A: No, there are no specific CDD requirements solely for lock screen widgets. However, it's crucial to ensure that any widgets and screensavers that integrate with the framework adhere to the standard CDD requirements for those features.

Q: Will lock screen widgets be enabled on existing devices?

A: Yes, lock screen widgets were launched on the Pixel Tablet in 2024 Other device manufacturers may update their devices as well once the feature is available in AOSP.

Q: Does the device need to be docked to use lock screen widgets?

A: The mechanism that triggers the lock screen widget experience is customizable by the OEM. For example, OEMs can choose to use charging or docking status as triggers. Third-party OEMs will need to implement their own posture detection if desired.

Q: Can OEMs set their own default widgets?

A: Yes! Hardware providers can pre-set and automatically display default widgets.

Q: Can OEMs customize the user interface for lock screen widgets?

A: Customization of the lock screen widget user interface by OEMs is not supported in the initial release. All lock screen widgets will have the same developer experience on all devices.

Lock screen widgets are poised to give your users new ways to interact with your app on their devices. Today you can leverage your existing widget designs and experiences on the lock screen with Pixel Tablets. To learn more about building widgets, please check out our resources on developer.android.com

This blog post is part of our series: Spotlight Week on Widgets, where we provide resources—blog posts, videos, sample code, and more—all designed to help you design and create widgets. You can read more in the overview of Spotlight Week: Widgets, which will be updated throughout the week.

Spotlight Week: Design and Develop Widgets

Posted by Ash Nohe and Summers Pitman – Developer Relations Engineers

We’re kicking off the next edition in our Spotlight Week series! This week, we'll be diving deep into how to create high-quality widgets that boost user engagement and improve discoverability.

We've heard your feedback: you want your widgets to be easily discoverable. To address this, we’re excited to share that Google Play is introducing a new search filter specifically for apps with high-quality widgets. By equipping you with the knowledge and tools to ensure your widgets shine, we aim to demonstrate how widgets can be a crucial element in building delightful, helpful, and performant widgets that keep your users engaged. Learn more about Google Play’s widget discovery features.



Here’s what we’re covering this week in our Spotlight Week on Widgets:

Why Widgets?

Monday, March 3rd

We’re kicking off the week with an overview of why widgets are essential for today's users. Learn how you can level up your app with Widgets and get inspired by these best-in-class examples. Plus, learn how Google Play is improving widget discovery through a dedicated search filter, new app detail page badges, and other enhancements designed to increase user interaction.

Design great widgets with Figma and Canonical Layouts

Tuesday, March 4th

Learn how to visualize your content in widget layouts and create high quality widgets with a new Figma resource, hands-on lab and blog with the Canonical Layouts. Learn from SoundCloud's experience: a case study showcasing impactful widget implementation.

Develop best practice widgets with Glance

Wednesday, March 5th

Follow our code-along video to learn practical widget update techniques using Canonical Layouts.

#AskAndroid

Thursday, March 6th

Get your widget questions answered in #AskAndroid, and dive into lockscreen widgets in our FAQ.


That's a week packed with widget insights! This blog post serves as your central hub for updates, with links added regularly throughout the week. Get even more widgets content and insights by following Android Developers on X, and Android by Google at Linkedin.


Resources

Level Up Your App: Why Android Widgets are a Game-Changer

Posted by André Labonté – Senior Product Manager, Android Widgets

If you're an Android app developer and you're looking to boost your app's visibility, and engagement, you should definitely consider adding widgets. These small but mighty UI elements can have a significant impact on your app's success.

A widget is basically a UI that lives outside your main app. Widgets act like a window into your app content and a shortcut to your core features, which users can conveniently engage with right from their home screen, lock screen, or even through digital assistants.

Why Widgets are Awesome for Your App:

    • More Visibility: Widgets put your brand and key features front and center on the user's device, so they're more likely to see it.
    • Better User Engagement: By giving users quick access to important features, widgets encourage them to use your app more often.
    • Increased Conversions: You can use widgets to recommend personalized content or promote premium features, which could lead to more conversions.
    • Happier Users Who Stick Around: Easy access to app content and features through widgets can lead to overall better user experience, and contribute to retention.

Understanding What Users Want: Key to Good Widget Design

People use widgets for different reasons. Understanding these motivations is crucial for designing widgets that resonate.

    • Customization: Users like to personalize their home screens. Think about how your app's content can help them do that.
    • Efficiency: Widgets give users quick access to the features they use a lot, which saves them time and effort. If your app has features that users would find handy to access right from their home screen, think about putting them in a widget.
    • Quick Info: Some widgets are great for giving users essential info at a glance. If users often open your app for quick updates, a glanceable widget.

Building Awesome Widgets: Tips for Developers

Here's how to make widgets that users will love:

    • Focus on Value: Make sure your widget does something useful for users without them having to open the app.
    • Keep it Simple: Design widgets that are easy to use and understand.
    • Make it Adaptable: Test your widgets on different Android devices (phones, tablets, foldables) to make sure they work well on all of them.
    • Match the Look: Design widgets that fit in with the system's overall look by using system colors, fonts, and corner shapes.
    • Make it Easy to Find: Use the widget pinning API to encourage users to add your widget from within your app. Give them good previews and descriptions so they know what it's all about.

Get Inspired and Start Building

We encourage you to integrate widgets into your Android app strategy. For inspiration and guidance, explore our new Widget design gallery, featuring Canonical Widget Layouts.

We can't wait to see the awesome widgets you come up with!

This blog post is part of our series: Spotlight Week on Widgets, where we provide resources—blog posts, videos, sample code, and more—all designed to help you design and create widgets. You can read more in the overview of Spotlight Week: Widgets, which will be updated throughout the week.

Celebrating Another Year of #WeArePlay

Posted by Robbie McLachlan – Developer Marketing

This year #WeArePlay took us on a journey across the globe, spotlighting 300 people behind apps and games on Google Play. From a founder whose app uses AI to assist visually impaired people to a game where nimble-fingered players slice flying fruits and use special combos to beat their own high score, we met founders transforming ideas into thriving businesses.

Let’s start by taking a look back at the people featured in our global film series. From a mother and son duo preserving African languages, to a founder whose app helps kids become published authors - check out the full playlist.


We also continued our global tour around the world with:

And we released global collections of 36 stories, each with a theme reflecting the diversity of the app and game community on Google Play, including:


To the global community of app and game founders, thank you for sharing your inspiring journey. As we enter 2025, we look forward to discovering even more stories of the people behind games and apps businesses on Google Play.



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#WeArePlay | Meet the people building sport apps and games

Posted by Robbie McLachlan – Developer Marketing

In a year filled with iconic sports moments—from the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris to the UEFA Euro Cup in Germany—our celebration of app and game businesses continues with nine new #WeArePlay stories. These founders are building sports apps and games that unite players, fans, and communities—from immersive sports simulations to apps that motivate runners with rewards like vouchers and free gifts.

Let’s take a look at some of my favourites.

Immerse yourself into your favourite sport with Hao, Yukun, and Mingming's simulator games

Hao, Yukun, and Mingming, founders of Feamber Games pose for a photo - Chengdu, China
Hao, Yukun and Mingming, co-founders of Feamber Games
Chengdu, China

Hao always dreamed of creating video games. After studying computer science, he joined a gaming company where he met Yukun and Mingming. Their shared passion for game design and long conversations about graphics, movie scenes, and nostalgic childhood games inspired them to start Feamber Games. Specializing in realistic 3D sports simulations like pool and archery, they’ve added competitive elements to enhance the experience. Recently, they’ve expanded into immersive games that let players build business empires and manage hotels. Now, the trio is focused on growing their global audience.

Anna’s boxing fitness app is a knockout, with tailored training and on-demand classes

Anna, founder of Boxx, sits cross-legged and smiles at the camera - London, UK
Anna, founder of Boxx
London, UK

Anna discovered her love for boxing at 11, staying dedicated to non-contact training throughout adulthood. After a career in accounting and becoming a mother, she struggled to attend classes, inspiring her to create Boxx – an app that brings boxing training to any location. Collaborating with fitness instructors, she developed personalized sessions, hybrid workouts, expert-led on-demand classes, and progress tracking. With hands-free guided audio and community features coming soon, Anna is regularly reviewing feedback to find innovative approaches to improve boxers’ experiences.

Get active and track your progress with Yi Hern, Dana, and Pearl's running app

Yi Hern, founder of JomRun, smiling at the camera - Cyberjava, Malaysia
Yi Hern, co-founder of JomRun
Cyberjaya, Malaysia

After creating a successful augmented reality game, childhood friends Yi Hern, Dana, and Pearl decided to inspire people to stay active. Combining Yi Hern's engineering skills, Dana's visual arts expertise, and Pearl's scientific background, they developed JomRun – Let’s Run. The app allows runners to track their progress, earn rewards like vouchers and free gifts, and easily join marathons. With teams in Malaysia and Singapore, and plans to introduce new features, the trio is gearing up to expand across Southeast Asia.

Ohjun and Jaeho’s volleyball game get high scores from players worldwide

Ohjun and Jaeho, co-founders of SUNCYAN - Seoul, South Korea
Ohjun and Jaeho, co-founders of SUNCYAN
Seoul, South Korea

Ohjun and Jaeho, childhood friends from an online game development community, combined their love for game building and volleyball to create The Spike - Volleyball Story. After a successful test release on Google Play, the game gained popularity in South Korea, inspiring them to improve it and reach a global audience. They added new features like story and tournament modes, plus a complete UX overhaul, all to recreate the excitement of real-life volleyball. Now, they’re focused on creating even more thrilling sports games.




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Notes from Google Play: The next phase of Play

Posted by Sam Bright – VP & GM, Google Play + Developer Ecosystem

Hello everyone,

Thank you for making this year another incredible one! Your innovative experiences continue to inspire us and bring joy to billions. We recently celebrated some of your amazing work in our Best of 2024 awards, showcasing moments of delight across phones, large-screen devices, watches, and PCs.

This year, we shared our vision for the next phase of Play where Play leans into being more than a store and becomes a dynamic platform that connects people with your content, when and where they need it most. To help people discover all you have to offer, truly engage with your experiences, and keep them coming back for more, we’re making Play:

    • A destination for discovery: Helping people find their new favorite apps and games and the content within
    • The best place for gaming: So people can play more of the games they love across more surfaces, with exclusive rewards available only through Play Points, and
    • Go beyond the store: Where people can get relevant content from installed apps directly on their home screen through our new Collections experience

Check out the video above, or keep reading for some of the key features we've launched this year to help you succeed at every stage of your app’s lifecycle.

New tools and features built in 2024

Launch with confidence

Launching a new app or update is a critical moment and we want to make this process as smooth and successful as possible.

    • The new quality panel gives you a centralized view of your app's quality so you can proactively find and address issues like crashes and ANRs, and see recommendations related to user experience.
    • And with SDK Console, we’re connecting you with SDK owners who can alert you in Android Studio and Play Console when new versions may address quality issues or help your app or game comply with Play policies.
Quality Panel in Google Play
Features like quality panel help you proactively find and address issues before you launch, helping you have a smooth and successful experience

Accelerate your growth and deepen your engagement with users

We've made Google Play even more content-forward with a visually engaging design that helps people discover the best of what you have to offer, wherever they are.

    • We integrated Gemini models to make it easier for everyone to find what they're looking for with AI-generated app review summaries, FAQs, and app highlights, providing key information at a glance.
    • Seamless app discovery helps users enjoy amazing experiences across their devices. Now, when people search for apps on their phone, they'll easily discover and install relevant apps for their TV, watch, and more.
    • Enhanced custom store listings give you even more ways to tailor your content. And now, with the ability to segment by search keyword, you can connect with users who are actively searching for the specific benefits your app offers. Play Console will even give you keyword suggestions.
    • Deep links help you create seamless web-to-app journeys to take users directly to the content they want, right inside your app. And now, we’ve made it even easier for you to manage and experiment with these deep links in Play Console, where you can make quick changes without waiting to publish a new app release.
App highlights in Google Play
App highlights is one of our latest AI-powered features making it easier for users to discover their next favorite apps.

Optimize revenue with Google Play Commerce

We're continuing to make it easier and more convenient for over 2.5 billion users in over 190 markets to have seamless and secure purchase experiences.

    • This year, we've helped over half a billion people be ready to make purchases by proactively encouraging them to set up payment and authentication methods in advance. With new secure biometric authentication options like fingerprint and facial recognition, checkout is now faster and more secure.
    • Our extensive payment method library, which includes over 300 local forms of payment in more than 65 markets, continues to grow. This year, we added CashApp (US), Blik Banking (Poland), Pix (Brazil), and MoMo (Vietnam).
    • Expanded payment options give more ways for users to pay for content. Parents with Google Family setup can now approve their child's in-app purchases from any OS, not just on Android devices.
    • And new subscription platform improvements, like flexible payment plans for long-term subscriptions, give users more options throughout the purchase experience, which helps drive higher conversions and new subscribers.
Installment subscriptions in Google Play
Flexible payment plans give users more options throughout the purchase experience, helping drive higher conversions and new subscribers for your app

Reinforcing trust, safety, and security

We continue to invest in more ways to protect users, your business, and the ecosystem. This includes actively combating bad actors who try to deceive users or spread malware, and giving you tools to combat abuse.

    • Google Play Protect scans 200 billion apps daily. When it finds a potentially harmful app, we let people know and may even disable particularly dangerous apps.
    • Easier automatic app updates help ensure users have the latest features and improved security. Users with limited Wi-Fi access have the option to get their app updates over mobile data, and within their data budgets. We also launched a new tool that empowers you to prompt users for timely updates.

These are just the highlights. To see how we're continuously improving the experience, check out our quarterly roundup of programs and launches on The Latest.

Investing in our app and game community

We’re continuing to help app and game businesses of all sizes reach their full potential.

    • This year, we’ve doubled the size of our global Indie Games Accelerator program and selected 60 game studios from around the world to participate in a 10-week program of masterclasses, workshops, and access to industry experts.
    • Ten studios from across Latin America were selected to receive a share of $2 million in equity-free funding and hands-on guidance from the Google Play team as part of our Indie Games Fund.
    • And the ChangGoo initiative in Korea has nurtured a thriving startup ecosystem, supporting over 500 startups and attracting over KRW 147.6 billion in investments.

And with another year of #WeArePlay, we shared and celebrated the stories of 300 app and game businesses from all over the world. Take a look back at just a few of the inspiring founders we’ve featured.

Looking ahead

I’m excited about the future of Google Play as a dynamic platform that connects users with your amazing content, wherever they are.

Next year, we're going to continue helping you maximize your investments on Play by:

    • Leaning into content-rich and interactive experiences for apps both within and beyond the Play store,
    • Building on our gaming destination to make it even more personalized, engaging, and part of daily routines, and,
    • Simplifying the payment and checkout experience for your apps and content.

Thanks again for your continued partnership and the innovation you’ve put into your apps and games. From our team to yours, happy holidays and best wishes for an amazing 2025!

Sam Bright 
VP & GM, Google Play + Developer Ecosystem

Four Tips to Help You Build High-Quality, Engaging, and Age-Appropriate Apps

Posted by Mindy Brooks – Senior Director, Android Platform

App developers play a vital role in shaping how people of all ages interact with technology. Whether your app content is specifically designed for kids or simply attracts their attention, there is an added responsibility to ensure a safe and trusted experience. Google is here to support you in that work. Today, we’re sharing some important reminders and updates on how we empower developers to build high-quality, engaging, and age-appropriate apps across the Android ecosystem.

Help Determine Android User Age with Digital IDs

Understanding a user's age range can be critical for providing minors with safer and more appropriate app experiences, as well as complying with local age-related regulations. Android’s new Credential Manager API, now in Beta, addresses this challenge by helping developers verify a user’s age with a digital ID saved to any digital wallet application. Importantly, Android’s Credential Manager was built with both safety and privacy at its core – it minimizes data exposure by only sharing information necessary with developers and asks the user for explicit permission to share an age signal. We encourage you to try out the Beta API for yourself and look forward to hearing your feedback.

While digital IDs are still in their early days, we’re continuing to work with governments on further adoption to strengthen this solution. Android is also exploring how the API can support a range of age assurance methods, helping developers to safely confirm the age of their users, especially for users that can't or don't want to use a digital ID. Please keep in mind that ID-based solutions are just one tool that developers can use to determine age and the best approach will depend on your app.

A diagram showing the flow of information between a user, their Android device, and a developer's app when using the Credential Manager API. The diagram shows how a digital ID from a user's digital wallet is used to provide app information to the developer's app.

Shield Young Users from Inappropriate Content on Google Play

As part of our continued commitment to creating a safe and positive environment for children across the Play Store, we recently launched the Restrict Declared Minors (RDM) setting within the Google Play Console that allows developers to designate their app as inappropriate for minors. When enabled, Google Play users with declared ages below 18 will not be able to download or purchase the app nor will they be able to continue subscriptions or make new purchases if the app is already installed.

Beyond Play’s broader kids safety policies, this new setting gives developers an additional tool to proactively prevent minors from accessing content that may be unsuitable for them. It also empowers developers to take a more proactive role in ensuring their apps reach the appropriate audience. As a reminder, this feature is simply one tool of many to keep your apps safe and we are continuing to improve it based on early feedback. Developers remain solely responsible for compliance with relevant laws and regulations. You can learn more about opting in to RDM here.

Develop Teacher Approved Apps and Games on Google Play

Great content for kids can take many forms, whether that’s sparking curiosity, helping kids learn, or just plain fun. Google Play’s Teacher Approved program highlights high-quality apps that are reviewed and rated by teachers and child development specialists. Our team of teachers and experts across the world review and rate apps on factors like age-appropriateness, quality of experience, enrichment, and delight. For added transparency, we include information in the app listing about why the app was rated highly to help parents determine if the app is right for their child. Apps in the program also must meet strict privacy and security requirements.

Building a teacher-approved app not only helps raise app quality for kids – it can also increase your reach and engagement. All apps in this program are eligible to appear and be featured on Google Play's Kids tab where families go to easily discover quality apps and games. Please visit Google Play Academy for more information about how to design high-quality apps for kids.


Stay Updated With Google Play’s Families Policies

Google Play policies provide additional protections for children and families. Our Families policies require that apps and games targeted to children have appropriate content, show ads suitable for children, and meet other requirements including ones related to personally identifiable information. We frequently update and strengthen these policies to ensure that Google Play remains a place where families can find safe and high-quality content for their children. This includes our new Child Safety Standards Policy for social and dating apps that goes into effect in January.

Developers can showcase compliance with Play’s Families policies with a special badge on the Google Play Data safety section. This is another great way that you can better help families find apps that meet their needs, while supporting Play’s commitment to provide users more transparency and control over their data. To display the badge, please visit the "Security practices" section of your Data Safety form in your Google Play Developer Console.

A mobile phone screen displays an app's data safety information, including data encryption, deletion options, and adherence to Play Families Policy. The 'Data safety' section is expanded within the app's details page.

Additional Resources

Protecting kids online is a responsibility we all share and we hope these reminders are helpful as you prepare for 2025. We’re grateful for your partnership in making Android and Google Play fantastic platforms for delightful, high-quality content for kids and families. For more resources:

Four Tips to Help You Build High-Quality, Engaging, and Age-Appropriate Apps

Posted by Mindy Brooks – Senior Director, Android Platform

App developers play a vital role in shaping how people of all ages interact with technology. Whether your app content is specifically designed for kids or simply attracts their attention, there is an added responsibility to ensure a safe and trusted experience. Google is here to support you in that work. Today, we’re sharing some important reminders and updates on how we empower developers to build high-quality, engaging, and age-appropriate apps across the Android ecosystem.

Help Determine Android User Age with Digital IDs

Understanding a user's age range can be critical for providing minors with safer and more appropriate app experiences, as well as complying with local age-related regulations. Android’s new Credential Manager API, now in Beta, addresses this challenge by helping developers verify a user’s age with a digital ID saved to any digital wallet application. Importantly, Android’s Credential Manager was built with both safety and privacy at its core – it minimizes data exposure by only sharing information necessary with developers and asks the user for explicit permission to share an age signal. We encourage you to try out the Beta API for yourself and look forward to hearing your feedback.

While digital IDs are still in their early days, we’re continuing to work with governments on further adoption to strengthen this solution. Android is also exploring how the API can support a range of age assurance methods, helping developers to safely confirm the age of their users, especially for users that can't or don't want to use a digital ID. Please keep in mind that ID-based solutions are just one tool that developers can use to determine age and the best approach will depend on your app.

A diagram showing the flow of information between a user, their Android device, and a developer's app when using the Credential Manager API. The diagram shows how a digital ID from a user's digital wallet is used to provide app information to the developer's app.

Shield Young Users from Inappropriate Content on Google Play

As part of our continued commitment to creating a safe and positive environment for children across the Play Store, we recently launched the Restrict Declared Minors (RDM) setting within the Google Play Console that allows developers to designate their app as inappropriate for minors. When enabled, Google Play users with declared ages below 18 will not be able to download or purchase the app nor will they be able to continue subscriptions or make new purchases if the app is already installed.

Beyond Play’s broader kids safety policies, this new setting gives developers an additional tool to proactively prevent minors from accessing content that may be unsuitable for them. It also empowers developers to take a more proactive role in ensuring their apps reach the appropriate audience. As a reminder, this feature is simply one tool of many to keep your apps safe and we are continuing to improve it based on early feedback. Developers remain solely responsible for compliance with relevant laws and regulations. You can learn more about opting in to RDM here.

Develop Teacher Approved Apps and Games on Google Play

Great content for kids can take many forms, whether that’s sparking curiosity, helping kids learn, or just plain fun. Google Play’s Teacher Approved program highlights high-quality apps that are reviewed and rated by teachers and child development specialists. Our team of teachers and experts across the world review and rate apps on factors like age-appropriateness, quality of experience, enrichment, and delight. For added transparency, we include information in the app listing about why the app was rated highly to help parents determine if the app is right for their child. Apps in the program also must meet strict privacy and security requirements.

Building a teacher-approved app not only helps raise app quality for kids – it can also increase your reach and engagement. All apps in this program are eligible to appear and be featured on Google Play's Kids tab where families go to easily discover quality apps and games. Please visit Google Play Academy for more information about how to design high-quality apps for kids.


Stay Updated With Google Play’s Families Policies

Google Play policies provide additional protections for children and families. Our Families policies require that apps and games targeted to children have appropriate content, show ads suitable for children, and meet other requirements including ones related to personally identifiable information. We frequently update and strengthen these policies to ensure that Google Play remains a place where families can find safe and high-quality content for their children. This includes our new Child Safety Standards Policy for social and dating apps that goes into effect in January.

Developers can showcase compliance with Play’s Families policies with a special badge on the Google Play Data safety section. This is another great way that you can better help families find apps that meet their needs, while supporting Play’s commitment to provide users more transparency and control over their data. To display the badge, please visit the "Security practices" section of your Data Safety form in your Google Play Developer Console.

A mobile phone screen displays an app's data safety information, including data encryption, deletion options, and adherence to Play Families Policy. The 'Data safety' section is expanded within the app's details page.

Additional Resources

Protecting kids online is a responsibility we all share and we hope these reminders are helpful as you prepare for 2025. We’re grateful for your partnership in making Android and Google Play fantastic platforms for delightful, high-quality content for kids and families. For more resources: