Starting August 31, 2026:
- New apps and app updates must target Android 16 (API level 36) or higher to be submitted to Google Play; except for Wear OS, and Android Automotive OS apps, which must target Android 15 (API level 35) or higher, and Android TV and Android XR apps, which must target Android 14 (API level 34) or higher.
- Existing apps must target Android 15 (API level 35) or higher to remain available to new users on devices running Android OS higher than your app’s target API level. Apps that target Android 14 (API level 34) or lower, including Android 13 (API level 33) or lower for Wear OS and Android TV, and Android XR, and Android 12 (API level 31) or lower for Android Automotive OS will only be available on devices running Android OS that are the same or lower than your apps’ target API level.
You will be able to request an extension to November 1, 2026 if you need more time to update your app. You'll be able to access your app's extension forms in Play Console later this year.
Every new Android version introduces changes that enhance the user experience, security, and performance of the Android platform overall. Each app specifies a targetSdkVersion (also known as the target API level) in the manifest file. The target API level indicates how your app is meant to run on different Android versions.
Configuring your app to target a recent API level ensures that users benefit from security, privacy, and performance improvements, while still allowing an app to run on older Android versions (down to the specified minSdkVersion).
To provide Android and Google Play users with a safe experience, Google Play requires all apps to meet target API level requirements listed below.
Exceptions to these requirements include the following:
- Permanently private apps that are restricted to users in a specific organization and intended for internal distribution only.
Definitions
| New app | An app that is not yet published on Google Play (that is, a brand new app). |
| Existing app | An app that is published on Google Play. |
| App update | A new version of the app that you’re submitting for review to replace your existing app. |
App update requirements
|
Android OS version |
When are new app and app update submissions required to target this API level? | |
| New apps | App updates | |
|
Android 16 (API level 36)* |
August 31, 2026 |
August 31, 2026 |
|
Android 15(API level 35) |
August 31, 2025 |
August 31, 2025 |
*Developers will be able to request an extension to November 1, 2026.
Wear OS app requirements
|
Android OS version (API level) |
When are Wear OS app submissions required to target this API level? | |
| New apps | App updates | |
| Android 15(API level 35) or higher | August 31, 2026 | August 31, 2026 |
| Android 14 (API level 34) or higher | August 31, 2025 | August 31, 2025 |
Android TV app requirements
|
Android OS version (API level) |
When are Android TV app submissions required to target this API level? | |
| New apps | App updates | |
| Android 14 (API level 34) or higher | August 31, 2025 | August 31, 2025 |