Google Play and App Store deadlines, November 2026 to October 2027
9 deadlines for app developers in the next 12 months, from Google Play, Firebase and Apple. Each one links to the platform's own page, and each was checked there on 10 October 2026. 6 have an exact day; three have only a month so far. Rules we left out, and why, are at the end.
For the April 2027 sign-in rule, Play Restore Keys checks a Firebase app's restore key setup for free (10 checks a day, no account).
November 2026
1 November 2026: Google Play
The extension for the target API rule ends. New apps and app updates must target Android 16 (API level 36), as everyone else has had to since 31 August 2026.
Who: Developers who got an extension.
If you miss it: Their new apps and updates cannot be published. A separate rule covers every existing app: one that targets lower than API 35 is no longer offered to new users on newer Android versions.
Source: Target API level requirements
1 November 2026: Google Play Billing
The extension for Play Billing Library 7 ends. Apps must use version 8 or later.
Who: Apps still on version 7 that got an extension.
If you miss it: New apps and updates cannot be published.
January 2027
27 January 2027: Google Play policy
Two policy changes. Apps that do not need broad contacts access must use the Android Contact Picker. The call log permission (READ_CALL_LOG) can no longer be used to verify an account by phone call.
Who: Apps that read contacts or the call log.
If you miss it: Google enforces these as Play policy. The deadline page does not name a penalty.
Source: Play policy deadlines
February 2027
1 February 2027: Google Play
App updates that do not support 16 KB memory pages on 64-bit devices cannot be released. This applies to apps that target API 35 or higher.
Who: Apps with native code: NDK or C/C++, or native libraries from Flutter, React Native, Unity and other SDKs.
If you miss it: The update cannot be released.
Source: Support 16 KB page sizes
February 2027 (no day yet): Google Play
Two new technical quality rules. Memory: new thresholds for memory and bitmap memory, measured at the 90th percentile over 28 days. Code: at least 25% of an upload's DEX code must be optimized (shrunk and obfuscated).
Who: Memory: apps above the thresholds on the source page. Code: apps with over 10 MB of DEX code and games with over 50 MB of DEX code.
If you miss it: Google says it "can affect visibility and publishing capabilities".
Source: Technical quality requirements
March 2027
31 March 2027: Firebase Extensions
The Extensions service shuts down. Installed extensions keep running, but they can no longer be updated, reconfigured or uninstalled from the console or the CLI. The FAQ names an ext:migrate command to move off them.
Who: Every Firebase project with an extension installed, such as Stripe payments, Resize Images or BigQuery export.
If you miss it: The extension gets no more fixes, and removing it later means deleting its Cloud resources by hand. The FAQ does not say whether ext:migrate works after 31 March, so run it before.
Source: Firebase Extensions FAQ
April 2027
April 2027 (no day yet): Google Play
Apps with sign-in must sign the user back in on a new phone without any taps (zero-tap sign-in restoration). Google checks whether the app retrieves its restore key. Apps that integrated Block Store to restore sign-in on or before 30 September 2026 already count. Games are out of scope for now.
Who: Phone and tablet apps that let users sign in.
If you miss it: Google says apps will be notified, and that missing a requirement can affect visibility and publishing.
Source: Technical quality requirements. Our guide: What this rule means for Firebase apps
April 2027 (no day yet): Apple App Store
Uploads must be built with the version 27 SDK or later for their platform (iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, visionOS or watchOS). Apple also says iOS apps must "target iOS 15 or later".
Who: Every developer who uploads a new build to App Store Connect.
If you miss it: App Store Connect does not accept the upload.
August 2027
31 August 2027: Google Play Billing
Play Billing Library 8 is deprecated. New apps and updates must use version 9 or later. An extension to 1 November 2027 can be requested.
Who: Apps with in-app purchases or subscriptions still on version 8 or earlier.
If you miss it: New apps and updates cannot be published.
Not listed here
- Google Play's change to geofencing as a foreground service use. Google's pages give two different dates.
- US state app store laws (Utah, Louisiana, California). We found them only in law firm summaries, not on an official page we could open.
- Target API level 37, which Google expects to require in August 2027. The only official source we found is a January 2025 blog post that calls the date anticipated.
- Android developer verification for apps outside Google Play. Google says 2027 but gives no date.
Check a Firebase app for the April 2027 rule
Restore keys need a server that checks them, and Firebase Authentication does not have one. Play Restore Keys checks your setup for free: 10 checks a day, no account. It does not test your app and is not a Google Play compliance review.