Blog
Notes from shipping apps
Policy deadlines explained, myths corrected, and what actually broke while shipping real apps to both stores.
- Google Play's closed testing requirement is 12 testers, not 20
Google's live documentation says 12 testers opted in continuously for 14 days. The widely repeated 20 is out of date. What counts, and why the wrong number spread.
- Google Play's target API level 36 deadline is 31 August 2026
From 31 August 2026 new apps and updates must target Android 16 (API level 36). How to check your target, what breaks, and the extension to 1 November.