Google Play news and Magazines policy: fixes and checks
By The Draftbit team · Updated
Sources checked
This guide is for Apps declared or presented as news or magazine apps.
News and magazine apps need clear publishing sources, current content, and a completed Play Console declaration. Google doesn’t allow their primary purpose to be affiliate marketing or advertising revenue.
What to check
Review your declared category, title, description, icon, and developer name against the policy’s definition. Check that each article identifies its source, such as the original publisher or author.
For aggregators, make third-party publishing sources clear. Verify that contact information is current and easy to reach. If users must pay, provide an in-app content preview before purchase.
How to address the rejection
Complete the declaration, add missing attribution and contact details, and fix stale or static content. Provide a genuine preview that helps users understand what they’re buying.
Test several articles from different feeds and the subscriber onboarding flow. A news label alone doesn’t make an affiliate catalog a qualifying news app. Explain the changed sources, update process, and preview path in review notes so Google can verify the experience.
Messages this guide can help with
News and Magazines; News and Magazines policy violation; News and Magazines rejection; News and Magazines denied
Official sources
We checked these instructions against the sources below. The console layout may change, and your review decision may call for different steps.
- Google Play: News and Magazines Checked 22 September 2026