Google Play user Ratings, Reviews, and Installs policy: fixes and checks

Google prohibits manipulating ratings, reviews, or install counts. Rewards for reviews and fabricated user activity can violate this rule even if a marketing provider runs the campaign.

What to check

Inspect review prompts, referral rewards, agency contracts, and purchased traffic. Check whether a discount, in-app item, or other benefit depends on rating the app.

Review your replies to customers too. Keep replies focused on the reported issue; don’t ask for a higher rating or turn the response into unrelated promotion.

How to address the rejection

Stop incentivized or fraudulent campaigns and remove reward-linked review prompts. Use a straightforward request for honest feedback without pressuring users toward a particular score.

Check that installing other apps isn’t the main purpose of your app’s incentive system. Document the provider, campaign, and UI changes in your response. You can’t repair manipulated ratings simply by asking more users for positive reviews; address the mechanism that produced the illegitimate activity.