PLAY PERMISSIONS

Know whether to keep READ_CONTACTS or swap to Contact Picker — before review flags you.

For indie Android builders shipping on Google Play. Answer a few questions about contacts and location. Get a clear path (picker / location button / declaration / unaffected), a printable ship checklist, and optional manifest snippets — all in your browser, nothing uploaded.

Start checklist Runs in your browser · nothing uploaded

Decision, not a wall of docs

Play Help and Android blogs explain Contact Picker and the location button. This checklist turns your feature map into one path so you do not guess on launch week.

Dates that matter

Console pre-review flags started around late October 2026. Mandatory Contacts and Location policy compliance is January 27, 2027 (with a short self-extension). Plan before you bump targetSdk to 37.

Guides beside the wizard

How-to steps, honest FAQ boundaries, and release scenarios sit next to the checklist so you can ship without hunting Help Center tabs.

Open the decision checklist

Answer contacts + location questions. Copy your path, checklist, and snippets.

How to run it

Eight steps from permission inventory to Console pre-review clearance.

Use cases

Invite-only app, nearby search, dialer/CRM that must keep READ_CONTACTS.

FAQ

What this is not, custom pickers, background location, and legal honesty.
What policies this covers (for implementers)
  1. Contacts Permissions — Android 17+ apps may keep READ_CONTACTS only when Contact Picker (or similar minimum-scope path) is not enough for core functionality; otherwise use the system picker / Sharesheet.
  2. Location button — one-time precise location on Android 17+ should use the location button / onlyForLocationButton when that is enough; persistent fine location needs a Console declaration.
  3. Timeline — announced April 15, 2026; pre-review checks from late October 2026; mandatory January 27, 2027 per live Policy Deadlines.
  4. Not covered here — SMS/Call Log, background location deep review, App Store 5.1.1 deletion, or legal advice.

This is not a Play Console substitute, not a legal opinion, and not affiliated with Google. Always re-read live Help Center pages the week you ship.