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Google Play · Uploads blocked

New apps and updates must target Android 16, API level 36

Google Play will not accept a new app or an update to an existing phone or tablet app unless it is built to target Android 16. Without an approved extension, you cannot publish changes.

33 days left

until the extension ends on 1 Nov 2026

In force since 31 Aug 2026 for apps without an extension. Apps with one have until 1 Nov 2026.

If you miss it
Uploads blocked
Platforms
Android
Devices
Phones, Tablets
Built with
Any framework

How to fix it

An outline for each way of building the app. Stayshipped writes the full fix task for your code, ready for your AI coding tool.

Kotlin / native Android
  1. Set targetSdk (and compileSdk) to 36 in the app module's build file, or in the version catalog if the project uses one.
  2. Update the Android Gradle Plugin and Kotlin to versions that support API 36, then sync.
  3. Read the behaviour changes for API 36 and fix anything that affects the app: permissions, foreground services, intents, edge-to-edge.
  4. Update AndroidX and third-party libraries that fail to build or warn against the new SDK.

Check that

  • ./gradlew assembleRelease succeeds
  • The merged manifest shows targetSdkVersion 36
  • The app runs on an API 36 emulator without crashes on the main flows
Flutter
  1. Check android/app/build.gradle. If it uses flutter.targetSdkVersion, upgrade Flutter to a release whose default is 36 or set targetSdk = 36 explicitly.
  2. Run flutter upgrade if needed, then flutter pub upgrade --major-versions for plugins that don't support API 36.
  3. Update the Android Gradle Plugin in android/settings.gradle to a version that supports API 36.

Check that

  • flutter build appbundle succeeds
  • targetSdkVersion in the built bundle is 36
  • The app runs on an API 36 emulator
Expo
  1. Upgrade to an Expo SDK whose default Android target is 36, with npx expo install expo@latest --fix, or set android.targetSdkVersion with the expo-build-properties plugin.
  2. Run npx expo install --check to align native modules.
  3. Rebuild with EAS: eas build -p android.

Check that

  • The EAS build succeeds
  • The built app's targetSdkVersion is 36
React Native
  1. Set targetSdkVersion = 36 and compileSdkVersion = 36 in android/build.gradle ext block.
  2. Upgrade React Native if the current version doesn't support API 36; use the React Native Upgrade Helper for the diff.
  3. Update native libraries that fail to build.

Check that

  • cd android && ./gradlew assembleRelease succeeds
  • The app runs on an API 36 emulator

Official sources

We last checked this rule against its sources on 28 Sept 2026.

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