Android Question App must target Android 15 (API level 35) or higher

[Alex_197]

Hi all.

I just received an email from the Google Play market.

Issue details



App must target Android 15 (API level 35) or higher



Status

• You won't be able to release app updates (60 days away)

Date sent
Jul 1, 2025

Deadline
Aug 30, 2025


To provide users with a safe and secure experience, Google Play requires all apps to meet target API level requirements.
From Aug 30, 2025, if your target API level is not within 1 year of the latest Android release, you won't be able to update your app.

Can we use API level 35 already?
Thanks.

 

[JohnC]

Yes, you can target API level 35 right now, but be aware it could break things in your app — especially if you're using outdated libraries or relying on deprecated behavior.

That said, you don't necessarily need to change anything immediately.

From what Google is saying:

• You can continue to release updates with targetSdkVersion 34 up until August 30, 2025.
• Starting August 31, 2025, any new updates must target API level 35 to be accepted by the Play Store.

So unless you plan to push updates after that date, there's no immediate action required. But if your app is still actively maintained, it’s smart to start testing against API 35 now to catch potential issues early.

 

[Alessandro71]

Time for @Erel to update this thread: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/android-jar-targetsdkversion-minsdkversion.87610/

 

[Filippo]

Yes, you can target API level 35 right now, but be aware it could break things in your app — especially if you're using outdated libraries or relying on deprecated behavior.

That said, you don't necessarily need to change anything immediately.

From what Google is saying:

• You can continue to release updates with targetSdkVersion 34 up until August 30, 2025.
• Starting August 31, 2025, any new updates must target API level 35 to be accepted by the Play Store.

So unless you plan to push updates after that date, there's no immediate action required. But if your app is still actively maintained, it’s smart to start testing against API 35 now to catch potential issues early.

@JohnC
Unfortunately, your explanation is not quite correct.
In my e-mail, this is written below:

Here is the translation in English:

10 of your apps do not meet the Google Play target API level requirements

We have discovered that 10 of your apps are targeting an old version of Android and we want to provide our users with the most secure environment possible. For this reason, all apps on Google Play must meet the target API level requirements by 31.08.2025.

 

[Alessandro71]

there's an option on the play console to request more time and postpone the deadline to 1 November.
I already requested (and been granted) for all my apps.
2 months deadline is just too short

 

[JohnC]

@JohnC
Unfortunately, your explanation is not quite correct.

Actually, here is a more detailed description explaining what will happen with your apps after 8/30/25 if you don't update them to SDK level 35:

https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/11926878?hl=en

What really happens after August 30, 2025:

• If your app targets API 35 or higher, it will be fully visible and updatable for all users.
• If your app targets API 34 (Android 14), it will still remain available to all users, including those running Android 15 and above.
  This is confirmed by Google’s own wording:
  

  “Existing apps must target Android 14 (API level 34) or higher to remain available to new users on devices running Android OS higher than your app’s target API level.”

• If your app targets API 33 or lower, it will no longer be visible to new users on Android 14+ devices.
  For example, an app targeting API 33 will only show up on Android 13 and earlier devices.

So to be clear:

• Apps won’t be removed from the Play Store after August 30, 2025 if they don't target level 35.
• But they will become undiscoverable to users running Android versions higher than your app’s target SDK.
• However, if your app targets API 34, it will remain fully visible even on Android 15 devices.
• The only hard cutoff is: after August 30, 2025, you can’t publish updates unless your app targets API 35 or higher.

TL;DR:
If you don't update to target SDK 35, your app won’t vanish — it just becomes invisible to users running a version of Android higher than your Target level if your app is targeting below 34. But if you're at API 34, your app will still be fully visible across the board.

 

[Filippo]

@JohnC
Thank you, now everything is much clearer.