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Fixing a Google Play Metadata policy rejection for ranking or award claims
Google Play's Metadata policy doesn't allow your listing to suggest it's ranked, popular or award-winning. The rejection email names where the problem was found, often the app icon, and you fix it by changing the listing graphics or text and sending the changes for review again.
“Claims about store performance, ranking, or awards (for example: “Best,” “#1,” “Top,” “App of the Year”)”
Google Play rejection email, Metadata policy
What the rule says
- The policy covers your title, icon, developer name, description, screenshots and promotional images.
- Not allowed: text or imagery that suggests store performance or ranking (“#1”, “Best”, “Top”, “Popular”, “App of the year”), award badges, price or promo text (“10% off”, “free for limited time”) and Google Play program references (“Editor's choice”, “New”).
- The title must be 30 characters or less, without emojis or repeated special characters, and not in ALL CAPS unless that's the brand.
It happened to us too
This happened to our own app too. Our WriteOff icon had a gold circle with a check mark on a receipt. To us it meant “done”; to the reviewer it looked like a seal or award badge. We redrew the icon without the badge, regenerated the feature graphic that contained the old icon, and sent the listing for review again.
How to fix it
- Read “Where this issue was found”. The email lists the location and language, for example “App icon (en-US)”. Start there, but check everything: the email says the issue may appear elsewhere too.
- Remove badge-like graphics. Seals, ribbons, stars, trophies, laurels, check-mark medallions and “No.1” style marks can all read as awards. Keep the icon to the app's own symbol.
- Check graphics that contain the icon. Feature graphics and screenshots often include the icon. Replace those as well, in every language that has its own graphics.
- Clean the text. Remove “best”, “#1”, “top”, “popular”, prices and offers from the title, short description and full description.
- Save and send for review. Upload the new assets in Main store listing, save, then go to Publishing overview and send the changes for review. Match the in-app launcher icon in your next build.
Questions
Do I need a new app bundle?
Not for the listing. Store graphics and text are fixed in Play Console. Update the launcher icon in your next build so the app matches.
Can I say “best” in reviews I quote?
Unattributed or anonymous testimonials aren't allowed in the description either, so avoid quoting reviews there.
How long does review take after the fix?
It varies. Many listing changes are reviewed within a few days; Play Console shows the status in Publishing overview.
Will repeated rejections hurt my account?
Repeated policy violations can lead to stronger enforcement, so it's worth checking the whole listing once instead of fixing one field at a time.
Other rejection fixes
- Fixing an App Store rejection under Guideline 2.3.7 (Accurate Metadata)
- Fixing an App Store rejection under Guideline 2.1 (App Completeness)
Updated October 28, 2026. Store rules change; always read the current message in App Store Connect or Play Console. This page isn't affiliated with Apple or Google.
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