If you are an app developer, it is not something you want to see, but sometimes you will get an email from Google Play Support with "Publishing status: Rejected".
Specifically, what can happen is that there is an issue with the "Violation of Metadata policy". Here are a few common questions and answers regarding the process of submitting an update again.
Do I need to upload a new APK?
No. You can submit an update to the metadata and it will be processed again. Change the description, for example, and press the "Submit update" button at the bottom of the store listing page. On the app dashboard, you should see the hint "Processing update".
How long does Google Play processing take?
The system usually needs 0 to 48 hours to process updates. Once the app has been published, the dashboard shows messages like "Published" and "All updates are live".
During the COVID-19 crisis, processing times increased substantially, sometimes up to 7 days or more.
Does another update reset processing?
Yes. If you make another change or submission while the previous submission is still being processed, the processing procedure can reset. To get your app processed as soon as possible, avoid submitting additional changes while a previous submission is still pending.
Can I contact Google Play support?
Yes. There are several ways to contact the Google Play support team:
- Chat: available in English through the Google Play Console support flow.
- Email: use the Play Console contact form and wait for the support team's response.
- Appeal: if your developer account has been terminated or you believe your app was rejected in error, use the appeal link from the enforcement email.
Google changes Play Console support flows over time, so treat old screenshots and UI labels as historical context and check the current Play Console for the exact wording.