What should I do if my Google Play Developer Account isn't verified?

In May 2024, Google began requiring any organization with a Google Play Developer Account to provide additional information to verify they are who they say they are.

These additional requirements were introduced for new Google Play Developer Accounts in July 2023, but only became a requirement for existing account holders the following year.

You can read more about Google's policy on its website.

How do I know if I need to verify my account?

Google will contact the registered account holder directly, informing them they have 60 days to provide the required information.

Your station should be the account holder for the Google Play Developer Account, which distributes your app. As such, any verification info will be sent to you directly.

Aiir is not notified of accounts needing verification, nor are we able to assist with submitting information to Google.

What information is required?

Google typically asks you to confirm your station's legal name, address and contact details. In some cases, you may need to provide a copy of a document which confirms your business name in Google Play matches its profile with Dun & Bradstreet.

What happens if I don't verify my account information with Google?

If your account is not verified within the initial 60 day deadline Google set, your developer profile and apps may be removed from Google Play and no longer available to Android users.

If this happens to you, you may have to create a new Google Play Developer Account and re-submit your apps to the store.

I need more time to verify the account. Can the deadline be extended?

Google provides a one-time option to extend the verification deadline by an additional 90 days.

Login to your Google Play Developer Account within the initial 60 day verification period, then click the notification at the top of the Play Console homepage and click 'Get a 90 day extension'.

Google removed my developer profile and I need to restore my station's app. What do I do now?

1. Log in to your existing Google Play Developer Account and confirm there is no option to provide the missing verification information. If there is, follow the steps to provide the info Google wants, and your account may be reinstated.
2. If there is no way to restore your account, log out and create a new Google Play Developer Account. You may need to pay another $25 registration fee to Google.
3. Once your account is active, invite Aiir to distribute your apps.
4. Login to the Aiir CMS and prepare updates for any apps which have been removed from the Google Play Store. Leave a note to let the development team know the apps need to be distributed via the new account and provide details (like the account name - if different to the previous one, or the associated email address). We can then submit a new app to Google Play that will be identical to the one which was removed.
5. Once the new version of the app has been submitted to the store, any listeners who have downloaded the original app will find it has stopped working. They should be directed to re-download the new app via Google Play.