What determines the devices that google play will offer apps to?

Question

I had assumed that if your manifest contains a line <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="X" /> then google play automatically knows to only show your app in the play store to people whose devices have android X or higher.... But I just recently tried out uploading an app (as beta) which contains <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="8" /> but upon looking at the app in the store on a PC (visible only to invited beta testers), it says in the store listing "Requires android 1.6 and up". This has confused me because I thought that SDK8 corresponded to Android 2.2.

I have the same issue (showing as 1.6+ in app store). However I am using a minSDK of 11... — sprocket12, Jan 09 '14 at 12:16
@MuhammadA: Is that with a beta release? I guess it could just be a google bug that only shows up for beta apps. — Mick, Jan 09 '14 at 12:18

score 4 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:25

4

Here is the official documentation of filtering criteria, and this is a list of all API levels.

The specific issue you have seems to be a bug with Google Play, see this question (and a few more unanswered ones here or here).

edited May 23 '17 at 10:25

Community

1
1

answered Jan 09 '14 at 12:06

molnarm

9,856
2
42
60

But that documentation would indicate that my line is correct, but why does the listing say "Requires android 1.6 and up"? – Mick Jan 09 '14 at 12:10

score -1 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 09 '14 at 11:59

A the Goolge play store looks after our androidmaifest.com

<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="X"
          android:targetSdkVersion="X" 
          android:maxSdkVersion="X"/>

as the min sdk tells that it will support from the api level and max sdk tell that it will support for that high level of devices.version. by looking after in the manifest files the Google play store will decide

What determines the devices that google play will offer apps to?

2 Answers2