Google Play's 1 November extension is the last chance to get your Android app onto API 36
The 31 August Google Play deadline has passed, and the only extension available ends on 1 November 2026. Android app owners who requested more time have about four weeks left to ship an update targeting Android 16 (API level 36).
2 October 2026
Searches for “Google Play API 36 deadline” and “Play Console extension” have shifted from “what is this?” to “how long do we have?”. The answer is about four weeks.
Where things stand
Since 31 August 2026, every new app and every app update on Google Play must target Android 16 (API level 36) or higher. Developers who asked for more time in Play Console were granted an extension, but it ends on 1 November 2026. There is no second extension on offer.
What happens if the date is missed
Your app is not removed and existing users keep it. The damage is quieter: apps that stay below the required level become harder for new users to find on newer Android devices, so installs drop without any visible error. On large screens, API 36 also removes the ability to lock orientation, and the edge-to-edge screen layout can no longer be switched off, so some apps need visible design fixes, not just a version bump.
A pattern worth noting
Google repeats this every year: each Android version becomes the required target roughly twelve months after release. The deadline is predictable, which makes missing it a maintenance failure, not bad luck.
So what
If your Android app is on an extension, ask your developer three questions this week. Which API level does the live version target? Has the update been tested on large screens and tablets? What is the release date, allowing for Play review time? An app that has not been updated in a year is the most likely to be caught out. Our iOS and Android team handles exactly this kind of maintenance, or get in touch and we will check your app’s current target level.