2026-09-01 · App Review & Publishing

WebView Apps: Website Owner Authorization & the 'Webviews and Affiliate Spam' Policy

1. Google's Webviews and Affiliate Spam policy requires you to be the website owner, or hold written authorization from the site owner, before publishing an app that displays the site's content in a WebView - this is the #1 rejection reason for WebView apps.

2. Apps whose primary purpose is to drive affiliate traffic to a website are prohibited outright - the app must deliver value beyond sending users to a website.

3. Keep proof ready: domain registration records (WHOIS), DNS TXT verification, or a signed agreement with the site owner. If Google requests it, submit the documentation via the Advance Notice Form, or attach it to your appeal in Play Console after a rejection.

4. 2026 enforcement has tightened: raw WebView apps that merely mirror a website without app-specific value are rejected under Minimum Functionality - add at least 2-3 native features (push notifications, native navigation, offline fallback, biometric login) so the app offers what a mobile browser cannot.

5. Submission checklist for WebView apps: use AAB format, meet the current target API level, integrate Play Integrity, keep screenshots and descriptions accurate, pick the right category, provide a privacy policy, and offer in-app account deletion if users can create accounts.

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