Google Play Target Audience and Content Declaration
How to pick an age group, what triggers the Families Policy and which listing mistakes get apps rejected.
Read the guide →Google Play Content Rating Questionnaire: How to Answer
Quick answer The Google Play content rating questionnaire is in Play Console under Policy > App content. Answer honestly about violence, language, user interaction and purchases, and retake it when your app changes.
Every app needs a content rating before most users see it, and the content rating questionnaire is where that rating comes from. It looks harmless, a few pages of yes and no, but a careless answer can lead to a wrong rating, a rejected update or even a removed app. This guide shows how the Google Play content rating questionnaire works, how to answer it honestly and what to do when your app changes.
What is the Google Play content rating questionnaire?
Content ratings help users, especially parents, judge whether an app suits them, and they can be used for blocking or filtering where legally required. Google's content ratings help page explains that independent rating authorities assign the rating from the answers you give. You do not choose the rating yourself: you describe the app, and the system calculates it.
Who must complete the questionnaire?
| Situation | Must you complete it? |
|---|---|
| A new app you submit to Play Console | Yes |
| An existing active app without a rating | Yes |
| An update that changes content or features so your answers would change | Yes, retake it |
| An update that changes nothing relevant | No |
It sits alongside other required declarations. Google notes that the target audience section needs you to declare ads, provide app access instructions and add a privacy policy first. See the target audience and content declaration, app access instructions and the Data safety form.
How do you complete the questionnaire?
- Open App contentIn Play Console go to Policy > App content and click Start next to the content rating.
- Enter your emailIARC uses it for correspondence about your rating.
- Select a categoryChoose the category that best fits, then click Next.
- Answer the questionsYou can save a draft and finish later. Each app can have only one draft.
- Review the summaryCheck the ratings calculated for each authority.
- SubmitClick Submit. To change your answers later, click Start new questionnaire on the Content rating page.
How should you answer the questions?
The questions typically ask what a user can see or do in the app. Think about the whole app, including ads, links and anything users create, not just the screens you designed. Use this checklist:
| Topic | Ask yourself | Common trap |
|---|---|---|
| Violence | Does the app show or let users act out violence? | Cartoon violence in games still counts. Describe it accurately. |
| Sexual content or nudity | Is any present, even in ads or user content? | Third-party ad content can change the picture. |
| Language | Does it include profanity or crude humor? | Check text in chat and reviews you display. |
| Controlled substances | Is drug, alcohol or tobacco use shown or promoted? | Mentions in game stories count. |
| User interaction | Can users chat, share or meet others? | Chat, forums and comments raise the rating. |
| Sharing location or personal data | Does the app share a user's location or personal information? | Needs to match your Data safety answers. |
| Purchases and gambling-like features | Are there in-app purchases or random rewards? | Loot boxes and spin wheels need honest answers. |
Be consistent: Your questionnaire answers, your store listing, your privacy policy and your Data safety form should all describe the same app. Mismatches are a common source of review problems. See why apps get rejected.
Which rating authorities are involved?
| Authority | Region |
|---|---|
| ESRB | Americas |
| PEGI | Europe and the Middle East |
| USK | Germany |
| Australian Classification Board | Australia (games only) |
| ClassInd | Brazil |
| GRAC | South Korea (games only) |
| Google Play Rating | South Korea (apps) and Russia |
| IARC Generic | Other areas without a participating authority |
Users see the rating of their own region. If a rating authority overrides your rating and you want to change your responses, you must also retake the questionnaire.
What happens if you answer wrongly?
Google states that misrepresentation of your app's content may result in its removal or suspension, and app updates and submissions can be rejected for misrepresenting content. In a worst case, repeated policy problems can affect your whole account. Read what to do if a developer account is terminated so you know the stakes. If your territory refuses a classification, IARC emails you and Play Console shows Refused classification. Google removes the app only in that territory.
When should you retake the questionnaire?
- You add chat, comments or any user-generated content.
- You add or change ads, purchases or reward mechanics.
- You add mature themes, violence or new characters.
- You add location sharing or social features.
- A rating authority overrides your result and you want to update your answers.
Before every major update, run through the checklist. A new release goes smoother when your declarations match the app. See how to update an app on Google Play.
Part of a series: this article is one chapter of Google Play Closed Testing: The Complete Guide. Start there for the full roadmap from setup to production.
Sources
How do you answer for common app types?
These examples show the thinking. Your answers must reflect your own app and the current form.
| App | Think about | Likely sensitive answers |
|---|---|---|
| Casual puzzle game | Ads, purchases, social sharing | In-app purchases, ads, possibly user interaction |
| Notes or utility app | Almost nothing violent or mature | Possibly none, but declare ads and data sharing honestly |
| Chat or dating app | User-generated content and meeting strangers | User interaction, sharing personal information, possibly sexual content from users |
| Shooter or battle game | Realistic vs cartoon violence | Violence level must be described accurately |
| News or social feed | Content you do not control | User-generated and external content |
After you submit
- Check the summaryMake sure the ratings for each region look plausible for your app.
- Compare with your listingScreenshots and descriptions should match the rating.
- Align the other formsTarget audience, Data safety, ads. See target audience and content declaration
- Keep a copy of your answersScreenshot them so you can repeat them next time.
- Retake when features changeSee how to update an app
Frequently asked questions
Who has to complete the content rating questionnaire?
Google says it applies to new apps you submit to Play Console, existing active apps that do not have a rating, and updates that change content or features in a way that affects your answers.
Who assigns the rating?
Rating authorities participating in IARC assign it from your answers. They include ESRB for the Americas, PEGI for Europe and the Middle East, USK for Germany, and others. IARC Generic is used where no authority participates.
What happens if I answer wrongly?
Google says misrepresenting your app's content may result in its removal or suspension, and updates or submissions can be rejected.
Can I change my answers later?
Yes. Start a new questionnaire from the Content rating page, and retake it whenever your content or features change in ways that affect your answers.
Why does Google ask for my email address?
The email is used by IARC for correspondence about your rating.
Can an app be refused a rating?
In some territories a rating authority may refuse classification. Google says IARC emails you and Play Console shows Refused classification, and the app is removed only in that territory.
