Getting rejected on the Google Play Console due to broken functionality can be a frustrating setback — especially when you’re confident your app is ready to launch.
❌ Rejection: “Policy Violation: Broken Functionality”
If you’re seeing this error, don’t worry. This guide will help you identify what went wrong and show you how to fix it so your app gets approved.
“Broken functionality” means that your app does not perform as expected during Google’s testing. This could be due to bugs, failed screens, errors in your code, or non-working features mentioned in your store listing.
Common triggers for this rejection:
🚫 App crashes on launch or after login
🚫 Buttons or forms that do nothing
🚫 Dead links or missing screens
🚫 In-app purchases that don’t go through
🚫 Features in your Play Store description that don’t actually work
Google’s reviewers test the app on multiple Android devices — and if anything essential breaks, your app will be rejected.
Issue |
Example |
Result |
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Answer a few quick questions and get a custom report on your app potential, missed opportunities, and where to level up.
Before submitting your Android app, make sure to:
Test every major flow (onboarding, login, purchases, settings)
Try it on different screen sizes and Android versions
Use real devices, not just emulators
Simulate bad connectivity to see how the app responds
Watch for crashes, dead ends, or missing data
💡 ShopApper Pro Tip: We run all apps through cross-device, real-user testing — not just automated checks — before submission.
Crashes are the #1 reason for functionality rejections.
To prevent this:
Use Android Studio’s Logcat and debugger to identify crash points
Fix memory leaks, poor error handling, or network timeouts
Run a crash test using Firebase Crashlytics or Play Console pre-launch reports
Monitor performance under both normal and edge-case conditions
If you say your app includes in-app chat, filters, or a purchase system — reviewers will test those exact features.
Checklist:
✅ Can the user log in or sign up?
✅ Do all tabs, links, and buttons work?
✅ Do pages load properly, even with no data?
✅ Is any promoted feature missing or disabled?
💡 ShopApper helps ensure that every feature mentioned in your listing is tested and verified before submission.
Google is strict about apps offering purchases or subscriptions. If your app allows paid upgrades or digital purchases:
Ensure payment flows complete successfully
Test with real and sandbox accounts
Make sure purchase restoration works across installs/devices
Declare all IAPs properly in Play Console’s product listing
The Pre-launch report in the Play Console shows:
Crashes during testing
Compatibility issues across devices
Screens that failed to load
Use this tool to identify issues before reviewers see them.
❌ Submit an app that you know crashes occasionally
❌ Ignore unresponsive buttons or UI issues
❌ Leave features incomplete or behind a “Coming Soon” page
❌ Forget to test on real Android devices
❌ Skip purchase testing or error handling
We know how to avoid Google Play broken functionality rejection — because we’ve helped fix it hundreds of times.
Here’s how we help:
Feature |
What It Solves |
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With ShopApper, you’re not left guessing what went wrong — we identify, fix, and relaunch your app with confidence.
Don’t waste time trying to guess what failed. With ShopApper, you get a full functionality review, real device testing, and fast resubmission.
We help you:
Diagnose and fix critical bugs
Validate every feature and screen
Test payments, logins, and UI
Submit with confidence — and pass review
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