Android application visibility on tablet in play store

Question

I use the following permission in my application

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SEND_SMS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_SMS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE"/>

and i made a sample application which is not visible in play store for tablet devices.

So my question is, for which permission google is not showing the app for tab devices?

i know some tablet devices dont have sim, so sms permission could be it, but tab which has sim in it, also cant see the app in play store.

Answer 1

Aside from minSdkVersion that may affect visibility, your Manifest may lack support-screens tag:

<supports-screens
    android:anyDensity="true"
    android:largeScreens="true"
    android:normalScreens="true"
    android:resizeable="true"
    android:smallScreens="true"
    android:xlargeScreens="true"/>

Answer 2

As far as I know, permissions do not affect the app's visibility in the Play Store. The <uses-feature> tag will limit visibility (depending if it is required or not).

Also for your app to be visible for tables you must upload some 7" and 10" screenshots.

One last thing, android checks the xml layouts for a tablet-specific file, it had happened to me once that I used the same layout file for both phones and tablets (I did some custom drawing) but I was getting a warning in the play store.

Answer 3

@Shofiqul Alam If you add any permission in manifest file then forces that only those devices can use this application which have these abilities. In your case you have added permissions for receiving and sending SMS and for Fine Location

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE"/>

So if the device have not the ability to provide FINE LOCATION then it can't visible on play store. So be sure the device must fulfill the requirement for location(Is device has GPS feature).

If this feature is not compulsory in your app then add the Line of code in your manifest

<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.location.gps" android:required="false" />

It will not not force the devices to have GPS ability.

Also you may follow the link below:

GPS Manifest: GPS in App is optional, want to make it available to GPS less devices too