Google Play Requirements - Docs

Before adding your first Android app to RefundShield, you need to complete a few one-time steps required by Google. These are Google's requirements for processing refund data via the Voided Purchases API, not RefundShield-specific ones.

1. Update your Privacy Policy

Your app's Privacy Policy must disclose that purchase and refund data is collected and processed to manage refund requests. This is required by Google Play's User Data policy.

You need to update your Privacy Policy and make sure the policy text covers the use of in-app purchase and subscription data for refund management purposes.

2. Obtain user consent for data sharing

Google requires that you obtain valid user consent before processing their purchase data for refund management. As the developer, you are responsible for obtaining this consent.

You do not need to display a popup or a checkbox. That would make for a poor user experience. Simply including the relevant disclosure in your app's Privacy Policy or Terms of Service is fully compliant with Google's requirements. Users consent by accepting your terms when they sign up or use your app.

Make sure your Privacy Policy or Terms of Service clearly states that in-app purchase and subscription data may be processed for the purpose of evaluating and managing refund requests.

3. Real-time Developer Notifications (RTDN)

RefundShield relies on Real-time Developer Notifications via Google Cloud Pub/Sub to receive refund events from Google Play in real time. RTDN must be enabled in your Google Play Console.

4. Refund type limitations

Google Play's orders.reviewrefund API only allows developers to contest chargeback-related refunds: that is, when a customer disputes a charge directly with their bank. Other refund reasons, such as accidental purchases, claims of defective products, or "I didn't receive it" complaints, cannot be automatically contested via the API. As soon as Google expands the API to support additional refund reasons, RefundShield will add support for them immediately.

Summary checklist

Privacy Policy updated to disclose processing of purchase and refund data
Privacy Policy or Terms of Service includes disclosure about data usage for refund management
Real-time Developer Notifications enabled

Once these are in place, you're ready to add your Android app.