Free HTML to If you opened Play Console this month, you may have seen a new task: declare your trader status. Google announced it in the policy update of 29 October 2026, and it applies to every active developer account, including people who have published one small app as a hobby.
The good news: it takes about five minutes. The bad news: if you skip it, Google can block your updates or remove your apps. This guide explains what the declaration means in plain English, how to work out which answer is right for you, and exactly where to click.
Why Google is asking
From 1 March 2027 Google Play becomes an online marketplace under consumer law in the European Economic Area (EEA) and the United Kingdom. Under those laws, a marketplace must tell shoppers whether they are buying from a business (a trader) or from a private person. Consumer protection rights, such as the right to clear contact details and to a fair complaint process, apply to traders. So Google needs every developer to say which one they are.
Apple already asks App Store developers the same question for the EU, so if you also publish on iOS, the idea will be familiar.
Am I a trader or a non-trader?
Google uses the EU definition: a trader is a person or company "acting for purposes relating to their trade, business, craft or profession". In practice, Google's help page points to the European Commission's guidance, which looks at a few signals:
- Do you aim to make money? A paid app, in-app purchases and apps with ads all count as a profit motive.
- How much activity is there? Many apps, many sales or regular releases point to a business.
- How are you set up? A registered company, a business bank account or a D-U-N-S number points to a trader.
A personal hobby or non-commercial project is "unlikely" to be trader activity, in Google's words.
Quick examples
| Your situation | Most likely |
|---|---|
| A free app with AdMob ads, even small earnings | Trader |
| An app that sells a Pro unlock, coins or a subscription | Trader |
| An app for your shop, salon, restaurant or other business | Trader |
| An organization account (company, agency, studio) | Trader |
| A free hobby game with no ads and no purchases | Non-trader |
| A school project or a personal tool you share for free | Non-trader |
| You do not distribute in the EEA or the UK at all | You may declare non-trader |
That last row comes straight from Google's help page: if none of your apps are available in the EEA or the UK, you can declare as a non-trader. Most developers make apps available in all countries, though, so check your country list before you rely on it.
Be honest here. Google states that it is strictly prohibited to falsely claim you are not a trader, and that doing so may lead to global removal. If you declare non-trader but your account looks commercial (for example, your apps show ads), Google may ask you to confirm or update your status, and apps can be removed if you do not answer in time.
Step by step: declaring in Play Console
1. The account declaration (everyone)
- Sign in to Play Console.
- Open Manage account (the account settings, not an app).
- Go to Account details, then About you.
- Answer the trader question and follow the prompts.
2. Extra steps if you are a trader
- Self-certify that you only offer products or services that comply with applicable laws.
- Add a terms of service link for each app. A simple page on your website is fine. It should say who you are, what the app does, how to contact you and the basic rules of use.
- Personal accounts must add a contact phone number that will be shown on Google Play. Your address will be shown too. If you would rather not publish your home address, this is a good moment to think about a business address or an organization account.
- Confirm each app: select the app, then go to Monitor and improve → Policy and programs → App content and confirm the trader status for that app.
You do not need to redo identity verification. Google says the trader declaration is separate from the existing developer verification, and you are not doing the D-U-N-S check again. If you already gave a D-U-N-S number, it will simply be shown to users.
You can change your answer at any time in Play Console, for example when a hobby app starts showing ads.
What users will see from 1 March 2027
For traders, Google will show on the app's store page:
- Everywhere: your contact details, your D-U-N-S number (if you have one) in the "App support" section, and your terms of service link.
- In the EEA and the UK: your name as the trader in the "Offered by" field instead of Google, and your self-certification.
For non-traders in the EEA and the UK, Google will tell users that consumer protection rights do not apply to the app.
What happens if you do not declare
Google's help page says that missing the 1 February 2027 deadline "may trigger enforcement including app update blocks and removal from the Play Store globally". An update block is the painful one: you could find a crash bug and be unable to ship the fix. Misrepresenting your status can also lead to account suspension under the Developer Distribution Agreement.
So do it now, while it is quiet, not on the last weekend of January.
A checklist for app makers using Free HTML to APK
- Using AdMob ads or in-app purchases in your app? Plan on declaring as a trader. Every ad format and the Purchases step in the converter are ways to earn money, which is exactly what the trader test looks at.
- Prepare a terms page. Put it on the same site as your privacy policy. If your app is a website app, your own domain is the natural place.
- Check your support email. It will be public as a trader, so use an address you actually read.
- Keep store details consistent. The developer name, website and contact details in Play Console should match what is on your site and in your terms.
- Free hobby app, no ads? Non-trader is likely right. Revisit the answer the day you add ads.
The trader declaration does not change how your app is built, so you do not need a new APK or AAB for it. It is purely an account setting. For everything else about publishing, see the Google Play publishing guide.
FAQ
I live outside Europe. Does this apply to me?
Yes. Google requires the declaration from all active developer accounts, wherever you live and wherever your apps are distributed. Where you distribute matters for the answer, not for whether you have to answer.
My app earns a few cents a month from ads. Am I really a trader?
Google lists ad-sponsored apps as a sign of a profit motive, and the amount is not part of the test. If you are unsure, read the European Commission guidance Google links to, or ask a local adviser. Declaring trader when you are commercial is the safe side; claiming non-trader when you earn money is the risky one.
Will my home address really be public?
For a personal account that declares as a trader, Google says the phone number and the address are displayed. If that worries you, consider a business address or setting up an organization account before 1 March 2027.
Do I need to declare again for each new app?
The account declaration is done once. As a trader, you confirm the status and add a terms link for each app in its App content page.
Where can I read Google's own wording?
Google's help page on trader status and the 29 October 2026 policy announcement. Rules change, so check them before you answer. This article is a plain-language guide, not legal advice.