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Play Billing Library 8: What App Owners Need to Know

BrightRevamp Team8 Oct 20263 min read

If your app sells anything, or contains an SDK that does, its Play Billing Library version now matters for every update. Here is the short version for app owners.

The requirement

From 31 August 2026, Google Play no longer accepts Play Billing Library version 7 for new apps and updates. You need version 8.0.0 or higher.

Play Console has shown a warning with a later backstop date of 1 November 2026 for apps that request an extension. You request it from the Policy status page, so do not plan around it: it is a delay, not a fix.

Who is affected

  • Apps with in-app purchases or subscriptions.
  • Apps that include the billing library through a third-party SDK, even if you never sell anything yourself.

If your app sells nothing, check its dependency list. If the billing library is only there by accident, removing it can end the warning.

How to check your version

Look at the merged manifest of your release build for the billing client version entry, or run the dependency report and search for billing. A direct dependency on com.android.billingclient:billing shows the version immediately.

What usually needs attention in the code

  • Removed APIs. Some older calls no longer exist, and the code that used them has to be rewritten.
  • Pending purchases. One-time products must be explicitly enabled where the billing client is configured, or some payment methods can silently fail.
  • Restore and trial checks. Logic that read purchase history from the device may have to use your own records or your server instead.
  • All tracks. Old bundles on testing tracks can still trigger the warning.

Test with real purchases. Billing code compiles easily and fails quietly. Use licence testers and check purchase, restore, refund and subscription renewal on a real device.

What we do

Checking your billing library version is free in every job. If the billing code needs rewriting, we quote that part separately before work starts.

Frequently asked questions

My app has no in-app purchases. Does this apply?

Only if the billing library is included, for example through an SDK. Check your dependencies and remove it if it is not needed.

Can I just ask for an extension?

You can request one from Policy status, but it only delays the deadline. The upgrade is still required.

Is billing a separate cost?

Checking the version is free. If the code needs rewriting, that part is quoted separately before any work begins.

Keep reading

Not sure which billing version you use?

BrightRevamp updates older native Android apps (Java and Kotlin) to Google Play's current rules. Same app, same design, same features.

Email us about your app

Sources

Checked against Google's own documentation on 8 Oct 2026. Google's billing page lists dates per library version, so always confirm the date shown in your own Play Console warning. Rules change, so confirm the dates in your Play Console.