Target API level requirements for the Play Console | Update your Android targetSdkVersion by Nov 2, 2020

How  update your Android targetSdkVersion by Nov 2, 2020 ?

Recently google introduce android 10 and they have done some changes in it. 

After releasing of android 10 google send mail to every devloper to change targetSdkVersion to Android 9 (API level 28) or higher.

The mail subject will be "Action required: Update your Android targetSdkVersion by Nov 2, 2020"

Action required

Please ensure that your apps are configured to target at least Android 10 (API level 29) by November 2, 2020. For technical advice on how to change your app's target API level to meet these requirements, refer to the migration guide.

Affected apps

The apps included below have one or more app bundles or APKs—in production or testing tracks—that aren't currently targeting API level 29 or higher. Apps are listed with the maximum version code and corresponding targetSdkVersion. If you have more than 20 apps that could be affected in your account, please check the Play Console for a full list.

• com.dreamappsstore.dragonrun 5 27
• com.dreamappsstore.halloween.doodlehalloween 2 27
• com.dreamappsstore.statussaverforwhatsapp 1 27

Note: This section contain the list of applictin which you have to migrate before Nov 2, 2020.

Every APK has a targetSdkVersion in the manifest file (also known as the target API level) which informs how your app is run on different Android versions.

Configuring your app to target a recent API level ensures that users benefit from significant security and performance improvements, while still allowing your app to run on older Android versions (down to the minSdkVersion).

When you upload an APK, it needs to meet Google Play’s target API level requirements. Here are the levels that apps currently need to target and will need to target in the future.

API level requirement	Starting date
Android 8.0 (API level 26)	August 1, 2018: Required for new apps November 1, 2018: Required for app updates
Android 9 (API level 28)	August 1, 2019: Required for new apps November 1, 2019: Required for app updates
Android 10 (API level 29)*	August 3, 2020: Required for new apps November 2, 2020: Required for app updates

Once these requirements come into effect, the Play Console will prevent you from submitting new APKs using older target API levels.

Migrating from Android 9 (API level 28) to Android 10 (API level 29)

• Notifications with a full-screen intent
  • Need to request the normal permission USE_FULL_SCREEN_INTENT (not runtime permission).
• Support for foldables and large screen devices
  • Multiple activities can now be in the "resumed" state at the same time, but only one actually has focus.
    • This change affects onResume() and onPause() behavior.
    • New lifecycle concept of "topmost resumed" which can be detected by subscribing to onTopResumedActivityChanged().
      • Only one activity can be "topmost resumed."
  • When resizeableActivity is set to false, apps can additionally specify a minAspectRatio which automatically letterboxes the app on narrower aspect ratios.
• Privacy changes
  • Scoped storage
    • External storage access is limited only to an app-specific directory and to specific types of media that the app has created.
  • Restricted access to location while the app is in the background, requiring ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION permission.
  • Restricted access to non-resettable identifiers such as IMEI and serial number.
  • Restricted access to physical activity information such as the user's step count, requiring ACTIVITY_RECOGNITION permission.
  • Restricted access to some telephony, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi APIs, requiring ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission.
  • Restricted access to Wi-Fi settings
    • Apps can no longer directly enable or disable Wi-Fi and need to do it using settings panels.
    • Restrictions on initiating a connection to a Wi-Fi network, requiring the use of either WifiNetworkSpecifier or WifiNetworkSuggestion.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DreamsAppsStore

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBpa57i2Y8BFh7BhH4TQ_zw

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=8456069187984922570