Google now asks every Play developer one question: are you a trader or a non-trader? You answer it once in Play Console. The deadline is 1 February 2027, and it applies in every country, not only in Europe.
It takes a few minutes. This guide shows you which answer fits you, what each answer changes, and where to click.
Updated November 2026. This is a plain-language guide, not legal advice.
The short version
- What: one question in Play Console. Trader, or non-trader.
- Who: every developer account, in every country.
- When: by 1 February 2027. New accounts answer when they sign up.
- If you skip it: Google says your app updates may be blocked and your apps removed from the Play Store worldwide.
Which one are you?
Trader is a term from consumer law in Europe and the UK. It means someone acting for their business. Here is the simple way to read it.
| If this is you | Your answer is most likely |
|---|---|
| You earn money from your apps: ads, in-app purchases, subscriptions or paid downloads | Trader |
| You publish apps as a company or as your job | Trader |
| Your app is a hobby and earns nothing | Non-trader |
| You do not offer your apps in the EEA or the UK at all | Google says you can choose non-trader |
Here is the same check as a picture. Read both sides and see which one sounds like you.
Google will not choose for you. It says you are responsible for the answer. If you are truly unsure, ask a lawyer rather than guess.
What changes if you choose trader
From 1 March 2027, your store page tells users more about you. Three things happen.
1. Your name replaces Google’s in Europe and the UK
Today, store pages in the UK and the EEA say an app is “Offered by Google Commerce Ltd”. For traders, that line will show your developer name instead.
2. Your contact details are shown
Store pages already have an App support section. For traders, Google shows contact details there to users everywhere.
On a personal account, this means your phone number and your address. Google says both will be shown in public. If you work from home, read the section on that below before you choose.
3. Google asks you for two things
- A terms of service link for each of your apps.
- A promise, called a self-certification, that you only offer products and services that follow the law. Users in the EEA and UK can see it.
What changes if you choose non-trader
Much less is shown about you. Two things are worth knowing.
- Buyers in the EEA and UK get a notice. It tells them consumer protection rights do not apply to contracts between you and them.
- Google can check your answer. If what you do looks like trading, it may ask you to confirm or change your status. If you do not reply in time, your apps may be removed.
How to declare, step by step
Step 1: answer for your account
- Sign in to Google Play Console.
- Open Manage account, then Account details, then About you.
- Follow the prompts and choose trader or non-trader.
Step 2: traders only, confirm each app
- In Play Console, select an app.
- In the left menu, open Monitor and improve, then Policy and programs, then App content.
- Confirm the trader status for that app.
- Do the same for every app you have.
If you are a trader, have two things ready first. One is a terms of service link for each app. The other, on a personal account, is a phone number you are happy to show in public.
Do not pick non-trader just to hide your address
This is the one real mistake you can make here.
Google treats a false answer as a serious breach. Choosing non-trader to skip the checks may get your account suspended or closed worldwide. In Google’s words, giving the false impression that you are not a trader is strictly prohibited.
So answer honestly first. An app with steady ad income is not a hobby, even if its maker would like more privacy.
Worried about your home address?
Many solo developers are. Here is what is known today.
- It applies to traders on personal accounts. A phone number and address are shown from 1 March 2027.
- Part of it is not new. Accounts that sell paid apps or in-app purchases already have to show their full address on Google Play.
- Organization accounts work differently. They are a separate account type, need a D-U-N-S number, and show the organization’s details.
- One thing is not clear yet. Google has not said whether a business address can replace a home address on a personal account.
The three dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 2026 | The question starts to appear in Play Console |
| 1 February 2027 | Deadline for existing accounts to answer |
| 1 March 2027 | Store pages start to show trader details |
Why now? Google Play is changing how it works in the EEA and the UK on 1 March 2027. Google calls it a move to an online marketplace model. The trader answer tells Google what to show on each store page.
Starting a new account to launch an app?
Then this question is the first step of your launch. New accounts have to answer straight away. The full route looks like this.
- Create your developer account and answer the trader question. Our developer account guide covers the cost and the account types.
- Upload your app to a closed testing track. Our closed testing walkthrough shows each screen.
- Test with Testers Community. Go to testerscommunity.com/submit-app, submit your app, and opt for Starter, $15. That is all.
- Apply for production access once 12 testers have tested for 14 days in a row.
How does the testing step work with Testers Community?
Production access, or your money back.
- Go to testerscommunity.com/submit-app and submit your app.
- Opt for Starter, $15, paid once for that app.
- That is all.
We assign verified testers on real Android devices, usually within 6 hours. They stay for the full 14 days. Anyone who goes quiet is replaced before it costs you the count.
At the end you get a feedback report, and we help you write the production access answers. You submit the application, and Google makes the decision.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to declare trader status if I am not in Europe?
Yes. Google requires every developer worldwide to answer, no matter where their apps are offered. If you do not offer them in the EEA or UK, Google says you can choose non-trader.
What is the deadline for the trader status declaration?
1 February 2027 for existing developer accounts. New accounts answer when the account is created.
What happens if I do not declare?
Google says it may block your app updates and remove your apps from the Play Store globally.
Am I a trader if my app only shows ads?
Most likely, yes. Google lists ad-supported apps as an example of earning from your apps. If that income is regular, its guidance points to trader. Google does not make the final call for you.
Will my home address be public?
If you choose trader on a personal account, yes. Google says your phone number and address will be shown from 1 March 2027.
Where do I declare trader status in Play Console?
Open Manage account, then Account details, then About you, and follow the prompts. Traders also confirm each app under Monitor and improve, Policy and programs, App content.
Can I change my trader status later?
Yes. Google says you can update your answer at any time in Play Console, for example when a hobby app starts to earn.
Is this the same as developer verification?
No. Google says the trader question is separate from identity checks. If you already verified with a D-U-N-S number, you do not do that again.
Run your testing step with Testers Community
- Production access, or your money back.
- Starter, $15 gives you 15 verified Android testers for the full 14 days. Paid once per app.
- Pro, $25 gives you 25 testers, plus a detailed ASO report and priority support. Also paid once per app.
- Testers opt in within 6 hours, on real Android devices, never emulators.
Submit your app and opt for Starter when your build is ready.
Short on budget? The free Pack of 16 in the Testers Community app has developers test each other’s apps for 16 days.
Related: Android developer verification in 2026, the other account deadline to know about.
Sources
- Play Console Help: Trader status declaration, read 10 November 2026.
- Play Console Help: Policy announcement, 29 October 2026.
- Play Console Help: View and manage your developer account information, for the existing address rule.
- Play Console Help: Choose a developer account type.
- Store page screenshots taken from Google Play on 10 November 2026.
