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My published android app was being shown in search result of play-store in Nexus 7.
But ever since I added the SMS receive & read permissions to the app & uploaded the new version, I can't see it in the search result from any Nexus 7(don't having SIM card support) but being able to build in Nexus 7 device from Android-Studio.

I haven't explicitly set the screen-compatibility in manifest & the older version of the app was OK in Nexus 7. So can't I assume this SO post isn't suitable for me?

The permission & feature requirement list in my app-manifest is like the below:

<uses-feature
    android:glEsVersion="0x00020000"
    android:required="true" />
<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.screen.portrait" />

<uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.c2dm.permission.RECEIVE" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.providers.gsf.permission.READ_GSERVICES" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.GET_ACCOUNTS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.USE_CREDENTIALS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.VIBRATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CALL_PHONE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_SMS" />

I don't have the luxury to upload any new version & test for it in a trial & error basis, but have to get a fast solution to this problem.

Thanks in advance.

Community
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Touhid
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  • You don't see your app because it uses Google Play recognized that your device does not have the necessary features to run it. Follow @Mattia's answer. – shkschneider May 07 '15 at 16:07

1 Answers1

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You should add:

<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.telephony" android:required="false" />

If an application requests hardware-related permissions, Google Play assumes that the application uses the underlying hardware features and therefore requires those features, even though there might be no corresponding to declarations. For such permissions, Google Play adds the underlying hardware features to the metadata that it stores for the application and sets up filters for them.

For example, if an application requests the CAMERA permission but does not declare a element for android.hardware.camera, Google Play considers that the application requires a camera and should not be shown to users whose devices do not offer a camera.

If you don't want Google Play to filter based on a specific implied feature, you can disable that behavior. To do so, declare the feature explicitly in a element and include an android:required="false" attribute. For example, to disable filtering derived from the CAMERA permission, you would declare the feature as shown below.

<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.camera" android:required="false" />

You can find more information here:
http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/uses-feature-element.html

Mattia Maestrini
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  • if this is the issue, then why did play-store show & allow the app to install for the previous versions? Is the explanation like - SMS permission by-default requires the telephony feature? – Touhid May 07 '15 at 16:15
  • I just updated my answer with a quote from developer.android.com. For more information visit the URL in the answer – Mattia Maestrini May 07 '15 at 16:16
  • Seems legit cause ! I'm gonna accept the answer when the uploaded new version will get available in Nexus 7. Btw, thanks :) – Touhid May 07 '15 at 16:18