How to restrict App for specific Android versions in Google Play Console

Question

I have an older app that gives errors on devices with the new Android 7.0.

The app is published already and I cannot update the app actually.

How can I restrict the app for specific Android versions in the Google Play Console ?

Answer 1

In the play console you can only block apps for regions or specific devices.

If you really can't upload updates your best bet is to start excluding devices of which you know they have received an Android 7 update. Not recommended.

Blocking an app for an API level will require a deploy since it's done in the manifest file (in gradle config).

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" ... >
    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="4" android:targetSdkVersion="15" />
    ...
</manifest>

From Supporting Different Platform versions.

An overview of all the current API levels can be found at What is API level.

When configured in Gradle it will look similar to the following snippet of a your_app_module/build.gradle file. Note that in the final result, the compile APK this will be part of the manifest.

apply plugin: 'com.android.application'
apply plugin: 'com.neenbedankt.android-apt'

android {
    compileSdkVersion 25
    buildToolsVersion "25.0.2"
    defaultConfig {
        applicationId "your.app.id.here"
        minSdkVersion 16
        targetSdkVersion 25
        versionCode 1
        versionName "0.1.0"
    }