Quality, compliance, and troubleshooting
Whether you’re preparing your app for submission or checking why it was rejected, this guide covers what Softonic requires: content and technical eligibility, listing content, screenshots, and localization — plus what to do if your submission doesn’t go through.
What types of apps or content are not accepted?
Softonic doesn’t accept apps or software in these categories:
- Copyright infringement & piracy — applications that facilitate unauthorized downloading or distribution of copyrighted content.
- Malicious or deceptive software — malware, spyware, adware, stalkerware, ransomware, or any software designed to harm.
- Enabling dishonest behavior — software designed to facilitate cheating, fraud, or deceitful conduct.
- Adult & explicit content — applications containing or distributing pornographic, erotic, or explicitly sexual content.
- Violence & discrimination — applications that promote, glorify, or facilitate violence, hate speech, or discrimination.
- Illegal substances & activities — software promoting or facilitating access to illegal substances or illicit activities.
- Gambling — applications facilitating real-money or virtual-currency gambling.
- Firearms & dangerous materials — applications promoting, selling, or providing instructions for firearms or explosives.
- Crypto-asset applications — applications related to crypto-assets that do not comply with applicable laws.
- Financial services — applications related to the management, investment, or advisory of money. Softonic reserves the right to refuse this category by default, although exceptions may be considered case-by-case subject to applicable local regulations.
This list is indicative, not exhaustive. Softonic reserves the right to reject any submission at its discretion.
What technical requirements does my app need to meet?
- Desktop apps (Windows, Mac): executable files must be digitally signed by a verifiable certificate authority (CA). Unsigned binaries aren’t accepted.
- Android (APK): your APK must be signed with your Google Distribution Key — the same key used for the release served via Google Play. Debug-signed or test-certificate APKs aren’t accepted. (If this is why your app was rejected, see “Why was my APK rejected because of a signature mismatch?” below.)
- Antivirus scanning: Softonic does not publish files flagged as malicious or potentially unwanted by any of the engines in its scanning pipeline.
- Application type accuracy: your submission must accurately represent the type of application you’re submitting — for example, a Chrome extension submitted as a web app will be rejected.
- File size: applications can be up to 1GB.
For supported platforms and file formats, see Basic guide to register and publish.
What information is not allowed in my app listing?
Your app’s title, description, and other listing fields must not include:
- Pricing or cost information
- Emojis or decorative characters
- Contact information
- External links or URLs
- Keyword stuffing
- Markdown or formatting syntax
- References to unauthorized use
- Unauthorized third-party content
What screenshots can I use?
Your screenshots must:
- Accurately represent the current version of your app
- Correspond to the correct platform
- Not contain watermarks, promotional overlays, or pricing information
- Not include explicit, violent, or otherwise prohibited content
What are the localization requirements?
If you submit localized versions of your app listing, the same standards apply to every language version. The declared language of your submission must match the language used in the description and captions.
What happens after I submit my app?
Your submission gets one of three statuses:
- Accepted — your submission meets all standards and will be published on Softonic.
- Pending Review — your submission is under review; no action is needed from you at this stage.
- Rejected — your submission doesn’t meet the requirements; you’ll receive a notification explaining why.
If you already have an app listed and are submitting a version update, you can continue submitting updates even if your app’s category is no longer accepted for new listings — this applies only to updates on programs already in the catalog, not to new submissions.
For the full publishing workflow, see How to publish a new app.
Why was my app rejected, and how do I resubmit?
Rejections fall into two types: content quality issues, which are correctable, and catalog eligibility issues, which are final if your app falls into one of the prohibited categories above.
When your app is rejected, you’ll receive an email listing the key rejection reasons. If it’s a content quality rejection, address everything the email flags before resubmitting — apps that fix all the flagged issues have a better chance of being approved, and typically spend less time waiting in review than a resubmission that only addresses part of the feedback. If it’s a catalog eligibility rejection, resubmitting won’t help, since that category isn’t currently accepted regardless of what you change.
Why was my APK rejected because of a signature mismatch?
If your Android app was rejected for a signature mismatch, it’s most likely because you uploaded a build signed with your Upload Key instead of your Google Distribution Key.
Here’s the difference:
- Upload Key — only used to send your file to Google.
- App Signing Key (Distribution Key) — the final security certificate Google applies before users download the app.
Softonic Publishing Center requires the Distribution Key version — the actual final build that Google Play serves to users — to make sure the app is compatible and secure for everyone.
To fix it:
- In Google Play Console, open your app and go to App Bundle Explorer.
- Choose the version you’re trying to publish.
- Go to the Downloads tab.
- Find and download the Signed, universal APK — this is the build Google signed with its own master key.
- Upload that specific file to Softonic Publishing Center.
Not sure why your app was rejected, or have a question about your specific case? Contact our Dev Support at devsupport@softonic.com.
Already have an app that’s listed on Softonic but not yet under your account?
See How to claim ownership of an app on Softonic instead — this article covers new submissions, not claiming an existing listing.
FAQ
What are the requirements to publish an app on Softonic?
Your app needs to pass catalog eligibility (not fall into a prohibited category), meet the technical signing, size, and antivirus requirements, follow the listing content and screenshot rules, and — if localized — meet the same standards in every language version.
What types of apps are not accepted on Softonic?
Categories including copyright-infringing tools, malicious or deceptive software, cheating/fraud tools, adult content, content promoting violence or discrimination, illegal substances, gambling, firearms, non-compliant crypto-asset apps, and certain financial services applications. See the full list above.
Why was my app rejected?
See “Why was my app rejected, and how do I resubmit?” above — it depends on whether the issue was correctable (content quality) or final (catalog eligibility).
How do I fix an APK signature mismatch?
Download the “Signed, universal APK” from your app’s App Bundle Explorer in Google Play Console (under the Downloads tab for the relevant version) and submit that file — not a debug-signed or Upload Key–signed build. See the full steps above.