If you’re building a mobile app in 2026, a privacy policy isn’t just recommended — it’s mandatory. Both Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store have strict requirements that can prevent your app from being published or even get it removed if you don’t comply. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about mobile app privacy policies, including platform-specific requirements, essential components, and compliance considerations.

Why Mobile Apps Specifically Need Privacy Policies

Mobile apps have unique access to sensitive user data that web-based services typically don’t. Your app can potentially access a user’s location, contacts, camera, microphone, photos, and health data — all with varying levels of user consent. This unprecedented access creates significant privacy concerns that both regulators and app store operators take seriously.

Beyond the technical capabilities, mobile apps also face stricter scrutiny because:

Platform gatekeepers enforce policies: Unlike websites, apps must pass review processes where privacy compliance is explicitly checked
Users expect transparency: Mobile users are increasingly privacy-conscious and want to know what data you’re collecting
Legal requirements apply: GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy laws apply to mobile apps just as they do to websites
Data breaches have consequences: Mobile apps that mishandle data face severe penalties, reputational damage, and potential lawsuits

Without a compliant privacy policy, your app won’t make it past the review stage — and if it does somehow slip through, it could be removed at any time.

Apple App Store Requirements

Apple takes user privacy extremely seriously, and their App Store Review Guidelines reflect this commitment. Here’s what you need to know about Apple’s privacy policy requirements:

App Store Review Guidelines (Section 5.1)

Apple’s guidelines explicitly require that all apps include a link to their privacy policy in the App Store Connect metadata and within the app itself. Your privacy policy must:

Be clearly and easily accessible to users
Clearly and explicitly identify what data is collected, how it’s collected, used, and shared
Include a link in the App Store Connect metadata field
Be written in language and a format that is easy for users to understand

Apple will reject apps that don’t include a privacy policy or whose policy doesn’t adequately describe the app’s data practices. The policy must be specific to your app — generic templates that don’t accurately reflect your actual data collection practices won’t pass review.

App Tracking Transparency (ATT) Framework

Since iOS 14.5, Apple requires apps to request permission before tracking users across apps and websites owned by other companies. If your app uses third-party tracking (for advertising, analytics, or data sharing), you must:

Display the App Tracking Transparency permission request
Clearly explain in your privacy policy what tracking you perform and why
Respect user choices if they decline tracking permission
Include a purpose string that explains why you’re requesting tracking permission

Violations of ATT requirements can result in app rejection or removal, as Apple actively monitors compliance through both automated and manual review processes.

App Privacy Details (Privacy Nutrition Labels)

Apple requires developers to complete a questionnaire in App Store Connect about their data collection practices. This information appears as a “privacy nutrition label” on your app’s product page. Your privacy policy must align with what you declare in these labels. Discrepancies between your declared practices and your actual privacy policy can lead to rejection or removal.

Google Play Store Requirements

Google Play has equally stringent requirements for privacy policies, with recent updates making compliance more transparent to users.

Data Safety Section

Google’s Data Safety section (introduced in 2022 and continuously updated) requires developers to disclose:

What types of data your app collects or shares
Whether data collection is optional or required
Whether the data is encrypted in transit
Whether users can request data deletion
Whether the app has been independently validated against a security standard

Your privacy policy must provide detailed information that supports your Data Safety declarations. Google reviews these disclosures and can reject apps or remove them from the Play Store for inaccurate or incomplete information.

Privacy Policy Link Requirement

All apps on Google Play must include a valid and active privacy policy link in their Play Console listing. The policy must:

Be available via a functional HTTPS URL
Be non-editable by anyone other than you (so Google Docs with public editing won’t work)
Be accessible from within the app or app listing
Specifically cover your app’s data practices

Permissions and Data Access

Google requires that your privacy policy explain why your app requests specific permissions. If your app accesses sensitive permissions like location, contacts, camera, or phone state, your policy must clearly explain:

What permission is being requested
Why the app needs this permission
How the data accessed through this permission will be used
Whether this data is shared with third parties

What to Include in a Mobile App Privacy Policy

A compliant mobile app privacy policy should be comprehensive yet readable. Here are the essential sections:

1. Information Collection

Detail all types of data your app collects, including:

Personal information: Names, email addresses, phone numbers, payment information
Device information: Device ID, IP address, operating system, device model
Usage data: How users interact with your app, features used, time spent
Location data: Precise location, approximate location, GPS coordinates
Permissions data: Photos, contacts, camera, microphone, calendar, health data

2. How Data is Used

Explain the purposes for which you collect data:

Providing and improving app functionality
Personalizing user experience
Analytics and performance monitoring
Communication and customer support
Marketing and advertising
Fraud prevention and security

3. Third-Party Services

Disclose all third-party services integrated into your app, such as:

Analytics platforms (Google Analytics, Firebase, Mixpanel)
Advertising networks (AdMob, Facebook Audience Network)
Crash reporting tools (Crashlytics, Sentry)
Payment processors (Stripe, PayPal)
Social media integration (Facebook Login, Google Sign-In)

Include links to these services’ own privacy policies so users can understand how their data flows through your app ecosystem.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

Be transparent about how you share user data:

With service providers and business partners
For legal compliance or law enforcement requests
In case of business transfers or mergers
With user consent or at user direction

5. Data Security

Describe the security measures you use to protect user data, such as encryption, secure servers, access controls, and regular security audits.

6. User Rights and Choices

Inform users of their rights and how to exercise them:

Access their data
Correct inaccurate data
Delete their data
Export their data
Opt out of marketing communications
Withdraw consent for data processing

7. Children’s Privacy

If your app is directed at children under 13 (or 16 in the EU), you must comply with COPPA and include specific provisions about how you handle children’s data. If your app is not intended for children, state this clearly.

Common Data Types Mobile Apps Collect

Understanding what data your app collects is the first step to writing an accurate privacy policy. Here are the most common data types:

Location Data

Location data is one of the most sensitive types of information mobile apps collect. You must disclose whether you collect:

Precise location: GPS coordinates, accurate to a few meters
Approximate location: City or region-level location from IP address
Continuous vs. one-time: Whether location is tracked continuously in the background or only when the app is in use

Contacts and Social Information

If your app accesses the user’s contacts, call logs, or social graphs, explain why this is necessary and how the data is used. Many social apps request this permission for friend-finding features, but you must be explicit about this.

Camera and Photos

Apps that access the camera or photo library must explain what they do with images captured or accessed. This is especially important if you upload photos to servers or use them for facial recognition.

Device Identifiers

Device IDs, advertising IDs (IDFA on iOS, AAID on Android), and other unique identifiers are commonly used for analytics and advertising. You must disclose if you collect these and whether they’re used for cross-app tracking.

Crash Logs and Diagnostics

Even technical data like crash reports can contain personally identifiable information. If you use crash reporting tools like Crashlytics or Sentry, disclose this in your privacy policy.

GDPR and CCPA Implications for Mobile Apps

Mobile apps must comply with privacy regulations regardless of where they’re distributed. Here’s what you need to know:

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

If your app is available to users in the EU or processes data of EU residents, GDPR applies. Key requirements include:

Lawful basis: Identify your legal basis for processing data (consent, contract, legitimate interest)
Consent: Obtain clear, affirmative consent before collecting personal data
Data minimization: Only collect data that’s necessary for your stated purposes
Right to erasure: Provide a way for users to delete their data
Data portability: Allow users to export their data in a machine-readable format
Data protection officer: Appoint a DPO if you process large amounts of sensitive data

CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act)

If your app has users in California, CCPA applies if you meet certain thresholds. CCPA requires:

Disclosure of what categories of personal information you collect
Disclosure of whether you sell personal information
A “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” link if you sell data
Mechanisms for users to request access to or deletion of their data
Non-discrimination guarantees for users who exercise their privacy rights

Both regulations impose significant fines for non-compliance, making it essential to get your privacy policy right from the start.

How to Get Started with Your Mobile App Privacy Policy

Creating a compliant privacy policy for your mobile app doesn’t have to be complicated:

Audit your data practices: Document exactly what data your app collects, why, and how it’s used
Review third-party services: List all SDKs, analytics tools, and advertising networks integrated into your app
Check platform requirements: Review the latest App Store and Play Store guidelines
Consider your target markets: Determine which privacy laws apply based on where your users are located
Use a specialized tool: Rather than starting from scratch, use a service designed for app privacy policies

LegalForge makes it easy to generate a mobile app privacy policy that covers both iOS and Android requirements, includes all necessary disclosures for GDPR and CCPA compliance, and is written in plain English that users can actually understand. For just £19, you get a customized policy tailored to your app’s specific data practices — no subscription required.

Whether you’re launching your first app or updating an existing one to meet new requirements, having a compliant privacy policy is non-negotiable. Don’t let a missing or inadequate policy delay your launch or put your app at risk of removal.

Privacy Policy for Mobile Apps: App Store Requirements Explained (2026)