Play Billing 2026: A Purchase Is Not Final When launchBillingFlow Returns
Google Play Billing is the only method for selling digital features within a Play app, and its library connects the app to Google Play so users can pay and the app can verify ownership. A common mistake is treating launchBillingFlow() as a checkout that returns a paid result, when the outcome actually arrives later through a listener, possibly after the app has closed, as PENDING, or from another device. Purchases must be acknowledged within three days, or Google automatically refunds them and revokes the entitlement. As of October 2026, the current release is Play Billing Library 9.1.0, and version 8 or later was required for new apps and updates by August 31, 2026. The article also notes breaking API changes in versions 8.0.0, 8.1.0, and 9.0.0, and recommends a single active BillingClient connection with automatic service reconnection.
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