Your app unlocked the purchase. Did Google Play get the confirmation?

When a user makes a purchase in your Android app, it may appear that the transaction is complete on the app screen. However, it is crucial to verify that Google Play has also received confirmation of the purchase. The following diagram illustrates two possible outcomes: either Google Play acknowledged the purchase or it did not.

If a purchase is not acknowledged by Google Play, it can result in an automatic refund and the revocation of the entitlement. Consumable items follow a different final step, where consuming the item also fulfills the acknowledgment requirement.

A pending purchase should not unlock new access until it is marked as PURCHASED in the system. To ensure everything is functioning correctly, it is recommended to test the purchase process using a license tester and a Play test payment method for non-consumable items. After completing the purchase, confirm that the user can access the purchased content and that the purchase is acknowledged in Google Play, rather than just appearing as accessible in the app.

To further validate the process, close and reopen the app. The correct access should still be available without the need for additional granting or a new purchase prompt.

Perform the same test for any consumable or pending flows that your app supports, as their expected outcomes may vary. Remember, Google Play's test-purchase timing is accelerated, so do not expect the test refund window to be the production deadline.

Running this small test can help identify potential gaps that might otherwise go unnoticed during regular app screen monitoring. Moreover, it provides two concrete places to investigate if a purchase is later refunded: the app's entitlement record and Google Play's processing state.