Salutations and a question about Android version.

[ZOIYYK]

Hello to everybody.

I'm new around here and I'm just an amateur writer, but I have just like three chapters written plus some ideas scattered around and I've started feeling I need something more practical to keep track of my characters and plots than notes on a spreadsheet. Thereof I'm considering using yWriter for those personal projects.

I would like to work on the same project on PC and on mobile, so I was wondering how easily is the Android App paired with Google Drive to make it work as cloud saves. I've made a quick search on the group, but last related messages seem to be some years old already.

Many thanks in advance.

[Simon Haynes]

yWriter windows and Android use the exact same code for loading and saving of projects, so they're fully compatible

But here's the issue with the Android version: In their infinite wisdom, Google started insisting every developer show their address on the play store. For indie devs this is their home address. This had pretty much the effect you can imagine, especially as they don't allow PO boxes.

I believe the dev working on yWriter Android removed the listing instead of complying with a stupid ill-considered rule that could lead to doxxing and unwanted attention, and I fully support their decision.

So as of now I'm not sure yWriter Android is still available.

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[Peter T.]

On Monday, September 15, 2025 at 7:15:29 PM UTC+2 Simon Haynes wrote:

But here's the issue with the Android version: In their infinite wisdom, Google started insisting every developer show their address on the play store. For indie devs this is their home address. This had pretty much the effect you can imagine, especially as they don't allow PO boxes.

I believe the dev working on yWriter Android removed the listing instead of complying with a stupid ill-considered rule that could lead to doxxing and unwanted attention, and I fully support their decision.

That's a real pity. 

But I suspect that Google is not doing this on its own initiative. They will have to do so in order to comply with the law, for example, of the European Union, where anyone who runs even the smallest business must publish an address that can be used for summoning them to court. And running a business does not necessarily mean making money, but simply being regularly active in a field where money is generated. There are law firms that specialize in confronting such actors and making absurd claims for compensation for the slightest irregularities. And in connection with the current trade war, the EU is also trying to get big American companies like Google on the hook. 

In Germany, for example, self-publishers must provide a telephone number if they have an internet presence. Bloggers are also included in this, by the way. Just a few weeks ago, the police dispersed a mob of haters from a small Bavarian village who had traveled there from all over Germany because it was the home of a provocative blogger.

 

[Simon Haynes]

No doubt you're right. Australia is introducing an age verification in a couple of months and that will probably mean providing ID to all the social media companies. I just feel Google could have concealed the info from everyone and anyone on the play store, and only provided it if compelled to.

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[Peter T.]

On Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 9:17:58 AM UTC+2 Simon Haynes wrote:

I just feel Google could have concealed the info from everyone and anyone on the play store, and only provided it if compelled to.

This sounds sensible. However, it could be seen as a violation of the law and punished with a fine of several billion. Remember, it's a trade war.

[ZOIYYK]

Thanks for all your answers. 

Well, the Android version seems to still exist (by Oregano Apps).

I see the need to have a real address linked to developers, but I just can't see why it has to be public. If that law really requires it, then that law is not properly redacted because it puts private information in danger. One should only be able to access a developer identification that could be used by authorities to localise them, but not having private addresses accessible to the public.

Aaaanyway, I've written to the assistance email too in hopes for a clarification as every information available on the forums and gross is old and the wikis are down.

I hope to get an answer. Wish me luck.

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[Simon Haynes]

Oregano is correct. 

I wasn't sure whether it would only show for people who already have the app, but if it's on the store that's great.

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[ZOIYYK]

It is, indeed. Now I just have to find out if it can be used the way I want to. 

By the way, if you have it installed... Do you know by any chance if it's feasible to set the yWriter Android app to load and save from the Google Drive?

I remember I tried once to load a file from drive with other application and the names of the files were encoded in a weird way. I don't know if that's still an issue.

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[Simon Haynes]

Yes, it works with Google drive.

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