[Feature Request] Bump targetSdkVersion to 36 for Google Play August 31, 2026 deadline

[Dossierp]

Context

Google Play requires all new apps and app updates to target Android 16
(API level 36) or higher starting August 31, 2026.

Reference:
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/11926878

Current state

The Bubblewrap template (which PWA Builder uses under the hood) currently
has targetSdkVersion 35:

https://github.com/GoogleChromeLabs/bubblewrap/blob/main/packages/core/template_project/app/build.gradle

Note that compileSdkVersion is already 36, but targetSdkVersion remains 35.

This means any AAB generated by PWA Builder today will be rejected by
Google Play after August 31, 2026.

Precedent

This is a yearly cycle:

• 2024: Issue [PWA Builder]: Support for Android SDK 34 #4766 (target 34) — resolved just before the deadline
• 2025: Issue [BUG] Android Play Store Warning "App must target Android 14 (API level 34) or higher" #4920 (target 35)
• 2026: (this issue) target 36 or target 37 thanks.

Impact

Every PWA Builder user with a published Android app is affected. Users
who published within the last year using PWA Builder cannot submit updates
after August 31, 2026 unless targetSdkVersion is bumped to 36.

In my specific case, my app has ~2,000 monthly users who rely on it for
online voting. If I can't publish an update by August 31, new users on
Android 16+ devices won't be able to install the app from Play Store.

Request

Please bump targetSdkVersion from 35 to 36 in the Bubblewrap template
project, and update PWA Builder to use the new version.

Additional info

• Google extension available until November 1, 2026 (if maintainers need
  more time, users can request an extension in Play Console).

Thank you for maintaining this project.

I received the following error when creating a Google Play package for https://sistema.votos-asambleas.com/.

2026-07-21T22:59:31.404Z [error]: Error creating app package: Failed to download Web Manifest https://pwabuilder.com/api/manifests/getFromCacheOrProxy?manifestUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fsistema.votos-asambleas.com%2Fmanifest.json.Responded with status 404
stack: Error: Failed to download Web Manifest https://pwabuilder.com/api/manifests/getFromCacheOrProxy?manifestUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fsistema.votos-asambleas.com%2Fmanifest.json.Responded with status 404
at TwaGenerator.writeWebManifest (/app/node_modules/@bubblewrap/core/dist/lib/TwaGenerator.js:221:19)
at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
at async TwaGenerator.createTwaProject (/app/node_modules/@bubblewrap/core/dist/lib/TwaGenerator.js:352:13)
at async BubbleWrapper.generateTwaProject (file:///app/services/bubbleWrapper.js:134:13)
at async BubbleWrapper.generateAppPackage (file:///app/services/bubbleWrapper.js:58:9)
at async PackageCreator.createAppPackageWith403Fallback (file:///app/services/packageCreator.js:173:24)
at async PackageCreator.createAppPackage (file:///app/services/packageCreator.js:88:20)
at async PackageCreator.create (file:///app/services/packageCreator.js:27:32)
at async PackageCreator.createZip (file:///app/services/packageCreator.js:48:28)
at async PackageJobProcessor.processJob (file:///app/services/packageJobProcessor.js:75:33)

[JudahGabriel]

For the API version 36 issue, see #6159