diff --git a/cargo-apk/CHANGELOG.md b/cargo-apk/CHANGELOG.md
index 221f851e..4b0c7f4f 100644
--- a/cargo-apk/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/cargo-apk/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Unreleased
 
+- **Breaking**: Default `target_sdk_version` to `29` or lower for more consistent
+  interaction with Android backwards compatibility and tighter rules:
+  https://developer.android.com/distribute/best-practices/develop/target-sdk
+
 # 0.8.2 (2021-11-22)
 
 - Fixed the library name in case of multiple build artifacts in the Android manifest.
diff --git a/cargo-apk/README.md b/cargo-apk/README.md
index 0408eb0f..90116a39 100644
--- a/cargo-apk/README.md
+++ b/cargo-apk/README.md
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ runtime_libs = "path/to/libs_folder"
 
 # See https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/uses-sdk-element
 #
-# Defaults to a `min_sdk_version` of 23 and `target_sdk_version` is based on the ndk's default platform.
+# Defaults to a `min_sdk_version` of 23 and `target_sdk_version` of 29 (or lower if the detected NDK doesn't support this).
 [package.metadata.android.sdk]
 min_sdk_version = 16
 target_sdk_version = 29
diff --git a/cargo-apk/src/apk.rs b/cargo-apk/src/apk.rs
index 87af153b..092f9239 100644
--- a/cargo-apk/src/apk.rs
+++ b/cargo-apk/src/apk.rs
@@ -59,13 +59,13 @@ impl<'a> ApkBuilder<'a> {
             .android_manifest
             .sdk
             .target_sdk_version
-            .get_or_insert(ndk.default_platform());
+            .get_or_insert_with(|| ndk.default_target_platform());
 
         manifest
             .android_manifest
             .application
             .debuggable
-            .get_or_insert(*cmd.profile() == Profile::Dev);
+            .get_or_insert_with(|| *cmd.profile() == Profile::Dev);
 
         Ok(Self {
             cmd,
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ impl<'a> ApkBuilder<'a> {
             .android_manifest
             .sdk
             .target_sdk_version
-            .unwrap_or_else(|| ndk.default_platform());
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| ndk.default_target_platform());
         for target in &self.build_targets {
             let mut cargo = cargo_ndk(&ndk, *target, target_sdk_version)?;
             cargo.args(self.cmd.args());
diff --git a/ndk-build/CHANGELOG.md b/ndk-build/CHANGELOG.md
index ed4b1e29..ea1754a8 100644
--- a/ndk-build/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/ndk-build/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Unreleased
 
+- **Breaking**: Default `target_sdk_version` to `29` or lower for more consistent
+  interaction with Android backwards compatibility and tighter rules:
+  https://developer.android.com/distribute/best-practices/develop/target-sdk
+
 # 0.4.3 (2021-11-22)
 
 - Provide NDK `build_tag` version from `source.properties` in the NDK root.
diff --git a/ndk-build/src/apk.rs b/ndk-build/src/apk.rs
index 43548d0d..b6e6b165 100644
--- a/ndk-build/src/apk.rs
+++ b/ndk-build/src/apk.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ impl ApkConfig {
             .manifest
             .sdk
             .target_sdk_version
-            .unwrap_or_else(|| self.ndk.default_platform());
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| self.ndk.default_target_platform());
         let mut aapt = self.build_tool(bin!("aapt"))?;
         aapt.arg("package")
             .arg("-f")
diff --git a/ndk-build/src/ndk.rs b/ndk-build/src/ndk.rs
index a53c40e8..1e1ee115 100644
--- a/ndk-build/src/ndk.rs
+++ b/ndk-build/src/ndk.rs
@@ -159,10 +159,18 @@ impl Ndk {
         Ok(Command::new(dunce::canonicalize(path)?))
     }
 
-    pub fn default_platform(&self) -> u32 {
+    pub fn highest_supported_platform(&self) -> u32 {
         self.platforms().iter().max().cloned().unwrap()
     }
 
+    /// Returns platform `29` as currently [required by Google Play], or lower
+    /// when the detected SDK does not support it yet.
+    ///
+    /// [required by Google Play]: https://developer.android.com/distribute/best-practices/develop/target-sdk
+    pub fn default_target_platform(&self) -> u32 {
+        self.highest_supported_platform().min(29)
+    }
+
     pub fn platform_dir(&self, platform: u32) -> Result<PathBuf, NdkError> {
         let dir = self
             .sdk_path