diff --git a/.claude/skills/releasing-healthchat/SKILL.md b/.claude/skills/releasing-healthchat/SKILL.md
index 4237ab8d47..2b3d1b77c4 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/releasing-healthchat/SKILL.md
+++ b/.claude/skills/releasing-healthchat/SKILL.md
@@ -231,6 +231,15 @@ remote):
 - **`app/build.gradle.kts`** — the `healthchat` signing config and the
   `appicon/healthchat` dependency must survive; upstream signs release with
   the debug keystore and depends on `appicon/element`.
+- **`app/src/gplay/AndroidManifest.xml`** — HealthChat-only file that strips
+  `REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES` and the location permissions
+  (`FOREGROUND_SERVICE_LOCATION`, `ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION`,
+  `ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION`, plus `LiveLocationSharingService`) from the Play
+  build. Play Console rejects the release at edit-commit time while either is
+  declared but not justified on the listing. Upstream has no `app/src/gplay/`
+  manifest, so this should never conflict. If HealthChat ever ships maps
+  (a MapTiler key in `BuildTimeConfig`), the location removals must come out
+  first — the feature is gated on that key, not on these declarations.
 - **`plugins/src/main/kotlin/Versions.kt`** — take upstream's version when
   higher (see Versioning above).
 - **`fastlane/metadata/android/`** — HealthChat listing texts (en-US, de-DE)
diff --git a/app/src/gplay/AndroidManifest.xml b/app/src/gplay/AndroidManifest.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..44e6bae498
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/gplay/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><!--
+  ~ Copyright (c) 2026 Novaloop AG
+  ~
+  ~ SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only OR LicenseRef-Element-Commercial.
+  ~ Please see LICENSE files in the repository root for full details.
+  -->
+<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools">
+
+    <!--
+      HealthChat does not want APK sideloading from chat. Upstream declares
+      REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES so that tapping an .apk attachment in the media
+      viewer deep-links to "Install unknown apps" and hands the file to the
+      system installer (see AndroidLocalMediaActions.open) — a workflow aimed at
+      Element's nightly/F-Droid audience, and not one we want in a healthcare
+      messenger. Play Console also rejects releases carrying this permission
+      unless it is declared and justified on the listing.
+
+      Removing it is a configuration upstream supports: the media viewer checks
+      for the permission before using it and otherwise falls through to the
+      normal system open path, so .apk attachments still open, just without the
+      in-app install shortcut.
+    -->
+    <uses-permission
+        android:name="android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES"
+        tools:node="remove" />
+
+    <!--
+      HealthChat ships no location features, so it should not ask for location.
+      They are already unreachable at runtime: DefaultLocationService gates the
+      whole feature on BuildConfig.MAPTILER_API_KEY, and HealthChat sets no
+      MapTiler key (BuildTimeConfig.SERVICES_MAPTILER_APIKEY = null, and the
+      ELEMENT_ANDROID_MAPTILER_API_KEY fallback is unset in CI). The composer's
+      "Share location" action and the location viewer are both hidden as a
+      result, so LiveLocationSharingService can never start — only these
+      declarations survive, and FOREGROUND_SERVICE_LOCATION forces a foreground
+      service declaration on the Play listing for a feature we do not ship.
+
+      Removing the declarations changes nothing users can reach, and keeps the
+      location module in the dependency graph so upstream merges stay clean.
+
+      The service must be named fully qualified: the library declares it
+      relative to its own namespace (io.element.android.features.location.impl),
+      whereas a leading dot here would resolve against the app's namespace.
+
+      FOREGROUND_SERVICE itself stays — the call and push modules need it.
+    -->
+    <uses-permission
+        android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_LOCATION"
+        tools:node="remove" />
+    <uses-permission
+        android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION"
+        tools:node="remove" />
+    <uses-permission
+        android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION"
+        tools:node="remove" />
+
+    <application>
+        <service
+            android:name="io.element.android.features.location.impl.live.service.LiveLocationSharingService"
+            tools:node="remove" />
+    </application>
+</manifest>