diff --git a/packages/espresso/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/espresso/CHANGELOG.md
index 14b7dce5dca..e944f4264b9 100644
--- a/packages/espresso/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/espresso/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+## 0.4.0+23
+
+* Removed the unused `io.flutter.network-policy` metadata tag from the README and example application.
+
 ## 0.4.0+22
 
 * Updates minimum supported SDK version to Flutter 3.35/Dart 3.9.
diff --git a/packages/espresso/README.md b/packages/espresso/README.md
index ae65ec5b247..d7c61dc9e40 100644
--- a/packages/espresso/README.md
+++ b/packages/espresso/README.md
@@ -14,17 +14,9 @@ Since Espresso uses cleartext traffic via a websocket to coordinate
 testing, cleartext traffic will need to be enabled for testing. Please
 only do this for testing (in debug or androidTest).
 
-Add ```android:networkSecurityConfig="@xml/network_security_config"``` in the ```<application>``` in the AndroidManifest.xml
-of the Android app used for testing. Also add the meta-data tag in the ```<application>``` that
-will notify Flutter of the network configuration:
+Add ```android:networkSecurityConfig="@xml/network_security_config"``` in the ```<application>``` in the AndroidManifest.xml of the Android app used for testing.
 
-```xml
-<meta-data android:name="io.flutter.network-policy"
-    android:resource="@xml/network_security_config"/>
-```
-
-Then you will need to create a `network_security_config.xml` in the
-`res/xml/` directory.  
+Then you will need to create a `network_security_config.xml` in the `res/xml/` directory.  
 
 ```xml
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
diff --git a/packages/espresso/example/android/app/src/debug/AndroidManifest.xml b/packages/espresso/example/android/app/src/debug/AndroidManifest.xml
index 3175142fb29..437b06c69bc 100644
--- a/packages/espresso/example/android/app/src/debug/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/packages/espresso/example/android/app/src/debug/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -3,8 +3,5 @@
          to allow setting breakpoints, to provide hot reload, etc.
     -->
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>
-    <application android:networkSecurityConfig="@xml/network_security_config">
-        <meta-data android:name="io.flutter.network-policy"
-            android:resource="@xml/network_security_config"/>
-    </application>
+    <application android:networkSecurityConfig="@xml/network_security_config" />
 </manifest>
diff --git a/packages/espresso/pubspec.yaml b/packages/espresso/pubspec.yaml
index dbec8b81384..63e77af8c5a 100644
--- a/packages/espresso/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/packages/espresso/pubspec.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ description: Java classes for testing Flutter apps using Espresso.
   Allows driving Flutter widgets from a native Espresso test.
 repository: https://github.com/flutter/packages/tree/main/packages/espresso
 issue_tracker: https://github.com/flutter/flutter/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3A%22p%3A+espresso%22
-version: 0.4.0+22
+version: 0.4.0+23
 
 environment:
   sdk: ^3.9.0