This article explains how to submit an Android app to the Play Store
In this page you will find information on how to submit an Android app to the Play Store for the first time, how to update an existing app on the Play Store and what graphic assets do you need to release your app.
Creating the app
The app creation and publishing happens on the Play Console. All applications and their releases can be managed on the console. If you don't have a Google Play account yet, you will need to set up a new one.
To create a new application, select All apps from the menu on the left and click Create app.
Fill in the App details section with app name, default language, select "App" for Store settings and "Free" as pricing. Make sure to check the required "Developer Program Policies", “Play App Signing” and "US export laws" boxes.
Click on "Create app" at the bottom right.
First steps
Google Console will then bring you to a dashboard where you can see all the necessary steps for the app to be submitted and available on the Store. We recommend you to follow the onboard setup on the Dashboard. Start by clicking "View tasks" to expand the next steps.
Important: To continue on following the Initial setup, after each step go back to the Dashboard screen from the side menu and select the next one.
App access
By default, you must select "All of some functionality is restricted" and fill in the form with instructions and a test account for the Google reviewer as otherwise the app will be rejected by the reviewer.
Then, click on "Save".
Ads
Select the option: "No, my app does not contain ads" and Save.
Content rating
- Click on "Start questionnaire"
- Fill in email address with client's email address
- Select the app category and click "Next". Fill out:
Click on "Save" and then on "Next". After checking the summary, click on "Submit".
Target audience
- On Target Age, select "18 and over" and click Next.
- On Store presence, select Yes for the Appeal to Children option (This will show a label "Not designed for children" on the Store).
- Click Next and then Save.
News App
- Select “No” on “Is your app a news app?”
COVID-19
- Select “My app is not a publicly available COVID-19 contact tracing or status app”
Data Safety
First, you must follow the steps described in the following article.
- After filling out the Data Safety questionnaire, click on “Save”
- Go to Privacy Policy, fill it out, click on “Save”
- Go back to the dashboard and choose “Data Safety” once again and click on Next and Save once more after looking over the overview.
Select an app category and provide contact details
- In App Category select App for "App or Game"
- Choose an app category
- Fill in your contact email address for that app
- Deselect the "External marketing" box
- Click on Save
Setup your store listing
- Fill app details (name, short and full description)
- Upload app graphics (icon, feature graphic and screenshots)
- Click on Save
Release your app
On Dashboard now you should see the "Release your app" section available. Click on "Select countries and regions" on the last section "publish your app on Google Play".
Select countries and regions
- Click on "Add countries / regions"
- Select All
- Click on "Add countries / regions" on the bottom right
- Confirm by clicking on "Add" on the Dialog that appears
Create a new release
On the top right of the page, select "Create a new release".
App signing by Google
Under "App signing by Google Play" make sure you select "Change app signing key" and select the option "Use a different key".
Important: DO NOT click on "Use Google-generated key".
- Select the option “Export and upload a key from Java keystore”
- Click on “Upload generated ZIP”. The zip file will be stored in our Dropbox under Processes > Submissions and Certificates > New App > Google Play Error
- Click on “Save”
Uploading the APK/AAB file
- Drag your APK/AAB file to the App bundles and APKs/AABs field and wait for it to be uploaded
- On Release Name field make sure our standard version number is showing (i.e: 1.0)
- Since it's the first version of the app, you leave the release notes empty
- Click on Save
- Click on Review Release
- Select Rollout
Graphic Assets
App icon
Your app icon as shown on Google Play. Don’t use badges or text that suggest store ranking, price or Google Play categories (such as "top", "new", or "sale").
Squared JPEG or 32-bit PNG, 512 px by 512 px, up to 1 MB
Feature graphic
This will help promote your app in different places on Google Play. In case of cropping, avoid placing text near the edges, and center key visuals.
JPEG or 24-bit PNG (not transparent), 1,024 px by 500 px, Up to 1 MB
Screenshots
Upload 2 - 8 screenshots of each device below:
Phone screenshots
JPEG or 24-bit PNG (not transparent)
Between 320 px and 3,840 px
16:9 aspect ratio (for landscape screenshots)
Up to 8 MB
7-inch tablet screenshots
JPEG or 24-bit PNG (not transparent)
Between 320 px and 3,840 px
16:9 aspect ratio (for landscape screenshots)
Up to 8 MB
10-inch tablet screenshots
JPEG or 24-bit PNG (not transparent)
Between 320 px and 3,840 px
16:9 aspect ratio (for landscape screenshots)
Up to 8 MB
Update an app
- Go to the Google Console go to All apps and select the app you wish to update by clicking on its name
- On the left menu, navigate to "Release Management" > App releases
- On the new screen, find the "Production track" section, where you'll see the latest release submitted.
- Click on the "Manage" button.
- Click on "CREATE RELEASE" button on the top right
- Drag the .APK file and wait for it to upload
- Once the file is processed, make sure the release name contains the correct version number
- And then in the "What's new in this release?" right a small text that reflects what are the features or bug fixes the update contains
- Click on "Save"
- Click on "Review"
- Scroll to the end of the screen and click "START ROLLOUT TO PRODUCTION" and confirm on the dialog.
- Make sure that you see the release number you've just uploaded and the status message "Full rollout".
If you wish to edit the main store listing details such as app name, description or icon and screenshots, on the left menu navigate to "Store Presence" > "Store listing". Edit desired information and hit the "SUBMIT UPDATE" button at the bottom.
The update of the metadata and the app release is processed separately and may be not be available all at once to the app users.