Ultimate Guide To App Publishing On Play Store
By: Vahid Hussain
Tags: Techonlogy, Android Development, Guides And Tutorials

This article is a step-by-step guide for publishing your first app on Google Play Store.

With over 3.8 billion Android users around the world, it is a no-brainer that app developers prefer making apps on the Android platform before any other platform.

However, it can be a pretty daunting task for up-and-coming developers to publish their app on Google Play.

So, let’s find out exactly how the app publishing works.

1. Creating a Developer Account

Before doing anything else, you need to create a Developer Account. This can be done using your existing Google Account.

This process is pretty much simple and it will cost you a one time registration fee of $25. After accepting the Developer Distribution Agreement, you have to pay using your credit or debit card.

To finish the sign up process, fill out all the other required account details, including your Developer Name, which will be visible to the customers on Google Play. You can always add more details later if you need to.

2. Linking your Merchant Account

In order to publish a paid app or sell in-app purchases, you have to make a merchant account.

Sign in to your Play Console

Click on Download Reports –> Financial

Press “Set up a merchant account now”

Fill out your business information

Once you create the merchant account, it will be linked automatically to your existing Developer Account.

A merchant account lets you manage your app sales as well as monthly payments right in your Play Console.

3. Creating your App

After setting up your Play Console, it is time for adding your app.

Navigate to the ‘All applications’ tab in the menu

Click on ‘Create Application’

Select your app’s default language

Type in a title for your app

Press “Create”

This title will show up on Play Store when you’ve published your app. Keep in mind that you can change this later as well.

4. Preparing the Store Listing

After adding your app, you will be taken directly to the store entry page. This basically means that you need to prepare a store listing for your app. Note that this can be done later as well.

Product Details

In product details, you need to fill out the app’s title and description. Both should be written carefully to make sure that it doesn’t sound too promotional or spam otherwise your app can be suspended from the play store.

Graphic Assets

Under graphic assets, you need to add images, videos, screenshots and other graphics that showcase your app’s features and functionality.

Some graphic assets are mandatory like screenshots, a feature graphic, and a high resolution icon.

While others are optional, they can make your app look more professional,

Languages and Translations

You should also add translations of your app’s information in the store listing details, along with in-language screenshots and other localized images.

Categorization

There are various categories available for each type of app on the Play Store. Pick the one that your app fits the best.

Content Details

You can add multiple contact details here like email, website or phone number but providing a contact email is necessary for publishing an app.

Privacy Policy

If your app needs special access to sensitive user data or permissions, you need to write a comprehensive privacy policy that effectively reveals how your app collects, uses, or shares that data.

You must add a URL linking to your privacy policy in your store listing as well as within your app. Make sure the link is active and relevant to your app.

5. Uploading APK to App Release

Android Package Kit (or APK, for short) is the file format used by the Android platform to distribute and install apps.

Google offers you multiple ways to upload and release your APK. Before uploading the file, you need to create an app release.

To create a release, select the app you created earlier in step 3. From the menu on the left, navigate to ‘Release management’ -> ‘App releases.’

Here, you need to select the type of release you want to upload your first app version to.

You can choose between:

Internal test

Closed test

Open test

Production release

The first three releases allow you to test out your app among a select group of users before you make it go live for everyone to access.

Tests are a much safer option because you can analyze the test results and optimize your app according to the feedback from the test.

However, if you create a production release, your uploaded app version will become accessible immediately in the countries you choose to distribute it in.

Next, follow the on-screen instructions to add your APK files; and then name and describe your release.

After you’re done, hit Save.

6. Providing a Content Rating

Not assigning a rating to your app makes it ‘Unrated’. Apps that are ‘Unrated’ can get removed from Google Play.

In order to rate your app, you need to fill out a content rating questionnaire. You can access it by selecting your app in the Play Console, and navigating to ‘Store presence’ — ‘Content rating’.

Make sure you enter accurate information. Misrepresentation of your app’s content can lead to suspension or removal from the Play Store.

An appropriate content rating can help you get the right audience, which will eventually improve your engagement rates.

7. Setting up Distribution and Pricing

Before proceeding further, you need to determine your app’s monetization strategy.

Remember, you can always change your app from paid to free later, but you cannot change a free app to paid.

8. Rollout Release for Publishing

You’re almost done. The final step is reviewing and rolling out your release..

Before you roll out your release, make sure that the store listing, content rating and pricing sections of your app all have a green tick mark next to them.

Once you’ve filled out those details, select your app and navigate to ‘Release management’ — ‘App releases.’ Press ‘Edit release’ next to your desired release, and review it.

Next, press ‘Review’ in order to get the ‘Review and rollout release’ screen. Here, you can see if there are any issues or warnings that want your attention.

Finally, hit ‘Confirm rollout.’ This will also publish your app to all users in your target countries on Google Play.

Now What?

Congratulations. You have successfully published your app on the Play Store.

But you can’t just sit back and relax yet. Your work has only begun.

You can start by promoting your app. Promotion helps you reach out to more customers while improving your brand value as well.

Soon, you will also need to provide various updates and bug fixes for your app.

Good Luck!