A Definitive Guide To Publishing An App On Google Play

With more than 2.5 billion active users, Google Play Store is probably one of the most recognized and largest platforms for publishing, distributing, promoting & selling your Android applications. This number clearly shows why the Play Store is so popular for mobile application development.

However, uploading an app to Google Play Store may seem like a very intimidating & daunting task for first-timers & new app owners. This is because Google Play comes with a set of important rules, regulations & procedures. 

If you’re wondering “how to publish an app to Google Play”, stop your search here. This blog will give you a step-by-step guide on how to publish an app on the Google apps store successfully. Let’s get started. 

How To Publish Your App On Google Play And The App Store?

The process of publishing an app on the Play Store is simple but quite long – according to app making companies. All you need to do is follow each step in chronological order to avoid mistakes. The steps include:

Step 1: Open a Developer’s Account

Before publishing an app on the Play Store, creating a developer’s dashboard or account is highly imperative. Without registering it, you can never publish your mobile app . The registration process is straightforward, all you need to do is open Google Play Console – backend controlling center and pay a one-time registration fee ($25) to sign in.

During the registration process, you have to fill in all important credentials while opening your account such as name, location, etc. After completing this process, it generally takes 48 hours for Google approval.

Step 2: Link Your Google Wallet Merchant Account

Next, you need to create a Google merchant account if you would like to launch a paid app or sell in-app purchases. Check out the below steps:

1. Open your Google Play Console
2. Select ‘Reports’ followed by ‘Financial Reports’
3. Click ‘Set up a merchant account now’
4. Submit your business info & details

Once you complete the task, your merchant account will get linked to your Google Play Console & will help you manage app sales & monthly payouts.

Step 3: Make an Application

Once you’ve created your Play Console & linked your merchant account, you need to start making an application. Here are the few steps that you need to follow:

1. Firstly, open the ‘All applications’ tab in the menu section
2. Select ‘Create Application’ button
3. Select the default language of your app from the drop-down list
4. Enter the title of your application (You can change it later)
5. Click “Create”

Once you have done, your app’s title will start showing on the Google Play Store after publishing. Don’t think about the app title as you can change it later.

Step 4: App Store Listing

Preparing the store listing is important before you publish your application on the Play Store. The store listing provides the right information and details of your app to your customers. Now, you do not have to finish this listing process necessarily before you move forward to the next stage of mobile app solutions. You can make a draft & visit again to complete it once you are ready to launch your app.

Different types of information are required for the store listing & they are divided into the following categories:

1. Product’s General Info:

Product info like title & description must be written based on your user experience. Here’s a table that will show how to write general information for your app.

2. Graphical Assets:

Under this, you usually add images, promotional graphics, screenshots, icons & videos that give a complete overview of your app features. Among them, some graphic assets are imperative such as a high-resolution icon, a feature graphic & some screenshots.

Others are not mandatory but you can use them to attract your user’s attention. Every graphic asset has some specific requirements such as dimensions, file formats, etc. Before you add any asset, you should read all the requirements properly. 

3. Languages and Translations:

In the store listing details, you can add translation features of your application’s details along with localized images and in-language screenshots. Translations help your users understand your app’s features and functionality with ease. 

4. Categorization:

This section helps you add a particular type & category to your application. All you need to do is pick an appropriate type from the drop-down menu. There are different categories for every type of application available on the Google Play Store. Apart from that, you can also upload an APK to rate your content. You may skip this for later. 

5. Contact Details:

In this section, you have to enter your contact details & information regarding your application properly. You can simply add different contact channels such as email, phone number, website, etc. However, adding a contact email is extremely necessary to publish any app in the Google app store for Android.

6. Privacy Policy:

For an application that mainly requests access to sensitive data & permissions, you have to fulfill a privacy policy that describes effectively how your application collects, utilizes & shares user data. You should add a URL to the privacy policy within your application & in the store listing. Make sure that the link is relevant & always active.

Step 5: Upload APK or App Bundles

Now, you need to use APK files or App bundles to finally upload your application. An APK stands for Android Package Kit which is a simple file used by Android OS for distributing & installing applications. An APK file consists of all elements required for your application.

Google usually provides multiple methods to upload & release APKs. Before uploading the file, you have to make an app release. To do that, go to the ‘Release Management’ section first & then select the ‘App Release’ tab. Here, you have to choose the type that you would like to upload. You can select any one from several options: an internal test, an open test,  a closed test & a production release.

The first 3 options enable you to test your application among a group of users before making it live for everybody. It’s a good option because you can examine the results & fix or optimize your application accordingly. On the other hand, if you choose the production release, your app will become accessible in the regions you select for distribution. 

Once you have selected it, click the ‘Create release’ option. After that, you need to check the on-screen guidelines to upload your APK and describe your app release. Once you’ve done this, click Save to proceed to the next step.

Step 6: Focus on The Content Rating

The next step is all about how to rate your application on the Play Store. This is because if you do not focus on app rating, your application will be listed in the ‘Unrated’ app list. Sometimes, Google Play removes ‘Unrated’ apps from the store.

For app rating, you have to fill out a questionnaire regarding content rating & then you access it while selecting your application in the Google Play Console. Now navigate to ‘Store presence’ and select the ‘Content rating’ option from the left section. Now click ‘Continue’ to move forward & enter your email address in the field. Once you’ve done this, select the ‘Confirm’ button.

Make sure that all information that you’ve entered is accurate. Misrepresentation of an application may lead to app removal or suspension from the Google Play Store. A precise content rating will help you reach a wider audience, which will enhance your app engagement rates eventually.

Step 7: Set Up App Pricing & Distribution

Now, you have to assign the cost of your application. However, before filling out all the details, you have to properly determine the monetization strategy of your application. Once you understand how your app will help you make money, you can start setting up your application as paid or free. 

If you would like to make your app free, you can’t change your decision. This is because Google never allows you to convert free applications into paid versions. Although, the app price can easily be altered.

All you need to do is open the Pricing and Distribution tab first & next, decide whether your application will be offered as a paid or free version. Then you can select the region where you would like to release your app. In addition, if your app is good for kids (below 13 years), click ‘Yes’ for Primary Child-Detected. Otherwise, click ‘No’ to proceed.

Step 8: Publish Your Application

After you checked all things, your app will be finally ready to publish. This step mainly involves reviewing your app release. Before reviewing your release, make sure that the content rating, store listing, pricing & distribution of your application all are correct. 

Once you have done all these things, go to ‘Release management’ and then select ‘App releases.’ Now click ‘Edit release’ & and review it. Next, select ‘Review’ & then click ‘Start rollout to production’. This will also release your application to your users on Google Play Store.

What’s Next?

Publishing an app on the Play Store isn’t everything. Once you’ve done it, you need to follow some steps to ensure your app gets very good exposure on the Play Store. Here are some android app development solution that you must focus on: 

How Much Does It Cost To Put An App On The Play Store?

While publishing your app on the Play Store, you need to pay a one-time developer fee of $25. Aside from this, the overall cost to put an app on the Google Play Store is free. Moreover, Google usually takes 30% of your application revenue. After one year, it reduces to 15% of total subscription revenue. Knowing all the financial factors of your app development pricing can help you smoothly optimize your application model for the Play Store.

Play Store App Upload Cost In India 

Although creating an app and submitting it to the Google Play Store may appear simple, a few steps are involved in making it accessible globally. 

Let’s talk about how much the Play Store app upload price costs rather than rushing to push the button. 

To create a Google Play Developer account, you must pay a one-time registration fee of $25 (roughly INR 2,000) as the cost of publishing app on Play Store. You can use Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and other debit and credit cards to pay. Prepaid cards are not currently accepted, and the payment methods may differ by nation. 

Do you know Google charges this fee? 

It filters out low-quality apps and spam, ensuring that only serious developers can publish their apps. 

Now, if you plan to monetize your app, keep in mind that Google also takes a commission on those, which adds to the overall Play Store app publish cost. 

First Year: 30% of your earnings from subscriptions. 

After the First Year: The rate drops to 15%. 

This applies to apps that use a subscription-based model. If your app is free, you don’t have to worry about this. 

Launching an app doesn’t just cost $25; it includes more than just the registration fee. Here are some key factors that determine your overall app development cost: 

• Expert Team: If you are a solo developer or have a tough squad of coders, designers, and testers, the people behind your app will affect the cost. 

• Development Time: The longer it takes to build an app, the more it costs. Simple apps take weeks, while complex apps may take months. 

• App Complexity: A basic app is affordable, but a feature-packed app with AI, AR, or payment gateways will require a lot of investment. 

• Development Method: App templates are budget-friendly, unlike building an app from scratch. 

• App Type: If you are going for a hybrid app development (one codebase for both iOS and Android), it will be cheaper, but for native apps (specifically for one platform), it has a good performance option. 

8 Steps to Publish an Android App on Google Play 

Launching an app has more requirements than just “uploading”. A few important steps exist before launching an app on the Play Store. We have tried to curate a simple roadmap to get your app live on the Play Store. 

Step 1: Pay the Google Play Store Registration Fee 

Before doing anything else, you’ll need to register as a Google Play developer, with a one-time fee of $25. This non-refundable amount applies to your developer account, not each app. It means you have to pay once and can publish multiple apps without any extra charges.  

Step 2: Set Up a Google Wallet Merchant Account 

You must create a Google merchant Account if your app includes any in-app purchases or a prepaid download option. Here’s how: 

1. Log in to your Google Play Console. 

2. Navigate to Reports > Financial Reports. 

3. Click Set up a merchant account now. 

4. Fill out the required details accordingly. 

5. The developer account will be linked to this merchant account, allowing you to track sales and earnings. 

Step 3: Create Your Application 

Time to get your app officially on Google Play Store: 

1. Log in to Google Play Console. 

2. Click on All Apps and select Create Application. 

3. Choose your default language. 

4. Enter your app title (this can be changed later, too!) 

5. Click Create, and your app setup has begun. 

Step 4: Complete the App Store Listsing 

You will have to fill in the details about your app, so it looks good in the Play Store. 

• App Name & Description: Keep it catchy, clear, and include relevant keywords that are easy to search. 

• App Icon & Screenshots: High-quality visuals make a big difference. 

• Category & Tags: Choose the right category so users can find your app easily. 

• Contact Info & Privacy Policy: Provide an email and a privacy policy URL. 

Step 5: Upload the App Files (APK or App Bundles) 

Your app files are now ready to go live. Follow the steps: 

1. Go to Release Management > App Release 

2. Select a release type: 

• Internal Test (up to 100 testers) 

• Closed test (limited group for feedback) 

• Open Test (anyone can join the beta test) 

• Production Release (app goes live for all users) 

3. Click Create Release and follow the prompts to upload your APK or App Bundle. 

4. Name your release, add a short description, and click Save. 

Step 6: Assign a Content Rating 

Your app must be rated, or it can be removed from the store. Save your app by following these steps: 

1. Go to Content Rating in the menu. 

2. Click Continue. 

3. Enter your email and complete the rating questionnaire. 

4. Click Save Questionnaire > Calculate Rating. 

5. Click Apply to confirm. 

Step 7: Set Pricing & Distribution 

Make sure where and how your app will be available: 

1. Choose Free or Paid (once chosen, it can’t be changed to paid) 

2. Select the countries where your app should be available. 

3. Specify if your app is made for children under 13. 

4. Indicate whether your app contains ads. 

Step 8: Publish Your App 

Now, it’s time to launch your app: 

1. Go to App Releases and click Manage Production. 

2. Click Edit Release. 

3. Select Start Rollout to Production > Review. 

4. Click Confirm. 

Now you just have to wait for Google’s Approval, which usually takes a few hours to a few days. Once your app is approved, it will be live on the Play Store! 

Post-Submission Actions For Your Play Store App 

After launching your app successfully in the Play Store, just sitting back and waiting for downloads is not going to be enough. You need to put in some effort to ensure your app reaches a huge user base.  

Follow the four steps for your app’s visibility and success. 

Promote your App on Social Media 

Social Media is the world’s biggest hangout. Not less than 42% of the global population engages actively on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest among others. So, they are the perfect platforms to promote your apps. 

All features of app have been put in an attractive way and post it. Augment the reach by using hashtags and trends. Collaborate with influencers and content creators and thus get maximum reach.  

Buy traffic, and simply run cost-effective ads to reach the focused audience. The more audience sees your app, the more downloads you make! 

Launch a Press Release 

A good press release can be a valid marketing tactic. Getting your apps featured in digital magazines, blogs, and tech websites will give them credibility and exposure. 

It is important because it can help your app reach a wider audience. Also, media coverage builds trust, increasing visibility on search engines and social platforms. 

When thinking of a press release, keep these highlights in mind: 

• Your app’s unique features. 

• How it solves a problem. 

• Quotes from developers or founders. 

Keep Your App Updated & Bug-Free 

Launching an app isn’t a “set it and forget it” thing. To keep your users engaged, you must: 

• Fix bugs and glitches as and when they are detected. 

• Introduce new features based on user feedback (comments section) 

• Keep your app compatible with the latest Android updates. 

This will build loyalty and encourage positive feedback from users! 

Master App Store Optimization (ASO) 

ASO is similar to SEO, but it is done for apps. It’s about making your app more discoverable in the Play Store. For ASO: 

• Use relevant keywords in your app title and description. 

• Add high-quality screenshots and demo videos. 

• Get positive ratings & reviews. (encourage users to leave feedback) 

• Optimise your app icon and graphics to stand out. 

Final Notes

We hope that the above-mentioned steps & instructions were extremely helpful in assisting you through the entire process of uploading the app to Google Play. As we also mentioned above, don’t forget to focus on marketing strategies to grab your user’s attention, once you’ve published or uploaded your app. Continuous effort in marketing, maintenance, and support will give you long-term success. For more info, get in touch with our Android app professionals.

FAQ’s