Google Play Console: First-time Deployment Tutorial

This guide will teach you how to deploy your app to the Google Play console.

Go to the Google Play Console to complete these next steps.

Create a new app on the Google Play Developer Console

Click Create app in your Google Play console to get started.1

image-20220713-072857

You will be asked to provide some details about your app:

  • App Name (Text)

  • Default Language (Select from a drop-down menu)

  • If you're releasing an App or a Game (select one)

  • If your app is Free or Paid (select one)

Screen Shot 2022-07-19 at 8.52.45 AM

You will also be asked to confirm that your app meets the Google Play Developer Program Policies and to accept that your app may be subject to US export laws.

 

Screen Shot 2022-07-19 at 8.54.33 AM
 

Google offers optional steps to set up internal testing for your project. You can follow the steps to set this up. We will focus on the Set Up Your App and Publish Your App on Google Play steps.

Set Up Your App

Provide some information about your app's content.

 
Screen Shot 2022-07-19 at 8.44.56 AM
  • App access: is any of your app's content locked behind a paywall or login screen?

  • Ads: does your app serve ads?

  • Content rating: Does your app contain strong language, violence, or other sensitive material?

  • Target audience: Is this app designed for children?

  • News apps: Is the function of your app to provide news updates to your users?

  • Data safety: What user data does your app collect or share?

You can also add some information for how your app should be categorized and presented in the Play Store:

  • Set an App Category, and add Tags to improve your app’s discoverability on the Play Store

  • Add Contact Details: you must provide an email address. You can also provide a phone number or website URL.

  • Choose whether or not your app may be marketed outside of the Google Play store.

Store Listing Requirements

  • App Name to be shown the Play Store

  • Short Description of your app

  • Full Description of your app

  • App Icon

    • 512 * 512 pixels

    • Up to 1MB in size

  • Feature Graphic

    • 1024 * 500 pixels

    • Up to 1MB in size

  • An optional YouTube Video URL to demonstrate your app

  • At least two Phone Screenshot

    • 16:9 or 9:16 aspect ratio

    • Each side between 320 and 3,840 pixels

    • Up to 8MB in size

  • At least one Tablet Screenshot

    • 16:9 or 9:16 aspect ratio

    • Each side between 320 and 3,840 pixels

    • Up to 8MB in size

 

All images can be in PNG or JPEG format.

Completing the Data safety form in Play Console

When you're ready to start, here's how you complete and submit your Data safety form n the App content page in Play Console:

  1. Open Play Console and go to the App content page (Policy > App content).

  2. Under "Data safety," select Start.

  3. Before you start the form, read the "Overview" section. This provides information about the questions you'll be asked, and the information you'll need to provide. When you've finished reading and are ready to get started, select Next to move on to the next section.

  4. In the "Data collection and security" section, review the list of required user data types that you need to disclose. If your app collects or shares any of the required user data types, select Yes. If not, select No.

  5. If you selected Yes, confirm the following by answering Yes or No:

    • Whether or not all of the user data collected by your app is encrypted in transit.

    • Whether or not you provide a way for users to request that their data is deleted.

  6. Select Next to move on to the next section.

  7.  In the "Data types" section, select all of the user data types collected or shared by your app. When you're finished, select Next to move on to the next section. You must [complete this section in accordance with the data collection and sharing guidance above.

  8. In the "Data usage and handling" section, answer questions about how the data is used and handled for each user data type your app collects or shares. Next to each user data type, select Start to answer the questions. When you're finished, select Next to move on to the next section.

    • Note: You can change the user data types that are selected by going back to the previous section and changing your selections.

  9. After answering all questions, the "Store listing preview" section previews the information that will be shown to users on Google Play based on the form answers you've provided. Review this information.

If you're ready to submit your completed form, select Submit. If you want to go back and change something, you can select Back to amend your answers. If you're not sure about something, you can select Save as draft and return to the form later. If you select Discard changes, you'll need to start the form again.

Publish Your App on Google Play

 
Screen Shot 2022-07-19 at 8.27.07 AM
 

You will be asked which countries and regions you want your app to be available in.

Then you will be asked to create a new release.


Step 1: Create an Internal test track release

A release is a combination of one or more app versions that you'll prepare to launch an app or roll out an app update. You can create a release on three different testing tracks or to production:

  • Open testing: Open testing releases are available to testers on Google Play. Users can join tests from your store listing.

  • Closed testing: Closed testing releases are available to a limited number of testers that you choose, who can test a pre-release version of your app and submit feedback.

  • Internal testing: Internal testing releases are available to up to 100 testers that you choose.

  • Production: Production releases are available to all Google Play users in your chosen countries.

 

Important: You must have the Release apps to testing tracks permission to create a new release.

To start your release:

  1. Open Play Console and click Create track.

  2. Select Internal testing

 

Internal testing releases are available to up to 100 testers that you choose.

 

→ Near the top right of the page, click Create new release

 

 

If Create new release is disabled, you may have outstanding setup tasks to complete. These may be listed on the Dashboard page.

 

Tip: For more information on testing, go to set up an open, closed, or internal test.

Step 2: Prepare your app's release

  1. Follow the on-screen instructions to prepare your release: 

 

Apps created before August 2021 can add app bundles or APKs for app updates.

2. Select testers and provide a Feedback URL or email address.

Prepare

Google will offer to protect your app signing key. You can click Continue to allow this to proceed. You will only be asked this the first time you publish a release.

 
Screen Shot 2022-07-19 at 8.41.30 AM
 

Step 3: Download your AAB file from the CB Dashboard

Go to the Android card in Status > Build Status and click the clipboard icon in the right corner of the “Manage Builds”

Screen Shot 2022-08-01 at 5.07.41 PM
 

A deployment history table will pop-up showing a list of all your Android builds and releases. The last column “Action” allows you to download the specific build file associated with that deployment.

 
Screen Shot 2022-08-04 at 1.53.57 PM
 

Step 4: Upload your AAB file

Upload your AAB file in the App Bundles and APKs section. This may take a few minutes.

 
Screen Shot 2022-07-19 at 8.42.40 AM
 

Add a Release Name and Release Notes in the Release Details section.

Review and Release

Errors, Warnings, and Messages will let you know if there are any issues with your release or any information you should be aware of. Errors will prevent you from publishing your release. Warnings and Messages will not prevent you from publishing a release.

New App Bundles and APKs will show any new APK or AAB files you have added to this release.

Release Notes will show the release notes for this release.

 

Click Start Rollout to publish your app to the Internal track!

Step 4: Add a privacy policy

Apps that request access to sensitive permissions or data (as defined in the user data policies) are required by the Google Play Store to include a privacy policy.

Congrats! You’re all set!