Pre-requisites to publish your app on Google Play Store

Although there are various app markets are available nowadays, Google Play Store is the most popular and the largest of all. Google play not only allows you to distribute your app to a wide range of users, but also allows you to manage the advertisement and selling of app. Are you planning to publish app on Google Play store? Here, we have discussed some requirements for a seamless app submission on Play Store.

1. Create a Developer Account

First of all, the user who is intending to go live with the Play Store needs to have a developer account in order to release the application. This account can be made only once and it does involve onetime payment of $25USD.  The user can follow the steps mentioned in the link below in order to register as a developer using his/her Gmail account.

https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/6112435?hl=en

2. Pre-requisites for launching an app on Play Store.

1. Application Package:- apk file which is to be released on the Play Store.

2. Short Description of the application: – The short description should not be more than 80 characters.

3. Long Description of the application: – The long description should not be more than 4000 characters.

4. App Icon:- Hi-resolution icon in png format. (512*512).Here, few tips are discussed for making effective app icon.

5. Screenshots:- 8 different screenshots of application with hints. The image should not be larger than (3480*3480) and must be in png format. Find an example here – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vel.barcodetosheet

6. Feature Graphics: – Feature graphic of resolution 1024px(width) * 500px(height). A nice featured graphic usually attracts more users and get downloads for your app.

7. Promo Video URL: – YouTube tutorial video showcasing the use of the application (if any). It should be 30 seconds to 2 minutes long.

3. Releasing application on Play Store

After getting all the required things ready for app submission, it’s time to publish it on the store. The steps discussed below illustrates how you can distribute your app on the Play Store –

• Go to your Google Play Console account.
• Select All applications and then click on the  Create application.

• In the pop-up screen, enter the name of your application. Google allows 30 characters for title of your Android application.
• Now, you will be redirected to the Store Listing under the Store presence page, add the following details here:

1. Short App Description
2. Long App Description
3. App Icon
4. App Screenshots
5. Featured graphics
6. YouTube Video
7. In the store listing page itself, you will be asked to Select Application type whether it is an App or Game.
8. Select the category of your App or Game to which it belongs.
9. Enter the contact details and privacy policy URL for the app. Privacy policy is mandatory for the app distribution.
10. Now click on ‘Save Draft’ option and move to ‘App Releases’ option under ‘Release Management’ option.

• Select Create Release option in the production tab if you want to release your application to production. The application can also be released under beta and alpha testing before being moved to production.

1. Select the Application Package to be uploaded on Play Store.
2. Update the release notes for application and click on Save Draft.
3. As we have now uploaded the application package (APK), you can now apply for submitting Content Rating for the application.

• Now open Store Presence and select Content Rating.

1. Fill in the questionnaire and you will receive a content rating based on the entered details.

• Now, move back to ‘App Releases’ tab

1. Under the Production track, select Manage
2. Click on Review button at the bottom of the screen. You will be redirected to details of the application package and release note.
3. In order to release application package on Play Store, select the option “Rollout to Production” to make the application available for release.

Once, the request is processed by Google, your application will be available on the Play Store for download.

Conclusion

These were some of the pre-requisites for app distribution on Play Store. You can also find detailed info about app publishing on Google Store. Once the Google approves your app, your app will join the Play Store.

But, often apps are also get rejected by Google because of common reasons which are ignored at the time of app submission. However, you can curb the reasons of rejection and republish it with ease. You can also Create a perfect mobile app and publish the same, just keep above mentioned pre-requisites in your mind.