Play Store Submission

Complete guide to submitting your Android app to the Google Play Store.

Prerequisites

• Google Play Developer Account ($25 one-time fee)
• App built with EAS Build
• App icons and screenshots ready
• Privacy policy URL

Step 1: Create Developer Account

1. Go to Google Play Console
2. Pay $25 registration fee
3. Accept Developer Distribution Agreement
4. Complete account details

Step 2: Create App

1. Click "Create app" in Play Console
2. Fill in app details:
   • App name: Your app name
   • Default language: English (US)
   • App or game: Choose appropriate type
   • Free or paid: Select pricing model
3. Accept declarations

Step 3: Store Listing

App Details

• App name: Up to 50 characters
• Short description: Up to 80 characters
• Full description: Up to 4000 characters

Short description example:
Fast, secure task manager with offline support

Full description example:
Take control of your tasks with our beautiful, intuitive task manager.

Features:
• Create and organize tasks effortlessly
• Set reminders and due dates
• Work offline, sync when connected
• Dark mode support
• Share tasks with your team
• Available in 10+ languages

Privacy focused - your data stays on your device.

App Icon

• Size: 512 x 512 pixels
• Format: 32-bit PNG
• Requirements: No transparency, no rounded corners

Feature Graphic

• Size: 1024 x 500 pixels
• Format: JPEG or 24-bit PNG
• Purpose: Displayed in Play Store featured section

Screenshots

At least 2 screenshots required, up to 8 allowed:

• Phone: 16:9 or 9:16 aspect ratio, 320-3840px
• Tablet: 7-inch and 10-inch (if tablet support)

Video (Optional)

YouTube video URL showcasing your app.

Step 4: Content Rating

1. Click "Content rating" in dashboard
2. Fill out questionnaire about app content
3. Categories: violence, sexual content, language, etc.
4. Receive rating (Everyone, Teen, Mature, etc.)

Step 5: Target Audience

• Select target age group
• Indicate if app is designed for children
• Specify if ads are shown

Step 6: App Category

• Category: Primary category (e.g., Productivity)
• Tags: Up to 5 tags for better discoverability

Step 7: Store Settings

Contact Details

• Website: Your app's website
• Email: Support email
• Phone: Optional support phone
• Privacy Policy: Required URL

External Marketing

Opt in or out of promotional campaigns.

Step 8: Build & Submit

Build AAB (Android App Bundle)

Google Play requires AAB format (not APK) for new apps:

{
  "build": {
    "production": {
      "android": {
        "buildType": "app-bundle"
      }
    }
  }
}

# Build production AAB
eas build --platform android --profile production

# Wait for build to complete (10-20 minutes)

Submit to Play Store

# Submit latest build
eas submit --platform android --latest

# Or submit specific build
eas submit --platform android --id <build-id>

Manual Upload

1. Download AAB from EAS dashboard
2. Go to Play Console → Your App → Release → Production
3. Create new release
4. Upload AAB file
5. Fill in release notes
6. Review and roll out

Step 9: Release Management

Release Tracks

• Internal Testing: Up to 100 testers, instant updates
• Closed Testing: Up to 20,000 testers
• Open Testing: Public beta, anyone can join
• Production: Full public release

Staged Rollout

Release gradually to percentage of users:

• Start with 10-20% of users
• Monitor crashes and ratings
• Gradually increase to 100%

Step 10: App Signing

Google Play App Signing (Recommended)

Google manages your app signing key:

1. Opt in during first release
2. Upload upload key certificate (EAS handles this)
3. Google signs your app with signing key

Common Rejection Reasons

Policy Violations

• Missing privacy policy
• Requesting unnecessary permissions
• Inappropriate content
• Misleading description or screenshots

Technical Issues

• App crashes on launch
• Missing required features
• Broken links in app
• Poor performance

After Approval

Review Time

Initial review: 7 days or less. Updates: Usually faster.

Monitor Performance

• Play Console statistics
• Crash reports and ANRs
• User reviews and ratings
• Pre-launch reports (automatic testing)

Updating Your App

Increment Version

{
  "expo": {
    "version": "1.0.1",
    "android": {
      "versionCode": 2
    }
  }
}

Release Notes

Version 1.0.1

Bug fixes:
• Fixed crash on startup
• Improved sync performance
• Fixed dark mode issues

New features:
• Added task sorting options
• Improved offline support

Submit Update

# Build new version
eas build --platform android --profile production

# Submit update
eas submit --platform android --latest

Best Practices

Resources

• Google Play Console
• Launch Checklist
• Developer Policy Center

Next Steps