Before you submit
Recruit at least 12 testers early: new personal accounts need them opted in to a closed test for 14 days in a row.
Choose between a personal and an organisation account up front; the testing rule applies to personal accounts created after 13 November 2023.
How to launch on Google Play, step by step
A Google Play developer account costs $25 once. New personal accounts must run a closed test before they can publish to everyone, which is the step that most often delays a launch.
Choose the account type
Decide between a personal and an organisation account up front. The testing requirement applies to personal accounts created after 13 November 2023.
Run the closed test
Recruit at least 12 testers and keep them opted in to a closed test continuously for at least 14 days. Start recruiting before the build is finished.
Apply for production
In the Play Console dashboard, choose Apply for production and answer the questions about your closed test, the app and its readiness.
Allow for review
For some accounts Google takes more time to review, which can mean up to seven days or longer in exceptional cases.
Control the release
Internal, closed and open testing tracks let you widen access step by step. For updates, managed publishing lets you decide exactly when approved changes go live.
Google Play's own rules
- New personal accounts need at least 12 testers opted in for 14 days in a row before applying for production access.
Mistakes to avoid
- Setting a launch date before the 14-day closed test has even started.
- Recruiting testers who drop out, which breaks the continuous 14 days.
Checked against Google Play's own pages: support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/6112435 (opens in a new tab), support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/14151465 (opens in a new tab), support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9859751 (opens in a new tab)
Cost, wait and links
- Cost
- Account registration fee, $25 one time. A one-time US$25 registration fee. Identity verification may ask for a government ID and a card in your legal name.
- Wait
- Not stated by the site
- Links
- Not confirmed
Requirements
- You need an account to submit.
- New personal accounts must run a closed test with at least 12 testers for 14 days before production
What founders got here
No founder has reported results here yet. Figures appear once 3 reports are approved, as medians and labelled self reported.
Launched on Google Play? Share your resultsWhere this comes from
Checked against the site's own pages. Fees and rules change, so confirm on the site before paying.
Questions about launching on Google Play
Why can't I publish my app to production on Google Play?
- Personal developer accounts created after 13 November 2023 must first run a closed test with at least 12 testers opted in for at least 14 days in a row, then apply for production access from the Play Console dashboard.
