Google Play Store Listing

When you install an app onto your Android device, the Google Play store listing presents detailed information about that product. Before making your new app publicly available, you’ll need to provide all that information to Google—name, description, screenshots, and more. 

Each section below provides a comprehensive set of information about the technical requirements for Google. We hope the information we’ve provided helps you marry the science and the art for a brilliant Google Play app listing that attracts users in droves.

Overview

On your app development journey, your store listings are where you provide information that both supports your app behind the scenes and publicly showcases it to the masses. 

Similar to a website, the concept of the landing page is the subset of details and visuals users find when they search for your app on the Google Play Store.

Getting Started

You’ll need to submit the following introductory information about your app to begin the process of creating a new Google Play store listing.

App Name

Name your app as you want it to appear on Google Play. It doesn’t have to match the somewhat limited text that appears beneath your app’s icon on a user’s home screen. The name is limited to 50 characters.

Default Language

The default language is the one used for text, audio, and video content in your app.

App or Game?

Select one of these two categories. You can change your response later if necessary.

Free or Paid?

Make your selection. You can switch your response to this question later on as well.

Declarations

Indicate that your app meets Google’s Developer Program policies and complies with US export laws before moving on. For additional information, see the Developer Policy Center on Google Play. Finally, accept the Play App Signing Terms of Service.

Complete Listing

Below are several sections of data that must be completed before a development team can upload an app and ultimately publish a new store listing. This information is required before you can distribute your app to testers or submit your product for Google’s review.

To access detailed information about each data category from the Google Play Console, select an appropriate item in the left sidebar of the app’s detail in the Grow > Store presence section.

Main Store Listing

Name

This is the main name of your app. Again, the name doesn’t have to match the text that appears beneath your app’s icon on a user’s home screen. The name can’t exceed 50 characters.

Short Description

The short description is limited to 80 characters. It initially appears by default when end users view your store listing.

Full Description

The full description describes the features and benefits of your app. It can’t exceed 4,000 characters.

App Icon

It’s the definition of iconic and can make or break whether users download your app. 

• Best Practice: Don’t use badges or text that reference store ranking, price, or Google Play categories (such as top, new, or sale) to avoid a submission rejection.
• Format & Size: Your app icon should be submitted as an image of 512 x 512 pixels and no more than 1 MB. A 32-bit PNG format (with alpha) is required.

Feature Graphic

The feature graphic helps promote your app in different places on Google Play. 

• Best Practice: Avoid placing text near the edges, and be sure to center key visuals to prevent unwanted cropping. 
• Format & Size: Your image should be 1024 x 500 pixels in either JPEG format or 24-bit PNG (no alpha) format. The file can’t be over 1 MB in size.

Screenshots

Depending on the devices supported by your app, you’ll need to provide screenshots for phones, 7-inch tablets, and 10-inch tablets. The requirements for all screenshots are the same:

• How many? You must provide between 2 to 8 screenshots for each device type. 
• In which file format? Screenshots must be in JPEG or 24-bit PNG (no alpha) format. 
• What about dimensions? The specific dimensions are flexible as long as the sides are between 320 and 3,840 pixels and the aspect ratio of the image is 16:9. 
• What is the maximum size? File sizes can’t exceed 8 MB.

Preview Video

You have the option to provide a link to a private YouTube video showing your app in action.

Store Settings

App or Game?

Again, select one of the two types for your app.

Category

Choose one of the following: 

• Apps—Art & Design, Auto & Vehicles, Beauty, Books & Reference, Business, Comics, Communications, Dating, Education, Entertainment, Events, Finance, Food & Drink, Health & Fitness, House & Home, Libraries & Demo, Lifestyle, Maps & Navigation, Medical, Music & Audio, News & Magazines, Parenting, Personalization, Photography, Productivity, Shopping, Social, Sports, Tools, Travel & Local, Video Players & Editors, Weather.
• Games—Action, Adventure, Arcade, Board, Card, Casino, Casual, Educational, Music, Puzzle, Racing, Role Playing, Simulation, Sports, Strategy, Trivia, Word.

Tags

Choose up to five tags to further classify your app. Play Console will offer suggested tags, but you can also search or scroll through other tags to find and add them.

Contact Information

An email address is required. You can also choose to submit additional contact information, including a website URL and phone number that connects users to customer care.

External Marketing

Indicate whether or not you want Google to advertise your app outside of Google Play. You’ll only want to decline if your product is an internal app for your business. Otherwise, the extra exposure will help your distribution.

App Content

In the Play Console, “App Content” is located in the “Policy” section at the bottom of the sidebar, not in the “Grow” section with the rest of the items above.

All items in the App Content section are either mini-questionnaires or forms. Tasks shift to the Completed group once you have finished them. All items need to be completed before you can publish your app.

Privacy Policy

Supply a link to the privacy policy for your app.

Ads

Indicate whether or not your app includes ads. If your answer is yes, then your app will have a Contains ads label in its Google Play Store listing.

App Access

If either a part of your app or the entire app is restricted based on login credentials, memberships, location, or other forms of authentication, then you must provide instructions on app access. 

Keep Information Current

Make sure to keep this information current—because Google may use it to review your app. Importantly, app information won’t be shared or used for any other reason outside of giving reviewers access to your product.

Consider Different Versions

If it helps to increase clarity, you and your team can include multiple sets of instructions on app access instead of just one. Each set must include a title, username or phone number, corresponding password, and explanatory text.

Add a Video Link if Required

You may want to add a link to a private YouTube video in the app access section. This additional item is necessary for at least two common circumstances:

1. Environment Restrictions—you can’t provide Google with a live test account in your production environment. This is the case for some of our financial clients.
2. Hardware Restrictions—your app integrates with hardware that the reviewer can’t access. If this describes your situation, it’s important to record a video showing the app running on a phone and communicating with its associated hardware simultaneously. The reviewer needs to see, for instance, that when you tap a button in your app’s UI, the light on the hardware turns green.

In both cases, it’s critical to demonstrate the core functionality of your app. We recommend the following:

• Focus: Don’t attempt to demonstrate every possible use case; instead, keep your video to 2 minutes or less.
• Pace: Remember the reviewer can pause and rewind as needed so that the video can run through your demo at an efficient pace.
• Audio: Your video doesn’t need to be narrated, either (unless you think there’s something unobvious requiring an explanation).

Content Rating

Google doesn’t allow apps without a content rating on its store. Content ratings inform consumers of potentially objectionable content and enable filtering and blocking of content from users’ Google Play accounts where the law requires it. The rating questionnaire asks about the nature of your app’s content and then assigns a content rating based on your responses. Misrepresentation can result in removal or suspension from the store—so it’s essential to be accurate. 

Complete the rating questionnaire to prevent your app from an “Unrated” listing. You’ll be asked for information such as the following:

• Provide your email address to be used to contact you about your content ratings. It may be shared with rating authorities such as the ESRB for the United States. 
• Select the category: Game, Social or communication, or All other app types. 
• Further, describe the app within that category. For example, for a Social or communication app, you’ll select either Communication or Social.
• Does the app share the user’s current and precise physical location with others?
• Does the app allow users to purchase digital goods?

Target Audience & Content

You’ll provide information including target age, app details, ads, and store presence. Apps primarily designed for children have specific requirements. Questions may include:

• What are the target age groups of your app? (If you select ages 13 and under, you’ll have additional questions to answer.)
• Could your store listing unintentionally appeal to children?

News Apps

Indicate whether or not your product is a news app. Products that cover current events must comply with Google’s policy regarding news apps. Therefore, you’ll need to provide information that helps Google verify your credentials as a news publisher. You’ll also need to explain how you source the content shown in your app.

Pricing

If you intend to charge for your app, you’ll need to set up a Google merchant account. Then you’ll be able to select a pricing category for the app and indicate the countries in which it should be available.

How To Make a Google Play App

Your Google Play Store listing is an important step in getting your app in front of users. By taking the time to create a well-designed listing, you can increase your chances of success in the Google Play Store.

Here are some added tips for creating a successful Google Play Store listing:

• Use high-quality images and videos.
• Write a clear and concise description of your app.
• Use relevant keywords throughout your listing.
• Promote reviews and feedback.

Need additional help with the Play Store or Google Play business? Explore how to optimize your Google Play app list further with these best practices. Or, check out our link below to get your free copy of the complete guide to everything Google Play (and Apple App Store, too!).