This guide helps developers set up a Play Console developer account to publish and manage Android apps on Google Play. Before you begin, ensure that you have an active Google Account and are at least 18 years of age.
Register for a Play Console developer account
To create and set up your Play Console developer account, perform the following steps:
Step 1: Sign up for a Play Console developer accountYou must be at least 18 years of age to sign up for a Play Console account.
- Using your Google Account, open the Play Console developer account sign-up page.
- After you create an account, use Play Console to publish and manage your apps.
During the signup process, review and accept the Google Play Developer Distribution Agreement.
There is a US$25 one-time registration fee. You can pay this fee using any of the following credit or debit cards:
- Mastercard
- Visa
- American Express
- Discover (US locations only)
- Visa Electron (locations outside of the US only)
Select the account type that best fits your publishing needs. Google Play offers two developer account types, personal and organization. To learn more about differences and requirements, see Choose a developer account type.
Note: Personal developer accounts require developers to complete specific app testing requirements before distributing apps on Google Play. To learn more, see the Step 5: Verify your developer identity information and Step 6: Meet testing requirements and device verification requirements sections of this article.
To keep Google Play a safe and trusted platform, complete the identity verification process when setting up your Play Console developer account. Verifying developer identity helps prevent malicious activity and protects users. Verification requirements depend on the account type chosen in Step 4.
You can add additional account information after creating your account.
Developers with personal accounts must complete specific app testing requirements before making their app available on Google Play. To review testing steps and requirements, see App testing requirements for personal developer accounts.
In addition, personal account owners must verify access to an Android device using the Play Console mobile app before publishing apps. To learn more, see Device verification requirements for developer accounts.
Develop Android apps
To design, develop, and distribute Android apps on Google Play, review the following resources:
Popular Play Console features
To learn more about core Play Console functionality, see the following topics:
- Create and set up your app
- Set up your app's prices
- Set up an open, closed, or internal test
- View reports, statistics, and insights
- Inspect app versions on the Latest releases and bundles page
Developer news and community features
Explore the following resources for development insights, industry trends, and announcements:
- Read articles and announcements on the Android Developers blog.
- Find developer insights and industry trends on the Google Play Apps & Games Medium blog.
Troubleshoot issues
If you need assistance with publishing apps or managing your account, consult the following community support resources:
- Android Developers Community
- Publishing issues
- Payments Profile support for Google Play developers
- Contact Google Play Developer support