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Android Store Console: How to Set Up and Manage Your Google Play Developer Account 

If you’re an Android developer, you know how difficult it can be to set up and manage your Google Play Developer Account.

 Thankfully, there are several excellent resources online that can help you with each step of the process, and this guide will do just that.

 By following our instructions and tips, you’ll be able to set up your account, manage your assets and track the status of your app on Google Play Console in no time at all!.

Android Store Console: How to Set Up and Manage Your Google Play Developer Account

What is an app store?.

An app store is a service where people can download applications for their smartphones, tablet computers, or other electronic devices.

•  App stores typically host paid applications that users can download for a fee. A wide variety of apps are available through Apple's App Store and Google's Android Market.

•  Although most app store services charge fees to consumers, they may also collect fees from developers in order to distribute their software; some app stores allow both free and paid applications (Apple App Store) while others only allow apps that are sold (Android Market).

•  In addition, there are rogue application marketplaces like Cydia which offer free apps. For more information on comparing these different application platforms see mobile operating systems.

Why do I need an account on the app store?.

Setting up an account with your developer console is essential for distributing apps via Google Play.

•  Without a developer account, you won’t be able to publish or update your app on Android devices.

•  Also, if you want to market your app in other countries or markets, you may need a developer account that gives you distribution rights in those areas (and English language support).

•  You can sell apps internationally on Google Play—but it’s not free.

•  You’ll have pay a fee of $25 USD per application (which is used for our payment processing fees).

 The good news is that there are ways to reduce these costs; see below for details.

Where can I create my account?.

Once you’ve downloaded or installed Android Studio (which contains all of these tools, along with a customized version of Eclipse), you can create your developer account.

1.  Click here on your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux) for more information.
2.  Afterward, you’ll be taken through a series of questions about what type of app developer you are.
3.  Follow each step carefully—you don’t want to lose money from mistake! You can also check out our short video tutorial on YouTube that takes you through creating an account step-by-step.
4.  You’ll need to set up your Payment Profile before adding payment method information into any apps you upload to Google Play.

What does it cost to register for an account?.

It costs $25 per product family, per country where you intend to sell. This means if you plan on selling in both Canada and France, it will cost $50 in total.

•  You may register a single product family as many times as you like; however, each separate registration is still subject to $25 fee.

•  If your app has fewer than 4 versions (e.g., free and paid), then it’s considered a single product family for cost purposes.

•  However, if your app has more than 4 versions (e.g., Free, Pro, Lite) then each version counts as a separate product family and thus must be registered separately at $25/family.

•  For example, an app with 3 version would cost $75 ($25*3) while an app with 10 versions would cost $250 ($25*10).

•  The developer console also allows you to create multiple accounts under one credit card but they are not linked together so they must be managed separately.

 In other words, when registering multiple accounts under one credit card there is no master account that can manage all of them or combine their funds into one pool.

What are my responsibilities as a developer with this account?.

You are responsible for all applications that you publish on Android Market.

•  This includes complying with all applicable laws, as well as making sure your apps don't violate or infringe on any of our policies.

•  You are also responsible for updating your application with new features or bug fixes if it has already been published (but not otherwise).

•  And when Android applications go into hibernation mode, you are obligated to update them once a month - at minimum - so that users can receive automatic updates for apps they've already downloaded.

•  There is no limit to how many applications you can submit per day, but once an app has been submitted, there is a 24-hour wait period before it will be available in Android Market.

•  So don't start building an app until you're ready! How do I edit my profile?: To edit your developer profile, click My account from Android Market's main menu.

•  From here, you'll see information about your account including name, email address, phone number and other contact information; information about each of your products (including their version numbers); payment history; whether you have paid for Google Checkout; tax information; developer options such as whether you want to charge for apps or allow free downloads; and a list of every device associated with your account.

•  Clicking on each item will take you to another page where you can make changes directly from Android Market.

•  For example, clicking on one of your products' names takes you to a page where you can change its description or upload new screenshots.

Can I register more than one account on the same team?.

If you have multiple accounts that belong to a single entity (company, corporation, etc.), you can add these accounts all into one Team.

•  However, in order for them to register apps through any account other than their parent account, each developer's email address must first be changed individually.

•  To change your developer email address, log into your Android Market Seller Central account using your current login information.

•  Click on Account in top right corner of page.

•  Click on Account Settings.

•  Click on Change next to E-mail Address. Enter your new email address and click Save Changes button at bottom of page You can now register an app under your new email address.

Who can access my app accounts?.

The ability to access your app accounts is determined by your assigned roles.

•  For example, you can create a free trial for Android users only, but if you also want iOS users to try it out, you'll need an app owner or editor role.

•  App owners will be able to access both Android and iOS apps while editors will have access only to Android apps.

•  Keep in mind that when adding or removing a role, it may take up 24 hours for those changes to go into effect.

•  Also note that once removed from an account, there's no way back in.

•  You must request reinstatement via email with details on why your removal was not warranted.

What should I keep in mind when registering accounts under different company names?.

While you can add multiple accounts under one company name, make sure to use relevant information (i.e., names, addresses, phone numbers) that align with your account.

•  This helps make it easier for potential users and customers looking up information about your business on Google.

•  Also remember that we treat different company names as separate entities; they don’t have access to any information from other accounts you create with a different company name.

•  Additionally, when you add an account registered under a new company name or transfer an existing account into a new company name, there is no automatic migration of ratings or reviews from one store listing to another — you will need to start over by earning reviews and gathering feedback on your listing once it has been published in its new state.

What should I consider before signing up with a paid developer program?.

Before signing up with a paid Android developer program, you should think about your goals for app development.

•  Do you want to make free apps? Do you want to monetize your apps or build an audience for future apps? Do you want to eventually publish games? The type of developer account you need depends on your answers.

•  If you plan on making simple games without in-app purchases, signing up with a free account might be enough.

•  If you have more advanced plans, such as adding advertising or in-app purchases, signing up with a paid account is ideal.

•  You’ll get access to additional tools that will help you manage your apps and generate revenue.

•  You can learn more about each type of account here .

 If you’re not sure which option is best for you, consider consulting with a professional Android developer who can help guide you through all of your options.

Can I use multiple accounts on different devices at the same time?.

Each Android developer account can be associated with one AdMob account, and each AdMob account can be associated with multiple Android developer accounts.

•  That said, you should only use a single Android developer account per device or emulator instance.

•  This means you can't have more than one emulator instance running or have multiple Android devices using your existing ADMOB publisher ID at any given time (both emulators and devices need their own unique ID).

 If you require multiple emulators or devices (e.g., if you are doing A/B testing on different marketing variants), then you need to create additional Android developer accounts that have their own set of keys and certificates (and their own PUSD) for that specific device/emulator.

Which markets are available for selection when creating an account?.

At first, you will only be able to select Android. However, once you publish an app on Google Play, you’ll be able to select any market(s) where it has been approved.

•  If your app isn’t yet published, then make sure that your publisher name is set up for each store so that when you do publish it (for free), it will appear in all applicable stores.

•  This is particularly important if your publisher name differs from your developer account’s Developer Name or Publisher Name fields because users searching for apps by their favorite authors are more likely to find yours if they know what they should search for in their respective app stores.

What are payment methods in Google Play?.

When you publish an app on Google Play, you’ll have to decide how users will pay for it.

•  You can use a free-to-download app with in-app billing or sell your app for a one-time fee (offline) or with recurring subscriptions.

•  In-app billing allows users to purchase virtual goods within your app, such as extra levels or content downloads.

•  Subscriptions allow you to charge users automatically every month or year without them having to enter payment information each time they want access.

•  Subscriptions are ideal if your app provides ongoing value—like an email newsletter service or news content.

Can I have multiple accounts under different credit cards, even if they belong to me personally (not my company)?.

Yes, you can have multiple accounts under different credit cards, even if they belong to you personally (not your company).

•  However, there are some limitations that may apply depending on your country of residence.

•  In case you are already in a console with one account and would like to open another, please follow these steps: Click on your username at upper right of console - it should be in blue color.

•  Select My Products tab. Select Add new product. Make sure New application option is selected at top-left of form that pops up.

•  Scroll down to select Next button near bottom of form.

 Fill out all form fields with relevant information about your new application.