Needed for Android testing through Play internal testing and for the Play Store. Not needed for the Prototype preset.
Starwisp never submits your app and never holds your Google credentials. Your own workflow uploads with your own service account. You decide when anything goes to production.
Time: about 30 minutes for the service account, after your Play account is verified. Needs: a Google Play Console developer account.
Slow prerequisites (read this first) #
| Item | How long | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Play developer account identity verification | not published; unofficial reports of 2 days to 3 weeks (unverified) | Required before any upload. |
| D-U-N-S number (organization accounts) | up to 5 business days plus Apple/Google handling; one Google guide reportedly says 30 days or more (unverified) | Individual accounts avoid it. |
| Closed test before production | at least 14 days | Personal accounts created after 13 Nov 2023 need a closed test with at least 12 testers opted in for 14 days before applying for production. Internal testing is not affected. |
| Production review | usually about 7 days or less (estimate) |
Steps #
- In https://play.google.com/console sign up for a developer account and pay the one-time fee.
- In https://console.cloud.google.com pick or create a project, then enable the Google Play Android Developer API under APIs & Services → Library.
- Go to IAM & Admin → Service Accounts → Create service account. Name it
starwisp-play. Finish. No project roles are needed. - Open the new account → Keys → Add key → Create new key → JSON. A
.jsonfile downloads. - In Play Console go to Users and permissions → Invite new users and paste the service account's email.
- Under Account permissions tick everything under Releases and Store presence, plus View app information. Click Invite user.
Least privilege: the account needs release and store-presence permissions only. No Google Cloud project roles. Delete the downloaded file from your computer after saving it.
Permission changes can take a few minutes to apply.
Where it goes #
Console → Settings → Vault → card Google Play service account → field Service account JSON key (secret GOOGLE_PLAY_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_JSON). Click Test now.
Optional: Android push #
Card Firebase (Android push) (secret FIREBASE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_JSON): one Firebase project for all your apps. Without it apps ship with iOS push only.
What it gates #
Play internal-testing uploads and later production (the ship stage).
What it costs #
$25 one-time for the Play Console (estimate; check Google's page).
Rules to know #
Apps need a privacy policy, a data safety form and content rating, and must target a current Android API level. The factory's template includes the inputs; you fill in the forms in Play Console.
Plain-text version of this page: /docs/vendors/google-play.md. This page is copied from the product's own docs, so it matches the release you install.
Next: Resend