Google play setup

Google Play Setup

Prerequisites

• Google Play Console account ($25 one-time fee) at play.google.com/console
• EAS CLI: npm install -g eas-cli && eas login

Required reading — Expo official guides:

• Creating a Google Service Account
• First Android Submission

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Step 1: Configure Android Package Name

Set the package name in app.json before the first build — it cannot be changed after the app is published:

{
  "expo": {
    "android": {
      "package": "com.yourorg.appname"
    }
  }
}

Use reverse domain notation. Must be globally unique on Play Store.

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Step 2: Create Play Console App Listing

1. Go to play.google.com/console → Create app
2. Fill in:
   • App name: Display name
   • Default language: English
   • App or game: App
   • Free or paid: your choice
3. Accept policies → Create app

Note the Application ID from the URL: play.google.com/console/u/0/developers/.../app/XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/

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Step 3: Complete App Setup Requirements

Google requires these before you can upload any build:

App content declarations (Play Console → Policy → App content):

• Privacy Policy URL
• Ads declaration
• Content rating questionnaire (takes ~2 min)
• Target audience
• Data safety form (what data you collect — be honest)

Store listing (Play Console → Grow → Store presence → Main store listing):

• Short description (80 chars)
• Full description (4000 chars)
• Screenshots: Phone (minimum 2), Tablet optional
• Feature graphic: 1024×500 PNG
• App icon: 512×512 PNG

None of this blocks the first upload but it does block publishing to users.

"Finish setting up your app" banner — Play Console shows this dashboard banner after app creation. It lists required items before you can publish. Work through them in order — all must be green before the app goes live. This is separate from the store listing itself.

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Step 4: Configure EAS Credentials

cd mobile
eas credentials

Select Android → production → Let EAS manage the keystore (recommended).

EAS generates and stores the Android signing keystore. Never lose this keystore — you cannot update your app without it. EAS stores it encrypted.

To verify:

eas credentials --platform android

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Step 5: First Build and Manual Upload

Google requires the very first AAB to be uploaded manually via Play Console. Subsequent uploads work via eas submit.

# Build the AAB
cd mobile
eas build --platform android --profile production

# Download the AAB when done
eas build:list --platform android
# Click the download link from the output, or:
eas build:download --platform android --latest

Upload manually:

1. Play Console → Release → Internal testing → Create new release
2. Upload the downloaded .aab file
3. Add release notes → Save → Review release → Start rollout

After this first manual upload, eas submit will work for all future releases.

Sharing the internal testing link — Unlike TestFlight (email invites), Google Play internal testing uses a shareable opt-in link. After rollout:

1. Play Console → Testing → Internal testing → Testers tab
2. Copy the opt-in URL and send it to testers
3. Testers open the link on their Android device and click "Accept invitation" They won't find the app by searching — they must use the link.

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Step 6: Service Account for CI/CD

Required for non-interactive submissions from GitHub Actions.

Create service account:

1. Play Console → Setup → API access
2. Click Link to a Google Cloud Project (or create new)
3. In Google Cloud Console: IAM & Admin → Service Accounts → Create Service Account
   • Name: eas-submit
   • Role: Skip (add via Play Console)
4. Click the service account → Keys → Add Key → Create new key → JSON
5. Download the JSON file

Grant Play Console permissions:

1. Back in Play Console → Setup → API access
2. Find the service account → Manage Play Console permissions
3. Grant: Release manager (minimum) or Admin
4. Apply and save

Add to EAS:

# Option A: Store in eas.json (committed, less secure)
# Point eas.json submit profile to the file path

# Option B: Upload to EAS secrets (recommended for CI)
eas secret:create --scope project --name GOOGLE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY --value "$(cat service-account.json)"

Or store locally and reference in eas.json:

{
  "submit": {
    "production": {
      "android": {
        "serviceAccountKeyPath": "./google-services.json",
        "track": "internal",
        "releaseStatus": "draft"
      }
    }
  }
}

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Step 7: Submit via EAS

After the first manual upload and service account setup:

eas submit --platform android --profile production --latest

This uploads to the internal testing track with draft status by default. You manually promote to production in Play Console.

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Track Strategy

Track	Who sees it	When to use
Internal	Up to 100 testers (your team)	Every build for QA
Closed testing (Alpha)	Invited users	Beta before launch
Open testing (Beta)	Anyone who opts in	Public beta
Production	All users	Launch

Start with Internal track. Promote builds through tracks in Play Console — no rebuild needed.

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Gotchas

"Package name already taken" — The package name is globally unique. Use a specific reverse domain.

Upload rejected: "Version code already used" — Always use appVersionSource: "remote" + autoIncrement: true in eas.json.

"You need to upload an AAB first" — You must manually upload the very first build. eas submit will fail until then.

Service account upload fails with 403 — The service account needs Release manager or Admin permissions in Play Console (not just Google Cloud IAM). Check Play Console → API access → service account permissions.

"App not found" during submit — The applicationId in eas.json must exactly match the package name in app.json and Play Console.

Data safety form blocks publishing — Fill it in Play Console → Policy → App content → Data safety. Must declare all data collected (Supabase auth = email/user ID, PostHog = device info).

First submission review takes 3–7 days — Build your buffer into the timeline. Subsequent updates usually review in hours.

Camera/microphone/location access requires a public Privacy Policy URL — Google will reject or unpublish apps that request sensitive permissions without a publicly accessible privacy policy. The URL must be reachable without login.

Data safety form blocks publishing — Fill it in Play Console → Policy → App content → Data safety. Must declare all data collected (Supabase auth = email/user ID, PostHog = device info, camera = photos if saved).