Play Store Assets & Publishing Checklist
A comprehensive guide for preparing assets and publishing your app to the Google Play Store for the first time.
Play Store Assets & Publishing Checklist
Preparing to publish your app for the first time on the Google Play Store can be overwhelming. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the graphic assets required and a step-by-step checklist to ensure a smooth submission process.
🎨 Asset Requirements (2026)
Google Play has strict requirements for store listing assets. Ensure your visuals are polished and meet these specifications.
Mandatory Assets
| Asset | Size | Format | Max Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| App Icon | 512 x 512 px | 32-bit PNG | 1024 KB | Full square (Google handles masking). No badges or "awards". |
| Feature Graphic | 1024 x 500 px | JPEG or 24-bit PNG | 1 MB | At the top of your listing. No critical info near edges. |
| Screenshots | Min 320px | JPEG or 24-bit PNG | 8 MB/file | At least 2 required. 16:9 (Landscape) or 9:16 (Portrait). |
Asset Details
📱 Screenshots
- Minimum: 2 screenshots.
- Maximum: 8 screenshots per device type (Phone, 7-inch tablet, 10-inch tablet, Wear OS, Android TV).
- Pro Tip: Use the first 2-3 screenshots to highlight your most unique value proposition. In 2026, Google recommends at least 4 screenshots with 1080p+ resolution for better inclusion in "Recommended" sections.
🎥 Promo Video (Optional)
- Format: YouTube URL (Public or Unlisted).
- Length: 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
- Requirements: Disable monetization to avoid ads playing before your preview. Set your video to "landscape" for the best display.
🛠️ Generative AI Prompts
Use these prompts with tools like DALL-E, Midjourney, or Canva Magic Media to jumpstart your design.
App Icon
"Minimalist modern mobile app icon for a [Your App Niche] app, vibrant colors, flat vector style, bold lines, high resolution, centered on a plain background."
Feature Graphic
"Modern abstract technology background for mobile app feature graphic, [Your Brand Colors], smooth gradients, minimalist composition, 1024x500 resolution, space for app logo in the center."
✅ First-Time Publishing Checklist
Follow these steps chronologically to set up your Google Play developer presence.
1. Developer Account Setup
- Create/Choose Google Account: Use a dedicated organization email if possible.
- Sign Up for Play Console: Visit Google Play Console.
- Pay Registration Fee: One-time $25 USD payment.
- Identity Verification: Provide government ID and phone number. This can take 1-3 business days.
- Merchant Account (Optional): Required only if you plan to sell paid apps or in-app purchases.
2. Prepare Store Listing Metadata
- App Name: Max 50 characters.
- Short Description: Max 80 characters (the "hook").
- Full Description: Max 4,000 characters (detailed features + keywords).
- Privacy Policy: Must be a public URL. (e.g.,
https://yourapp.com/privacy). - Category & Tags: Choose the most relevant category and up to 5 tags.
- Contact Details: Public support email address.
3. App Preparation (Technical)
- Android App Bundle (.aab): New apps must use the
.aabformat instead of.apk. - App Signing by Google Play: Ensure you've opted into Play App Signing.
- Target API Level: Ensure your app targets the latest Android version (check Google's current requirements).
4. Testing & Review (New 2026 Requirements)
- Internal Testing: Fast distribution to up to 100 internal testers.
- Closed Testing Requirement: CRITICAL: For new personal developer accounts, you must have at least 12 testers opted-in for 14 consecutive days before applying for production access.
Stuck on the 14-day testing requirement? Since Google now requires 20+ testers (effectively 12 active) and a 14-day waiting period on real devices, we offer a Guaranteed Production Approval Service. We'll handle the testing on real devices for you, ensuring you pass the closed testing phase and reach production without the headache. [Contact Support / Buy Now]
- Pre-Launch Report: Review crashes, performance, and accessibility issues flagged by Google's automated testing.
💡 Pro Tips for ASO (App Store Optimization)
- Keywords: Don't "keyword stuff" your description. Use keywords naturally in the app title and the first few sentences of the full description.
- Localize: Even if your app is only in English, consider localizing your Store Listing (title/descriptions) for highly populated regions.
- Ratings: Respond to reviews. Google favors apps that actively engage with user feedback.
- Iterate: Your store listing isn't static. Use A/B testing (Store Listing Experiments) in the Play Console to see which icons or screenshots perform better.
Google Play review times can vary. For first-time submissions, expect 3 to 7 business days. Do not plan a marketing launch until your app status is "Published".