Get Started with Publishing

You can set up to start publishing on Google Play in only a few minutes. Here's how you do it:

  • Register for a Google Play publisher account
  • If you will sell apps, set up a Google Checkout Merchant Account
  • Explore the Google Play Android Developer Console and learn about the tools for publishing

Register for a publisher account

The first step is to visit the Google Play Android Developer Console and register for a publisher account.

Here's what you will do during registration:

Tips

  • You need a Google account to register. You can create one during the process.
  • If you are an organization, consider registering a new Google account rather than using a personal account.
  • Review the developer countries and merchant countries where you can distribute and sell apps.
  1. Visit the Google Play Android Developer Console at https://play.google.com/apps/publish/.
  2. Enter basic information about your developer identity — developer name, email address, and so on. You can modify this information later.
  3. Read and accept the Developer Distribution Agreement that applies to your country or region. Note that apps and store listings that you publish on Google Play must comply with the Developer Program Policies and US export law,
  4. Pay a $25 USD registration fee using Google Checkout. If you don't have a Google Checkout account, you can quickly set one up during the process.

When your registration is verified, you’ll be notified at the email address you specified during registration.

Set up a Google Checkout Merchant account

If you want to sell products on Google Play — priced apps, in-app products, or subscriptions — you will also need to set up a Google Checkout Merchant Account. You can do that at any time, but make sure to first review the list of merchant countries.

To set up a Merchant account from the Developer Console:

  1. Sign in to your Google Play Android Developer Console at https://play.google.com/apps/publish/
  2. Click on the "Edit profile" link.
  3. Select "Setup a Merchant Account at Google Checkout".

This will take you to the Google Checkout site to sign up as a Merchant; you'll need to have information about your business handy to complete this step.

Explore the Developer Console

When your registration is verified, you can sign in to your Android Developer Console, which will be the home for your app publishing operations and tools on Google Play.