My Experience Getting My App into Google Play Store Production

As of this writing, Google has requirements in place that developers must meet in order to publish their app for production in the Google Play Store. I wanted to share my experience getting my app, Left Off, into Google Play Store production. In this post, I even share my answers to the production application questions. Hopefully this helps you get your app published!

Currently there are 3 key requirements to getting an app published:

1. Get 12 testers to install your app

2. Have those testers keep, and ideally use, the app for at least 14 consecutive days

3. Apply to production

I recently got approved for Google Play production when they still required 20 testers! Hopefully, Google continues to reduce (or remove) the requirements, making it easier for indie developers to publish their apps.

TLDR: Keep submitting useful updates to the closed testing version of the app. If you get denied after two or more attempts, wait about a month or two to apply a third time. Contine to submit updates while waiting.

It was a bit of a journey getting my app approved. Overall it took me three attempts. On my first attempt, I was able to obtain the required number of testers by asking family, friends, and people in the Android Closed Testing Reddit page to join my closed test. Then, after submitting about 2 updates over the course of 14 days, I applied for production. That application was denied so the second time I tried harder to improve engagement. Over the course of 14 days I did a live stream of testing people's apps on Twitch and made a YouTube video of me describing my app (virtually no one watched either lol). I then applied again and was denied again. I was pretty angry with Google at this point because I did everything in that second attempt: submitted updates, requested feedback, implemented the feedback, etc. but was denied for the exact same reasons as the first time. It seemed like they took no consideration into the specific changes I made.

After this, I decided to just leave the app in closed testing mode and continue to improve and market the app. The app was already in the Apple App Store so whenever I updated the app for iOS, I also updated it for my closed testers on Android. On my website sudo-solution.com, I even had instructions on how to join my closed test for anyone using Android who wanted to download the app.

This process went on for about 4-5 months. During this time I put getting Play Store production to the back seat in terms of my development goals. It wasn't until after this time that I decided that I was going to attempt applying again. Before doing so, my plan was to apply once more. If they denied my application, I would be ready to put more effort into working the Reddit page and other resources. If they approved, GREAT!... It was on that attempt that they approved!

Below are the questions in the Play Store Production application at the time and my answers on my 3rd attempt (the successful attempt). These are from March of 2025:

About Your Closed Test

How did you recruit users for your closed test? For example, did you ask friends and family, or use a paid testing provider?

• To recruit users for my closed test, I first reached out to family and friends. I explained how I was making an app to that would allow them to track their shows. I made 3 videos about the app and posted to my YouTube page and online Anime forums on Facebook and Reddit to reach my target audience.

How easy was it to recruit testers for your app?

• Difficult

Describe the engagement you received from testers during your closed test. Include whether or not testers utilized all of the features in your app, and whether tester usage was consistent with how you would expect a real user to use your app. If not, describe the differences you would expect to see.

• Most testers used the new Episode Map feature to track progress and their reactions using the Reaction Badges. Not as many testers used the time logging feature of the app as expected. I somewhat expected this, as the Episode Map screen provides multiple pieces of value on one screen.

Provide a summary of the feedback that you received from testers. Include how you collected the feedback.

• I received feedback on bugs that didn't allow the users to perform certain functions, like using the auto-completion dropdown to enter a show name. Feedback also included user interface enhancements. I texted and called my testers for feedback and to learn what parts of the app were most valuable.

About Your App

Who is the intended audience of your app?

• My app is targeted towards young, single adults from the age of about 18 through 30 years of age. The target user is someone who enjoys watching lengthy show series that span multiple seasons, especially anime. Users are likely in college or recently graduated and enjoy revisiting old shows.

Describe how your app provides value to users

• My app allows users to save their show progress outside of the streaming platform and user account that they are watching on. Additionally, with the Episode Map and Reaction Badges, users can see a beautiful visualization of which episodes they have watched and which ones they enjoyed the most.

How many installs do you expect your app to have in your first year?

• 0 - 10K

Your Production Readiness

What changes did you make to your app based on what you learned during your closed test?

• I made a lot of changes including adding various features, like Reaction Badges and the Episode Map to allow users to track progress and show enjoyment easily. I also added UI enhancements and features to make show entry easier, like automatic show name completion. I also fixed multiple bugs.

How did you decide that your app is ready for production?

• I decided my app was ready for production when the core functions of the app were working properly and my users expressed that the app provided value to them. Also, I have created a stable workflow for releasing app updates based on feedback. This shows that I can respond to user feedback as needed.

Additional Testing

What did you do differently this time?

• This time, I took more time to listen to user feedback and make updates accordingly. I took a different approach to obtaining feedback from testers, including calling and texting users to discuss improvements in real time. I also added new features and made it easier to use those features.

Thank you for reading! I really enjoy developing this app so that it continues to bring genuine and increasing value to its users. Please consider downloading Left Off!