Account setup
Budget a few days for verification.
Choose personal or organization
Personal accounts verify your identity with an ID document and are subject to the 12-tester closed test before the first production release. Organization accounts need a D-U-N-S number and show the company name and contact details publicly, but skip the testing requirement.
Register and pay the $25 fee
play.google.com/console/signup with the Google account you want to own the apps (consider a dedicated Google account for the business). Pay once; there is no annual fee.
Verify identity and contact details
Upload the requested documents, verify your phone number and email. Google shows the developer name and contact email on your listing; personal accounts can keep the address private.
Create the app
Create app → name, default language, app or game, free or paid. Free cannot be changed to paid later (in-app purchases are still possible in free apps).
Set the package name in WebViewGold
Choose a unique package name such as com.yourcompany.yourapp in Config.java or the Cloud Builder before the first upload. Google locks it permanently with the first bundle.
Complete the dashboard tasks
Privacy policy URL, app access (demo credentials if needed), ads declaration, content rating questionnaire, target audience, Data safety form, store listing. The Play Console shows the remaining tasks as a checklist.
Settings people get wrong
- Package name typos: it is permanent. Double-check before the first upload.
- Data safety form that says "no data collected" while the app has a login or analytics. Google cross-checks with SDK signals; answer truthfully (OneSignal collects device identifiers, for example).
- App access left as "all functionality available without restrictions" for an app with a login. Add demo credentials.
- Content rating skipped: the app cannot be published without it.
- Developer email that nobody reads: Google sends policy notices there with deadlines.
After the account: the first release
Build the signed App Bundle with WebViewGold (Android Studio or the Cloud Builder), upload it to internal testing to verify everything installs, then start the closed test if your account requires it, and promote to production. The whole flow is in the Android walkthrough for Lovable and the guides for other builders.
Frequently asked questions
Does the $25 fee apply per app?
No. It is a one-time fee for the developer account; you can publish unlimited apps.
Can I change from a personal to an organization account?
Not directly. You create a new organization account and transfer apps to it via Google support. Decide at the start if you expect to incorporate soon.
Can I use Play App Signing with WebViewGold?
Yes, and you should. Google manages the signing key; you upload bundles signed with your upload key, which WebViewGold's build process (or the Cloud Builder) creates.