Core concepts

Google Play Publishing

2 min read

Lunadeck integrates directly with the Google Play Console to publish your signed apps.

Prerequisites

Before you can publish, you need:

1. A Google Play Developer account ($25 one-time registration fee)
2. Your app must be created in the Play Console with a valid package name
3. A service account with publishing permissions

Setting up a service account

1. Go to the Google Cloud Console
2. Create a new project (or use an existing one)
3. Enable the Google Play Android Developer API
4. Create a Service Account with a JSON key
5. In the Play Console, go to Settings > API Access
6. Grant the service account access with Release Manager permissions

Connecting to Lunadeck

1. Navigate to Settings > Store Connections
2. Click Connect Google Play
3. Upload the service account JSON key file
4. Select the apps you want to publish

Publishing your first release

After a successful build:

1. Click Publish on the build details page
2. Select the release track (Internal, Closed, Open, or Production)
3. Add release notes (supports multiple languages)
4. Review and confirm

The upload typically takes 1-2 minutes. Google's review process varies from hours to days depending on the track.

Troubleshooting

• "Package name mismatch" — Ensure your app's applicationId matches the one registered in Play Console
• "Version code already used" — Increment versionCode in your build config
• "Service account unauthorized" — Verify the service account has Release Manager permissions