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Android Publishing

While app building with Thunkable AI is easy, it's still important that you complete all of the steps required from Google before you can publish your app.

Create a Google Play Developer Account

Success on Google Play starts with quality. The best apps and games have higher ratings, more installs, and more engagement. We recommend visiting the Play Store Developer Policy Center before you submit your app to the Play Store.

Publishing to the Google Play Store requires a Google Play Developer Account (approximately $25 USD one-time fee). Don't have an account? Sign up here

Each time you create a new app

App Icon

Set the App Icon in the project settings or by clicking the plus icon (+) at the left of your project name.

Create a new app on the Google Play Console

To create an App:

  1. Sign-in to your Google Play Console account.

  2. Click Create app in the upper right.

  3. Complete the requested app details fields. Note: The App Name is how your app will appear on Google Play.

  4. Complete the required declarations.

  5. Click Create app.

Android Publishing Process in Thunkable

There are two methods to publish your Thunkable app, Automated method and the Manual method. Each method has its own requirements and steps and is located in its respective section. The automated method is highly recommended for its simplicity.

Autometed method enables you to send your app directly to the Google Play Store. In the Manual method, you receive an email from Thunkable containing your app's AAB file, which you download and upload to the Google Play Store (Note: an AAB file cannot be installed on an Android device).

A new Store Publishing process is available that can check your app's readiness, write your store listing with AI, capture screenshots, and publish to the store for you.

Automated method (Recommended)

Configure App Store Connect API

To access your Google Play API settings.

  1. Click on the dropdown icon next to your profile image.

  2. Select google Play API.

  3. Set up the Google Play API following the steps here: https://ai.thunkable.com/account/playstore

If you already configured your Google Play API, you should skip these steps and proceed to Publishing with the Automated method

Publishing with Automated method

To upload your Android App Bundle (AAB) file directly to the Google Play:

  1. In your Thunkable project, click the Publish button in the top-right corner of your screen.

  2. Select Publish Android from the drop-down menu.

  1. A publishing modal is provided to guide you through the publication process:

  2. Enter the email address you want the app download link sent to.

  3. Set your Application ID, Version Name, and Version Code.

  4. Click on the checkbox "Publish to Google Play after build":

  1. Click Send.

  2. In approximately 30 minutes, your AAB file will be sent to the Google Play platform.

You could also ask the AI to publish your app by sending a relevant prompt into the chat. For example: "Publish my app"

Manual method:

To download your Android App Bundle (AAB) file:

  1. Within your Thunkable project, click the Publish icon in the top right corner of your display.

  2. Select Publish Android from the drop-down menu.

  1. A publishing modal is provided to guide you through the publication process.

  2. Enter the email address you want the app download link sent to.

  3. Set your Application ID, Version Name, and Version Code.

  4. Click Send.

  5. In approximately 30 minutes, you will receive your AAB file to the email address you provided.

  6. When you receive the email, download the AAB file to your computer. Note: If you use Google Chrome, your browser settings may prevent you from downloading your AAB file. Simply open the email in Firefox or Safari to download your AAB file.

Manage your app signing

Google will offer to protect your app signing key. You can click Continue to allow this to proceed. You will only be asked this the first time you publish a release.

If you don't want Google to manage your App Signing, you can do so yourself. This is not necessary.

Continue following the instructions in this document from Create and Publish a Release.

App Dashboard

While you're getting set up, the Google Play Console Dashboard shows you what you need to do to get your app up and running. This includes recommendations on how to manage, test, and promote your app. Once you've completed a task, return to the Google Play Console Dashboard to explore what else you need can do.

We'll focus on the following steps:

  • Set up your app

  • Publish your app on Google Play

Set up your app

In this section, you'll share with Google the content of your app, and manage how it is organized and presented on Google Play.

  1. Click View tasks in the Set up your app section to see the tasks you must complete.

  2. Click on a task.

  3. Complete the required fields.

  4. Click Save.

  5. Click Dashboard above the task name in the upper left.

  6. Repeat with the remaining tasks in the list.

Apps that request access to sensitive permissions or data (as defined in the user data policies) are required by the Google Play Store to include a privacy policy. All apps made on Thunkable request access to sensitive permissions or data, which means you will need to provide a privacy policy.

Main store listing

  1. Click Main store listing under the Grow heading in the sidebar.

  2. Complete the required fields and upload the required assets. See here for additional guidance: Add preview assets to showcase your app.

  3. Click Save.

Create and publish a release

  1. Return to the Google Play Console Dashboard.

  2. Click View tasks in the Create and publish a release section to see the tasks you must complete.

  3. Click the Select countries task.

  4. Identify the countries you want your app to be available in.

  5. Click Create a new release.

  6. Upload the AAB file into the App bundles section. Instructions for downloading your AAB are available here: Download your Android App Bundle (AAB) file

  7. Add Release notes for this update.

  8. Click Next.

You may see some Accessibility, Performance, Stability, Security, and trust warnings on the Google Play Store, Pre-launch report. These notifications from Google about your app are simply some warnings, not errors--there is nothing wrong with your app and it should still appear on the Play Store.

To update your app

Repeat the following steps each time you create a new update for your app:

  1. In your Google Play Console, click on the Releases tab.

  2. Click the Create New Release Button

  3. Upload the AAB file into the App bundles section using the automated or manual method.

  4. Add a Release name so you can identify this release. It isn't shown to users on Google Play.

  5. Add Release notes. Let users know what's in your release.

  6. Click Next.

If you are updating an existing app on the Google Play Store, your Thunkable project will need to have:

  • The same package name as the published app

  • An incremented version number (version number is higher than the version number of your published app). This can be updated in your project's code.

You will not need to change any app signing settings when updating a published app.

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