Updated: May 2026 · 9 min read

Android app publishing checklist for indie developers

Shipping to Google Play involves more than uploading an AAB. Use this checklist alongside DroidXP Android tools to verify manifests, assets, and links before review — and reduce back-and-forth with store policies.

Build and signing

Ship release builds with R8/ProGuard rules tested on real devices. Confirm versionCode monotonicity and turn off android:debuggable in release manifests.

Follow the APK Signer Guide for keystore hygiene. Enable Play App Signing and store upload-key backups offline.

Store listing assets

Prepare adaptive icons with safe-zone padding using the App Icon Generator. Feature graphic, screenshots, and short description should match in-app branding.

Complete the Data safety form honestly — declare permissions you request in the manifest analyzer output.

Deep links and web companions

If marketing uses email or web fallbacks, test intent URLs with the Intent URL Generator and Deep Link Tester. Verified App Links need host verification files on your domain.

PWAs distributed alongside native apps should ship a valid manifest.json from the PWA Manifest Generator plus HTTPS and a service worker where installability is required.

Final QA pass

Run through target API level requirements, 64-bit libraries if applicable, and background permission prompts on Android 13+. Re-analyze the release AAB/APK with the APK Analyzer immediately before upload — the file you test should be the file you ship.