Table of Contents
Overview of the Store Listing
The store listing is the public face of your app on Google Play. It is what users see before they decide to install your app. A strong store listing improves visibility, conversion from views to installs, and user trust. In this chapter you focus on the content and structure of the store listing itself, not on the technical publishing pipeline.
You will learn what information Google Play requires, what you should prepare in advance, and how to make each element clear and attractive for users, while respecting Google Play policies.
Core Store Listing Fields
When you create or edit a store listing in the Google Play Console, you must provide several text fields and assets. Some are mandatory, others are optional but strongly recommended.
The key elements you typically fill are:
App name
Short description
Full description
App icon
Screenshots
Feature graphic or other promotional graphics
Categorization and tags
Contact details
Privacy policy URL
Each of these has its own purpose and constraints, and together they shape the first impression of your app.
App Name
The app name appears on your Google Play page and in search results. It should be simple, recognizable, and easy to remember. For beginners, it is usually better to pick a name that clearly expresses what the app does instead of trying to be overly clever.
Google Play enforces a maximum length, which can vary by language and device, but you should think of the name as short and compact. Avoid “keyword stuffing”, which is the practice of adding many search terms to the name to try to rank higher. This is against Google Play policies and can hurt your app.
If your app belongs to a brand or company, keep the official brand name consistent with your website and any marketing materials. If you are publishing as an individual, using your own name or a simple studio name can add credibility.
Important rule: The app name must not contain misleading claims, excessive keywords, or content that violates Google Play policies. Keep it honest, clear, and focused on your app’s identity.
Short Description
The short description is a brief text that appears near the top of your store listing, often visible without expanding the full description. It is typically limited to a small number of characters, so every word matters.
Use the short description to highlight the core benefit of your app. Focus on what the user gains, not just on features. For example, instead of “Track habits with daily logs”, you can write “Build better habits with simple daily tracking”. The second version talks about the outcome from the user’s perspective.
Avoid writing in all caps, overusing symbols, or making unrealistic promises. The short description should invite users to tap “Read more”, not try to tell the entire story of the app.
Full Description
The full description gives you more space to explain what your app does, its main features, and why users should choose it. This is plain text that supports paragraphs but not rich formatting like bold or images.
A good structure for beginners is:
An opening paragraph that briefly summarizes the app and its purpose.
A few short paragraphs that describe the main features and use cases.
A closing paragraph that reinforces trust, such as mentioning that you respect privacy or listen to user feedback.
Even though you may want your app to be discoverable via search, you should not repeat the same keywords many times. Write for humans, not only for algorithms. Clear and natural language often works better for both users and search systems.
You can localize the full description into multiple languages later. When you do this, use proper translation instead of simple machine output, especially for your main markets. A poorly translated description can look unprofessional and discourage installs.
Important rule: Your description must accurately reflect your app’s functionality. Do not list features that are not present, and do not make false claims about results that users can achieve.
Visual Assets: Icon
The app icon is the primary visual symbol of your app on Google Play and on the user’s device. Even for a simple app, you should treat the icon as a small but important design project.
The icon should be:
Recognizable at small sizes. Avoid tiny details that disappear on smaller screens.
Consistent with your app’s theme and colors, so users can connect the icon to the app content.
Simple and clean, so it looks good against both light and dark backgrounds.
Google provides specific size and format requirements for icons. Typically you upload a high resolution image following their guidelines. Android also uses adaptive icons, which use separate layers to support different device shapes. For the store listing, make sure you follow the latest Play Console instructions for icon dimensions and safe areas.
Avoid using text in the icon when possible, especially long words. Text may become unreadable at small sizes and can look unprofessional if not designed carefully.
Visual Assets: Screenshots
Screenshots demonstrate your app interface and give users a realistic preview. They are one of the most important elements of the store listing, especially for users who decide quickly.
When selecting screenshots, you should:
Show actual screens of your app, not mockups of features that do not exist.
Highlight the main user flow, such as the home screen, a key feature screen, and any unique or visually interesting pages.
Avoid showing sensitive user data. Use sample content when possible.
The Play Console usually requires a minimum number of screenshots and supports different aspect ratios for phones and tablets. If your app supports tablets, it is helpful to add separate tablet screenshots to show a better experience on larger screens.
You can also overlay short captions inside the screenshot image to explain what is happening, but keep them short so that the interface itself remains visible.
Important rule: Screenshots must be truthful and must not mislead users about the app’s appearance or capabilities. Do not include elements that are not actually part of the product.
Feature Graphic and Promotional Images
Depending on device and region, Google Play may show a feature graphic at the top of your listing or use it in promotional placements. This is a wide image that visually represents your app.
A simple approach is to combine your brand colors, app icon, and a subtle background or illustration that hints at what your app does. Avoid small text, since much of it might be cropped or not readable on some screens.
This graphic should feel related to your screenshots and icon, so that all visual elements look like they belong to the same family. Consistent visual identity helps users remember your app.
Categorization and Tags
Every app on Google Play must be placed in a category, such as “Productivity”, “Education”, or various game categories. Choosing the right category is important, because it affects where users may discover your app when they browse instead of search.
You should select the category that best matches the main purpose of your app. Do not try to place a simple utility app in a game category or a health app in “Entertainment” just to appear more attractive. Incorrect categorization can confuse users and go against Google Play guidelines.
You can also choose tags that describe more specific aspects of your app. These tags help Google Play understand what your app is about and may influence which users see it recommended. For example, a fitness app might use tags related to “workout” or “running”. Select only the tags that truly apply, instead of trying to cover everything.
Contact Details
Your store listing must provide a way for users to contact you, usually by email. This information appears on the listing page and allows users to send feedback, support requests, or business questions.
Use an email address that you can monitor regularly. If possible, use a professional looking address that matches your developer name, such as support@yourappname.com, especially if you plan to grow your app. For personal or small projects, you can still use a dedicated support email on a popular provider, as long as you will read it.
You can also optionally add a website. If you do, make sure the site is working, secure (uses HTTPS), and consistent with your app. Broken links or unrelated sites can reduce user trust.
Privacy Policy URL
Many apps are required to provide a privacy policy, especially if they handle personal or sensitive data, use certain permissions, or target children. Even if your app is simple, providing a clear privacy policy can improve user confidence.
You must host the privacy policy on a public URL and add that URL to the store listing. The document should explain what data you collect, how you use it, and how users can contact you about privacy. The content of the policy itself is covered by privacy and security considerations, but you must be sure that the URL in the listing always points to a valid and updated document.
Important rule: If your app collects or processes personal data, your privacy policy in the store listing must match what your app actually does. Inconsistent or missing information can cause rejection or removal from Google Play.
Localized Store Listings
If your app targets users in more than one language, localizing your store listing can significantly improve conversion. You can create translations for the app name, descriptions, and even some images that contain text.
When localizing, remember:
Translate meaning, not just words. If you do not speak the target language, use a native speaker or a professional translator when possible.
Keep lengths reasonable. Some languages need more characters, so you may need to adjust phrasing to stay within limits or to avoid truncation.
Respect local conventions, such as date formats, decimal separators, or common expressions.
You are not required to translate into every possible language. Start with your most important target markets, then expand gradually as your user base grows.
Store Listing Quality and Policy Compliance
Google Play reviews your app and its listing against policy guidelines. Even if your APK or AAB is technically fine, policy violations in the listing content can still cause problems.
Common issues include:
Misleading claims about results, such as promising guaranteed earnings or health benefits without basis.
Inappropriate or restricted content in text or images, such as hate speech, adult material, or violence that violates policy.
Using trademarks or brand names that you do not have the right to use.
You should read the latest Google Play policies related to store listing content and keep them in mind while writing descriptions and designing graphics. The policies can change over time, so revisit them before major updates.
Iterating and Improving the Store Listing
Once your app is live, you can improve the store listing based on user behavior. The Play Console provides statistics such as store listing visitors and conversion rate to installs. If many users view your page but few install, that might suggest your descriptions or screenshots need refinement.
You can experiment with different descriptions, icons, or screenshots over time. Some Play Console features allow A/B testing of store listing elements, so you can compare which version performs better. For a beginner, you can start simple: launch with your best guess, then use user reviews and metrics to guide improvements.
When you update any part of your listing, ensure that it stays aligned with the actual app features. If you remove a feature from your app but still describe it in the listing, users may feel misled and leave negative reviews.
By carefully preparing and maintaining your store listing, you make it easier for the right users to understand, trust, and install your app, which supports the long term success of your Android project.