Google Play’s Game-Changing Move — Apps Now Open to Teams of 20!
Google Play’s Big Change: Teams of 20 Can Now Make Apps! Explore the Latest Shift in App Publishing Rules.
Hey everyone! In this article, we’re diving into the latest updates to Google Play’s policies — changes that aim to enhance app quality and security but have left many developers feeling confused, anxious, and even frustrated. There are two major updates to unpack. The first is noteworthy, but the second one is creating significant challenges, especially for smaller developers. Let’s break it all down.
Google Play has been taking steps to ensure that the apps on its platform meet higher standards. At first glance, this seems like a positive move. Who doesn’t want better, more reliable apps? However, the way Google is implementing these changes is raising eyebrows across the developer community. Earlier this year, Google updated its requirements for organizations, mandating a more rigorous process for verifying accounts. Now, they’re turning their focus to every developer on the platform — whether part of a business or working individually.
One of the major changes involves verifying your Google Play account within a strict timeline. If you have an existing account, you’ll need to verify it within 60 days after choosing a specific deadline. If you miss this window, your account — and all the apps associated with it — will be permanently deleted. Yes, permanently. This policy is already creating waves, as many developers are scrambling to understand what’s required and how to meet these demands.
Here’s how it works: when you log into your Google Play Console, you’ll see a prompt to select a deadline for your account verification. You can choose a date up to February 29th, 2024. If you don’t select one, Google will automatically assign a deadline for you. Once your deadline is set, you’ll have a 60-day window to complete the verification process. Failing to do so means saying goodbye to your profile and apps.
The verification process itself is relatively straightforward, though it does require careful attention to detail. For personal accounts, you’ll need to provide your full legal name, address, contact email, preferred language for communication, phone number, and developer email address. For organizations, additional information about your business will be required, such as details about the company’s scale and official contacts. While this might sound reasonable for legitimate developers, it’s still a significant administrative task, particularly for small teams or individuals who haven’t had to deal with this level of scrutiny before.
Now, let’s discuss the second major change, which is perhaps the most controversial. If you have a personal Google Play account and want to publish an app, you must now meet a strict new requirement: your app has to be tested by at least 20 people for a minimum of two weeks before it can go live. This applies specifically to personal accounts, and it’s already sparking serious concerns among developers.
For large organizations with plenty of resources, meeting this requirement is inconvenient but manageable. However, for freelance developers or hobbyists, finding 20 willing testers with Android devices is a daunting challenge. Many independent developers rely on their personal networks — friends and family — to test their apps, but that might not be enough to meet Google’s criteria. The testing process also needs to be managed through Google Play’s internal testing framework, where you manually add each tester’s email.
Google’s reasoning for this policy is clear — they want apps to be vetted by real users to ensure quality and safety. But the number “20” feels arbitrary, and it disproportionately affects smaller developers who may not have access to a large pool of testers. This new rule adds a significant barrier to entry for individuals trying to share their work with the world.
As a result, many developers are looking for creative solutions. Some are turning to freelancing platforms to hire testers, while others are considering alternatives that add unnecessary costs and complexity. This requirement is making the app publishing process significantly harder for small teams and individuals who lack the resources of big companies. Even for larger businesses, this rule introduces new logistical challenges.
Ultimately, these policy updates highlight Google’s commitment to improving app quality on its platform, but they also reveal a disconnect between the intent and the impact. While the verification process is manageable for most legitimate developers, the requirement for 20 testers places an unfair burden on independent developers and small teams. It’s a stark reminder that even well-intentioned policies can have unintended consequences.
As the developer community adjusts to these changes, it will be interesting to see how they shape the future of app publishing on Google Play. For now, developers need to prepare for these new hurdles and find ways to adapt while hoping for more flexibility or clarification in the future.
Even big companies with a lot of money are struggling to find 20 testers. This rule isn’t really aimed at them, it’s hitting individuals who just want to share their hard work through simple apps. We’ll have to wait and see how this affects us in the future.
So if you have any points or comment like how you look this just write below in comment section also i gathered this information by researching multiple websites. If you come across any incorrect or misinterpreted information, kindly bring it to my attention by commenting below.
If you got something wrong? Mention it in the comments. I would love to improve. your support means a lot to me! If you enjoy the content, I’d be grateful if you could consider subscribing to my YouTube channel as well.
I am Shirsh Shukla, a creative Developer, and a Technology lover. You can find me on LinkedIn or maybe follow me on Twitter or just walk over my portfolio for more details. And of course, you can follow me on GitHub as well.
Have a nice day!🙂