Google Play for Android apps

In order to be able to publish an Android app in the Google Play store, you need to have a Google Developer Account. Creating such an account involves several steps:

  1. Create Google Developer Account
  2. Give Genkgo access to Google Console
  3. Give Genkgo permission to publish an app

IMPORTANT! Follow the steps below in the incognito/private mode of your browser to make sure that all steps are done with the correct Google account. Many people use multiple Google accounts and are logged in on all accounts. This can -unintentionally- easily result in certain steps being done with the wrong Google account.

1. Create Google Developer Account

Before you can create a developer account, you first need to have a normal Google account.

  1. Apply for a developer account with your Google account. This account involves a one-off payment of $25 which can only be paid by credit card. If your community does not have a credit card, you might consider getting a prepaid or disposable credit card. You can search these terms on Google to get more information. Of course, you can also request a normal credit card from your own bank.
  2. After applying for a developer account and making the payment, you can log in to the Google Play Console.

2. Give Genkgo access to Google Console

  1. Log in to the Google Play Console. Use the same account as for the previous steps.
  2. Go to Users and permissions
  3. Go to the three dots on the right hand side:
  4. Choose Invite new users
  5. For E-mail address choose "development@genkgo.nl"
  6. Under Rights, at App-permissions:
    • Add an app
    • Select all
    • Apply
    • Check the Admin box
    • Apply
  7. Under App access, at Account permissions:
    • Check the Admin box
  8. Then choose Invite user

You are now done creating a developer account. You don't need to notify Genkgo. We will automatically be notified by Google. The instructions below are for a later moment. 

3. Provide Genkgo with API access

  1. Log in to the Google Play Console. Use the same account as for the previous steps.
  2. Go to ‘Settings’ -> 'Developer Account' -> ‘API Access’.
  3. Then under Linked project connect with the project you created in Firebase.
  4. Then scroll to Service Accounts. Choose ‘Create Service Account’ and follow the link to the Google Cloud Platform.
  5. This redirects you to the Google API Console. Choose ‘Create Service Account’.
  6. Give a name to the Service Account, e.g. ‘Google Play Access Genkgo’, and choose ‘next’.
  7. The ole is Project / Owner and choose ‘next’.
  8. Choose ‘Create Key’ and then ‘JSON’. This downloads a file you can save on your computer.
  9. Choose ‘Done’
  10. Close the Google API Console so that you return to the Google Play Console. Close the popup by choosing ‘Done’. The page is automatically refresh. Then at Service Accounts you will see the created account, recognizable by the email address.
  11. Choose ‘Grant Access’ for the aaccount.
  12. In the tab Account permissions choose ‘Admin’. In the tab App permissions add the app.
  13. Open a new tab in your browser, login to Genkgo Admin. Go to ‘Mobile’, choose the app, navigate to ‘Stores’-> ‘Google Play Store. Choose ‘Google Play’. Here you can upload the file you download at step 8 heeft.
  14. Remove the download file from your computer

4. Firebase account

  1. Log in to the Firebase website with the Google account from step 1.
  2. Create a new project by choosing for ‘Add project’.
  3. Give the project a descriptive name, for example 'VerenigingenApp'. Fill out all other fields correctly.
  4. Confirm by clicking on ‘Create project’.
  5. Creating the project will take several seconds (visible in the screen). After this, click on ‘Continue’. The main screen of the project will be opened.
  6. Click on the gear icon in the top left corner of the screen, next to ‘Project overview’. Then click on ‘Project settings’. You will see an overview of the project settings.
  7. Go to the tab ‘Service accounts’ and click on ‘Generate new private key’. Confirm by clicking on ‘Generate key’. A download will be started automatically. If necessary, choose a storage location on your computer to save the file. The file has a name ending in ‘.json’.
  8. Upload this file to the Genkgo Admin in the application Mobile – your app – Publication in Stores – Google Play Store – Tab ‘Firebase’.
  9. Close the Firebase tab in your browser.
  10. Delete the downloaded .json file from your computer.

5. Management API

  1. Go to the Google Cloud Platform website. Check if you are logged in with the correct Google account. This should be the same account that you used for the previous steps.
  2. Check whether the project from step 2 is active in the blue bar at the top of the screen.
  3. Click on ‘Marketplace’ in the navigation bar on the left side of the screen.
  4. Search for ‘firebase management api’.
  5. Choose the result with the name ‘Firebase Management API’.
  6. Click on the button ‘Manage’.
  7. Check whether the ‘Activating status’ is ‘Activated’.
  8. Close the screen and go to the Genkgo Admin. Go to the application Mobile – your app – Publication in Stores – Google Play Store – tab ‘Firebase’.
  9. Check the option ‘Management API is activated’ and click on ‘save’.