These are the steps we follow to submit an app for review on the Play Store.
Step 1 — Create the App
Go to play.google.com/console and log in with a registered email address.
Click Create an app on the home page.
Fill in: App Name, Package name, App or Game = App, Free or paid = Free.
In Declarations, tick: Developer Program Policies, Play App Signing, US export laws.
Click Create App.
Step 2 — Fill the Dashboard Details
Complete every section on the Play Console dashboard before creating a release:
Privacy policy — add the privacy policy URL.
App access — provide test credentials/instructions if the app requires login.
Ads — declare whether the app contains ads.
Content rating — complete the questionnaire.
Target audience — set the target age group.
News apps — No, these are Shopify storefront apps, not a news or current-events app.
Data safety
Data collected: Personal info (Name, Address, Phone number), App activity (App interactions), App info and performance (Crash logs, Diagnostics, Other app performance data), Device or other IDs.
Name (Personal info) — Data collected: Yes, required. Why: App functionality, Analytics, Personalisation, Account management.
Email address (Personal info) — Data collected: Yes, required. Why: App functionality, Analytics, Personalisation, Account management.
Phone number (Personal info) — Data collected: Yes, required. Why: App functionality, Analytics, Personalisation, Account management.
Crash logs (App info and performance) — Data collected: Yes, required, not processed ephemerally. Why: Analytics, Developer communications.
Diagnostics (App info and performance) — Data collected: Yes, required, not processed ephemerally. Why: Analytics, Developer communications.
Other app performance data (App info and performance) — Data collected: Yes, required, not processed ephemerally. Why: Analytics, Developer communications.
App interactions (App activity) — Data collected: Yes, required, not processed ephemerally. Why: Analytics, Personalisation.
Device or other IDs — Data collected: Yes, required, not processed ephemerally. Why: App functionality, Analytics, Personalisation, Account management.
Government apps — No, the app isn't built for or affiliated with a government entity.
Financial features — No, the app is a storefront, not a lending, banking, crypto, or other financial-services product.
Health — No, the app doesn't offer medical, fitness, or health-tracking services.
Advertising ID — Yes → used for Analytics.
App category — select category and tags.
Store listing — title, description, screenshots, contact details, and sign-in details for reviewers if login is required.
Step 3 — Create Production Release
Set Countries and regions to All.
Go to Releases and upload the App bundle directly — no signing key selection needed.
Submit for review.
Review Time & What to Tell the Merchant
Typical review time: based on our experience, it can take up to 7 business working days for Google to review a submission — though it often comes back sooner or later than that, since it's entirely on the Play Store's side.
New developer accounts: a new personal Play Console account must run a closed test with at least 12 testers for a minimum of 14 days before the app is eligible to go live in production — factor this lead time in for a merchant's first Play Store app.
Requirements before submitting: finish every dashboard section (privacy policy, data safety, content rating, target audience, and the rest) and finalize the listing and build before hitting submit, so nothing resets the clock mid-review.