Google Play, which was originally born and referred to by Google as the Android Market, is Google’s official store and portal for Android apps, games and other content for your Android-powered phone, tablet or Android TV device. Just as Apple has its App Store, Google has the Google Play Store. It’s a huge place and it offers a lot of content to its users.
Google Play, formerly Android Market, is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google. It serves as the official app store for the Android operating system, allowing users to browse and download applications developed with the Android software development kit and published through Google.
- It allows android users to get awesome free and paid apps.
- It allows developers to publish apps and earn money.
Google Play App Icon Size
Apps & Games on Google Play are adopting a new icon system to better fit diverse developer artwork to Google Play’s various UI layouts, form factors, and devices, as well as to bring consistency and a cleaner look to Google Play.
The icon for your app is quite important. It is the thing that represents your app on the Android device screen. Therefore, a professional and unique icon should be produced for your app.
Mobile icons give us the first impression and therefore they are the gateway to the app. Being one of the most impactful app store product page elements, icons help you grow an app organically.
This article describes the guidelines you should follow when creating assets for your app’s listing on Google Play.
This section describes some android icon size guide you should follow when creating visual assets for your app on Google Play.
Attributes
Your artwork should follow these specs:
- Final size: 512px x 512px
- Format: 32-bit PNG
- Color space: sRGB
- Max file size: 1024KB
- Shape: Full square – Google Play dynamically handles masking. The radius will be equivalent to 20% of icon size.
- Shadow: None – Google Play dynamically handles shadows.
Icon Sizes
When creating an android icon size, view and edit it at 400% (192 x 192 dp), which will display edges at 4dp. By maintaining this ratio, any changes to the original will be scaled up or down proportionally, which preserves sharp edges and correct alignment when the scale is returned to 100% (48dp).
| Name | Density | Pixel | Usage |
| ldpi (0.75x) | 120 dpi | 36 x 36 px | Low-density screen |
| mdpi (baseline) | 160 dpi | 48 x 48 px | Medium-density screen |
| hdpi (1.5x) | 240 dpi | 72 x 72 px | High-density screen |
| xhdpi (2x) | 320 dpi | 96 x 96 px | Extra-high density screen |
| xxhdpi (3x) | 480 dpi | 144 x 144 px | Extra-extra-high density screen |
| xxxhdpi (4x) | 640 dpi | 192 x 192 px | This is for the launcher icon only* |
| playstore-icon.png | / | 512 x 512 px | Google Play store |
Keyline Shapes
Keyline shapes are based on the grid. By using these core shapes as a baseline, you can maintain consistent visual proportions throughout your product icons.
To Round or Not To Round
Same as with the shadows, Google will dynamically apply a rounded edge mask to all final app icon designs. That means the final asset that you upload needs to be a square with sharp edges. Do not add rounded edges or things will start to look a little strange.
Shadow
Drop a shadow when it’s a good fit for your app icon. However, do not drop a shadow for the entire design. Google will dynamically add a shadow to all final app icons. So shadows within the design are a go but shadows for the entire design are a no.
Corner Radius
Google Play dynamically applies the corner radius. This ensures consistency when the icon is resized across different UI layouts. The radius will be equivalent to 20% of icon size.
Brand adaptation
If possible, pick a background color for your asset that’s appropriate for your brand and doesn’t include any transparency. Transparent assets will display the background color of Google Play UI.
Design Principles
Brand Expression
Product icons are the visual expression of a brand and product, including its services and tools. Icons communicate the core idea and intent of a product in a simple, bold, and friendly way. While each icon is visually distinct, all product icons for a brand should be unified through concept and execution.
Lighting
In the Material Design environment, virtual lights illuminate the scene and allow elements to cast shadows. Light is cast on the top of elements, creating a shadow that highlights the icon’s top and bottom edges. An angled light reinforces the sense of dimension across the elements.
Keyline Shapes
Keyline shapes are based on the grid. By using these core shapes as a baseline, you can maintain consistent visual proportions throughout your product icons.
Here Are Some Basic Design Tips:
1. Keep it simple
It’s no doubt you have loads of ideas of what to place on your icon. Try variations with the basic concepts keeping the number of graphical elements to a minimum. Or better, stick to one and check if a lighter design really converts better. Make sure your mobile icons look good against a variety of backgrounds.
2. Try different colors
There are lots of nice color combinations in the world and your designer surely knows them well. The difficult question is, which of these nice combinations drive installs. Test and see if a mild pastel background can highlight the main icon element and boost conversions better than a bold contrast one.
3. Add Borders
Test borders for your app icon, it can make your icon outlined against any background and increase its visibility and appeal.
4. Logo/No logo?
Logo and mobile icons have some similarities but they are also different in many aspects. Logos are vector images and icons are raster ones, logos don’t have to be square but they need to look good on letterheads, etc.
How to Publish Your App On Google Play Store?
With over 1 billion monthly active users, Google Play is arguably one of the largest platforms for distributing, promoting, and selling Android apps.
Publishing on the Play store is not a complex process but it is helpful to be prepared for a few things. Publishing is done through the Google Play Developer Console and the process is straightforward.
Steps to publish an Android App on Google Play
1. Create an account
First and foremost, you should have an account to publish your app in the Google Play store. For publishing your app, it is suggested that you create a separate Google account instead of using your personal email account. While registering your publisher account, a registration fee worth 25 USD needs to be paid using Google payments. The user is sent a verification mail and then he/she can sign in to their Developer Console.
2. Links To Your Merchant Account
– Access the Google Play Console.
– Go to “Download Reports,” specifically “Financial.”
– Click on the tab telling you to set up your merchant account.
– Enter all the information about your business.
3. Creating an App Don’t get confused here; you won’t be making the app all over again. Once you’ve set up the Developer Play Console, you’ll be able to include your app by doing the following:
– Go to ‘All applications’.
– Hit ‘Create Application’.
– Click the default language for your app from a drop-down list.
– Set your app’s title.
– Click “Create”.
4. Upload the app
After logging in to the Google Play Developer Console, click on “Add New Application” in the “All Applications” tab. Choose the “Default Language” from the drop-down menu and type the “Title” of the app (This will appear in the Play Store). Now, select the “Upload APK” button to land on a ‘new’ page (It would be the homepage for your app).
5. Test the app
I would say that before an app is launched to a large section of audiences, ‘test’ it with a sample of end users for their feedback. In the “APK” section of the Developer Console, options related to “Beta Testing” and “Alpha Testing” are provided by Google. After uploading the app’s “.apk” file(s), the user can use the “Beta Testing” and “Alpha Testing” options to get a URL (this can be shared with the testers).
6. Product Details Here is where you’ll describe your product; The next step is filling out three fields.
Title: Your app’s name on the Google Play Store, it has a 50 characters limit, and it accepts one localized title per language. Short Description: The short description will be the first text to be seen when looking at your app’s detail page on the Play Store app. It has a maximum limit of 80 characters. Full Description: Users can expand the short description to view the app’s full description, which will show the app’s description on Google Play.
7. Provide pricing and distribution details
When you move to the “Pricing & Distribution” tab, select if it is a “Free” or a “Paid” app. Choose the distribution countries and ensure that the app follows the content guidelines.
8. Publish the app
After all the three key tabs- “APK”, “Store Listing” and “Pricing & Distribution”- have been provided and a green checkmark next to them, you can publish the app in Google Play. Just click the “Publish this app” button under the “Ready to Publish” drop-down menu at the Developer Console.
How To Create a Google Account?
The Play Store will ask you to sign in. If you don’t have a Google account, look towards the bottom of the screen where it says Create a new account. Tap this and enter your name.
Go to www.google.com. Locate and select the Sign in button in the top-right corner of the page.
Click Create an account.
The signup form will appear. Follow the directions by entering the required information, such as your name, birth date, and gender.
Review Google’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, click the checkbox, then click the Next step.
Create your profile page will appear. Click Add a photo if you want to add a photo to your profile. If you don’t want to set a profile photo at this time, click Next step.
Your account will be created, and the Google welcome page will appear.
How To Download From Google Play Store?
“The Play Store app comes pre-installed on Android devices that support Google Play, and can be downloaded on some Chromebooks.”
If you are using an Android device that supports Google Play, it should already be installed.
- Open the Google Play Store app
- Search or browse for content.
- Select an item.
- Tap Install (for free items) or the item’s price.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the transaction and get the content.
For paid items, you can choose your payment method with the Down arrow. If it’s your first time making a purchase, your payment method will be added to your Google Account.
How To Buy From Google Play Store?
Some Google Play apps have a price tag, which means that they are sometimes better developed, but also void of annoying ads that invade your smartphone or tablet’s screen. With Google, it’s really easy to buy apps, but the first time might be a little tricky for newbies to Android and the smartphone world.
Using Credit or Debit Card
Credit cards are a universal way of making payments. Google Play also allows you to make purchases using Credit or Debit cards. Once you set up your device for the first time or your Google account, a new page called Entertainment will appear. You can add your credit card info by choosing ‘Set up credit card’ and add your bank info just like you were paying for something online.
Using Google Play Vouchers (Gift Cards)
Gift Cards is another way using which app purchases can be done. The downside is that you need to purchase it in advance and it does not come in the exact denomination you need. Google Play gift cards are sold in 3 denominations ₹750, ₹1000 & ₹1500.