Your Android Studio project is ready. Follow these steps to test it on your phone and publish it to the Google Play Store.
Find the _android.zip file in your Downloads folder and double-click it. A folder will appear with your Android project inside.
If you don't have Android Studio yet, download it for free from developer.android.com/studio. It's available for Mac, Windows and Linux (~1 GB download).
In Android Studio, click Open from the welcome screen (or File → Open), then navigate to the unzipped folder and click OK.
Android Studio will automatically download all dependencies and sync the project. This can take 2–5 minutes the first time. You'll see a progress bar at the bottom.
If Android Studio shows a licence warning, click Accept or go to SDK Manager → SDK Platforms and accept any pending licences. This only happens once per machine.
Physical device: connect your phone via USB, enable Developer Options (Settings → About Phone → tap Build Number 7 times) then turn on USB Debugging. Your phone will appear in the device dropdown at the top of Android Studio.
Emulator: go to Tools → Device Manager → Create Device, choose a phone model (e.g. Pixel 8) and a system image, then click Finish.
Press the green ▶ Run button — the app will install and launch.
In Android Studio, go to Build → Generate Signed Bundle / APK → choose Android App Bundle → click Next.
If you don't have a keystore yet, click Create new…, fill in the details and save it somewhere safe. Never lose this file — you'll need it for every future update.
Select release as the build variant and click Finish. Android Studio will generate a .aab file in your project's release/ folder.
If you don't have one, go to play.google.com/console and sign up. There is a one-time $25 registration fee. Account verification takes up to 48 hours.
If you register as an individual (not an organisation), Google requires you to run a closed testing track with at least 12 opted-in testers for 14 continuous days before your app can be promoted to production. The clock only starts once all 12 testers have accepted the invite and the build is live in testing — so plan ahead.
👉 Recommendation: if this is your first Google Play account, register as an Organisation / Business instead. Business accounts skip the mandatory testing period entirely and can submit directly to production after review — saving you up to 2 weeks.
See step 11 below for instructions on setting up closed testing if you already have an individual account.
In Google Play Console, click Create app. Fill in the app name, default language, whether it's an app or game, and whether it's free or paid. Click Create app to continue.
Go to Store presence → Main store listing and fill in:
• Short description (80 characters max)
• Full description (4000 characters max)
• Screenshots (at least 2, portrait recommended)
• Feature graphic (1024 × 500 px banner)
• App icon (512 × 512 px)
Organisation / Business account — go straight to Production → Releases → Create new release. Click Upload, select your .aab file, add release notes and click Next.
You cannot submit to Production until your app has been in Closed Testing with at least 12 opted-in testers for 14 continuous days. Follow these steps:
1. Go to Testing → Closed Testing → Create new track (call it e.g. "Alpha").
2. Upload your .aab and publish the release to the track.
3. Go to Testers within the track and add at least 12 email addresses. Send each person the opt-in link — they must actively accept it.
4. Wait 14 consecutive days with the build live and all 12 testers opted in.
5. After 14 days, the Promote to Production button becomes available — click it and continue from step 12 below.
💡 Friends, family, or band members work fine as testers — they just need a Google account and must click the opt-in link you send them.
Go to Policy → App content → Content rating and complete the questionnaire. For a music app, you'll likely receive an Everyone rating.
Go to Monetise → Pricing to set your app price (or make it free). Under Distribution, select the countries where you want to sell.
Once all required sections show a green tick, go to Production and click Send for review. Google typically reviews within 1–3 days for new apps.