Manage different form factor releases on dedicated tracks (original) (raw)

You can use dedicated tracks to manage app releases for different form factors — such as Wear OS, Android TV, Android Automotive OS, and Android XR apps — in Play Console.

Understanding track changes in Play Console

We are currently making changes to the way developers manage their releases for each form factor by introducing dedicated release tracks for different form factors. This makes it easier for developers to:

• Roll out certain releases (for example, a Wear OS release) independent of other form factor releases.
• Simplify testing by having dedicated tracks to configure and manage testers for.

In March 2023, we enabled the "Wear OS only" track specifically for Wear OS app bundles and APKs, which is managed separately from the mobile release track. In October 2023, we introduced a dedicated track for Android TV releases: "Android TV" only. In December 2024, we made it possible to distribute Android Automotive OS apps using the mobile release track and announced the launch of the "Android XR" release track to support Android XR.

If you have an existing Wear OS release on the mobile release track, you must start using the Wear OS track and prepare a new release on this track. Read the section below for more information.

Using dedicated tracks

If you currently have Wear OS apps that you want to continue distributing on Google Play, you must start using dedicated Wear OS tracks and prepare new releases on these tracks. You can also simplify your Android TV, Android Automotive OS, or Android XR app management by using the dedicated tracks for those form factors.

Expand or collapse the sections below to learn how to start using dedicated tracks in Play Console.

Use a dedicated release track for Wear OS apps

As of September 2023, Wear OS releases that have not yet been migrated from mobile release tracks still serve users, but you cannot update them. If you want to continue distributing your app to Wear OS devices, you must use dedicated Wear OS tracks and create new releases on these tracks.

To use a dedicated release track for Wear OS:

1. Open Play Console, go to the Advanced settings page (Test and release > Advanced settings).
2. Select the Form factors tab.
3. Next to "Wear OS", click Manage.
4. Next to "Releases", select Use a dedicated release track for Wear OS.
5. Click Save.

After you begin to serve your app to users via the Wear OS only release track, remove redundant Wear OS app bundles and APKs from your mobile release track. From this point, you can manage your Wear OS releases and users separately from your mobile release or other form factor releases.

Use a dedicated release track for Android TV apps

Using the dedicated release track for Android TV apps is optional and you can continue to serve Android TV app users via your mobile release track. However, we recommend using the dedicated release track for Android TV as best practice.

To use a dedicated release track for Android TV:

1. Open Play Console and go to the Advanced settings page (Test and release > Advanced settings).
2. Select the Form factors tab.
3. If Android TV is not already targeted, click + Add form factor and select Android TV. "Android TV" will be added to the Form factors tab.
4. Next to "Android TV," click Manage.
5. Next to "Releases," select Use a dedicated release track for Android TV.
6. Select Opt-in to Android TV. Your app will be reviewed against the Android TV quality guidelines.
   • Note: To opt-in to Android TV, you must have uploaded Android TV screenshots for all store listings. If you haven't done this yet, you can click Save, upload your Android TV screenshots, and then return to opt in.
7. Click Save.
   • Note: After saving, you'll manage your Android TV releases and users separately to your mobile release (or other) app. This can't be changed.

After you begin to serve your app to users via the Android TV release track, remove redundant Android app bundles and APKs from your mobile release track. From this point, you can manage your Android TV releases and users separately from your mobile release or other form factor releases.

Use a dedicated release track for Android Automotive OS apps

Depending on your app’s category, using the dedicated release track for Android Automotive OS apps may be required or optional. See Choose a track type for Android Automotive OS for more details. All else being equal, we recommend using the dedicated release track for Android Automotive OS as best practice.

Important: To publish to the Android Automotive OS dedicated track, your app must include the android.hardware.type.automotive feature in its manifest. To learn more, see Distribute to cars.

1. Open Play Console and go to the Advanced settings page (Test and release > Advanced settings).
2. Select the Form factors tab.
3. If Android Automotive OS is not already targeted, click + Add form factor and select Android Automotive OS. "Android Automotive OS" will be added to the Form factors tab.
4. Next to "Android Automotive OS," click Manage.
5. Next to "Releases," select Use a dedicated release track for Android Automotive OS.
6. Click Save.
   • Note: After saving, you'll manage your Android Automotive OS releases and users separately to your mobile release (or other) app. This can't be changed.
7. Complete the remaining steps in the "Android Automotive OS" section to complete opting in to the Android Automotive OS form factor.

Use a dedicated release track for Android XR apps

Using the dedicated release track for Android XR apps is optional and you can continue to serve Android XR app users via your mobile release track. In addition, you may also use the dedicated release track for Android XR, if you want your app to include certain XR features that the mobile release track cannot support.

Important: To publish to the Android XR form factor track, the application must include either the android.software.xr.api.spatial feature or the android.software.xr.api.openxr feature in the APK's AndroidManifest. To learn more about which feature to use for your app, visit the Android Developers site. Apps that are published to the Android XR form factor track will only be visible to Android XR devices that support the feature you included in the APK's AndroidManifest.

To use a dedicated release track for Android XR:

1. Open Play Console and go to the Advanced settings page (Test and release > Advanced settings).
2. Select the Form factors tab.
3. If Android XR is not already targeted, click + Add form factor and select Android XR. "Android XR" will be added to the Form factors tab.
4. Next to "Android XR," click Manage.
5. Next to "Releases," select Use a dedicated release track for Android XR.
6. Click Save.
   • Note: After saving, you'll manage your Android XR releases and users separately to your mobile release (or other) app. Click Save.

Note for Google Play Publishing API users

After you create the dedicated form factor release tracks, you'll no longer be able to use the existing API to release this form factor app bundles or APKs using your mobile release track. You must update your integration to use the new form factor track IDs.

Learn more about identifying form factor tracks using the Google Play Publishing API on the Google Play Developer site.

Prepare a new release

Expand or collapse the sections below to learn how to prepare a release for different form factors in Play Console.

Prepare a new Wear OS release

Prerequisite: If you're creating a Wear OS experience for the first time, you must use a Wear OS-enabled app bundle. Using a Wear OS-enabled app bundle means you only need to build, sign, and upload a single artifact once to support your app’s installed version and Wear OS experience.

To prepare for distribution on Wear OS:

1. Open Play Console and go to the Advanced settings page (Test and release > Advanced settings).
2. Select the Form factors tab, and click + Add form factor.
3. Select Wear OS.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to:
   • Upload a Wear OS screenshot
   • Upload a Wear OS app bundle or APK to a test track
5. Return to the Advanced settings page, and click Opt in to Wear OS and agree to the review policy in the "Wear OS" section.

Once you opt-in and publish your app, our team will review your app to help ensure that it follows the Wear OS app quality guidelines. You can also opt-out should you change your mind later. You can also opt-in for potential inclusion in Wear OS collections on Google Play.

To learn more, make sure to read Distribute to Wear OS.

Prepare a new Android TV release

Prerequisite: If you're creating an Android TV experience for the first time, you must use an Android TV-enabled app bundle. Using an Android TV-enabled app bundle means you only need to build, sign, and upload a single artifact once to support your app’s installed version and Android TV experience.

To prepare for distribution on Android TV:

1. Open Play Console and go to the Advanced settings page (Test and release > Advanced settings).
2. Select the Form factors tab, and click + Add form factor.
3. Select Android TV.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to upload an Android TV screenshot.
5. Return to the Advanced settings page, and click Opt-in to Android TV and agree to the review policy in the "Android TV" section.

Once you opt-in and publish your app, our team will review your app to help ensure that it follows the TV app quality guidelines. You can also opt-out should you change your mind later. You can also opt-in for potential inclusion in Android TV collections on Google Play.

To learn more, make sure to read Distribute to Android TV.

Prepare a new Android Automotive OS release

To prepare for distribution on Android Automotive OS:

1. Open Play Console and go to the Advanced settings page (Test and release > Advanced settings).
2. Select the Form factors tab and click + Add form factor.
3. Select Android Automotive OS.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to:
   • Upload Android Automotive OS screenshots; and
   • Upload Android Automotive OS app bundle or APK to a test track.
5. Return to the Advanced settings page, and click Agree to review policy to ensure that your app follows Android Automotive OS quality guidelines in the "Android Automotive OS" section.

Once you opt-in and publish your app, our team will review your app to help ensure that it follows the Car app quality guidelines. You can also opt-out should you change your mind later.

To learn more, make sure to read Distribute to cars.

Unpublish an app

When you unpublish an app, existing users can still use your app and receive app updates. Your app won’t be available for new users to find and download on Google Play.

Prerequisites: Before you can unpublish an app, you must ensure that:

• You have accepted the latest Developer Distribution Agreement.
• Your app has no errors that need to be addressed, such as failing to fill in the content rating questionnaire or provide details about your app's target audience and content.
• Managed publishing is not active for the app you want to unpublish.

To unpublish your app:

1. Open Play Console and go to the Advanced settings page (Test and release > Advanced settings).
2. On the App Availability tab, select Unpublished.

Should you decide to make your app available for new users again, you can return here and select Published.

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