How to create a Google Play developer account: $25 fee, identity and device verification, closing and refunds

1. Steps to create an account

The Play Console Help Center article walks through six steps.

1. Create a Play Console developer account with your Google Account. You must be at least 18 years old.
2. Read and accept the Google Play Developer Distribution Agreement.
3. Pay the US$25 registration fee. You pay it once, by credit or debit card (prepaid cards aren’t accepted).
4. Choose an account type: personal or organization.
5. Verify your identity information.
6. For a personal account, complete the testing requirements and device verification.

2. Personal vs. organization accounts

• Personal account — created under your own name. Personal accounts created after November 13, 2023 must run a closed test with 12 testers for 14 days for each app before releasing to production.
• Organization account — created under a company or organization name, and the organization has to be verified. The testing requirement doesn’t apply.

Choose the type that matches how you actually operate. An organization account is something to consider if you run your apps as a business — not a way to dodge the requirement. To check whether your account is subject to it, see when you don’t need closed testing.

3. Identity and device verification

Verification requirements depend on the account type you choose. Google’s documentation says you may need both a government-issued ID and a credit card issued in your legal name. If you provide incorrect information when registering, the registration fee isn’t refunded, so enter the same name and details as on your ID from the start.

Personal accounts also go through device verification. This step uses the Play Console mobile app to confirm that you have access to a real Android device. Have an Android phone ready.

4. After creating your account

Once your account is ready, create your app, complete the app setup and store listing, and — if it’s a personal account — move on to closed testing. For the full steps and timeline to launch, see how to publish an app on Google Play; for the closed testing requirement, see the closed testing requirements explained.

5. Closing your account and getting the fee back

Here are the rules set out in Play Console Help: account, registration, and payment issues.

• If you have published apps that users have installed, you can’t delete your account right away. Transfer all your apps to another developer account, then delete the account — at that point the registration fee is refunded.
• If you’ve never published an app or no users have downloaded them, contact support.
• Accounts terminated for policy violations don’t get the registration fee back.
• Deleting your Google Account doesn’t automatically delete your developer account.