Android Application Approval Process

Developer Registration

After developing your application, the first step to get it distributed to the Android Market is to register as a developer. To do this, you'll need to go to Market.android.com/publish in your Web browser. On this page, you're prompted to create a developer profile. You are required to submit your name, email address, website address and phone number during the registration process.

Registration Fee

To complete the developer registration, you'll need to pay a one-time registration fee. As of the date of this publication, the Android developer registration fee is priced at $25. Google requires this fee to help cut down on spammy apps in the Android marketplace. To pay the fee, you'll need to have a Google Checkout account with one valid credit or debit card stored on file.

Distribution Agreement

To complete the self-approval process for your application and Android developer account, you must read and agree to the Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement. This agreement outlines everything you must know about uploading, distributing and selling applications through the Android Market. Long-term developers will also need to agree to future updates to the distribution agreement, as Google may change the terms periodically.

Upload Application

The last step in the application process is to upload your APK (application package) file to the Android Market servers, which is handled through your Android developer account. You're also required to submit the following with your application: a high-resolution app icon and two screenshots of the application. Developers can upload an additional six screenshots, for a total of eight, showing what the app is like. Once you've filled out the app's title and description, picked the category and uploaded the required files, then you'll hit the Submit button. Afterward, your application is distributed on the Android Market where users can search for it.