How to Send Your App Update to Google for Review

A guide on how to create a release for your app update and submit it for review using the Google Play Console.

Updated on 14. February 2024 by Jan Bunk

An old release advancing through a branched version path to an updated release and review
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In this guide we'll go over every step needed to upload a new version of your app to the Play Store.

Open the production page in the Google Play Console. Play Console sidebar with the Production section.

Click "Create new release" at the top right.

Production page with Create new release. Download your app as a .aab file

Upload the .aab file you just downloaded in the Google Play Console.

Release form with app bundle upload and library options.

After uploading the file you should see it listed below the upload field.

Uploaded app bundle with its version and device details.
Click here if you see the error message "Version code x has already been used. Try another version code."

First, please reload the Google Play Console page and instead of uploading the app bundle again, click "Add from library" and select it there.

Building a new version will take a couple of minutes and afterwards you need to download the app bundle again using the download button from earlier in this guide.

Enter a description for the app release, for example "Small bug fixes and design improvements.".

Release notes field with an English language section.

Click "Next" or "Save" at the bottom right.

Click "Review release" at the bottom right.

Release form with the Review release button.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and set the rollout percentage to 100.

Staged rollout settings with the percentage set to 100.

Click the "Save" button at the bottom right. Depending on your device's screen size, it might be hidden in the overflow menu with the three dots.

Play Console Save button and overflow menu alternatives.

Go to the publishing overview in the Google Play Console.

Submit the changes for review using the button at the top right.

Don't click the "Turn on managed publishing" button, otherwise the app publishing process will be delayed.
Publishing overview showing changes ready for review and the submission button.

Click "Send changes for review" to confirm.

Review submission dialog with Cancel and Send changes for review buttons.

When you go to the dashboard now, you should see that your app is under review.

App dashboard showing the update status as In review.

That's it! Your app update will be reviewed by Google now. The update should become available for download after at most a couple of days, but usually it takes just a few hours.

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