Android App Release Checklist — 30 Items to Check Before Google Play Launch

#android #kotlin #googleplay #mobile

What You'll Learn

A comprehensive 30-item checklist for releasing your Android app to Google Play.

Code Quality

ProGuard/R8 obfuscation enabled
Debug logs removed (Log.d/Log.v)
BuildConfig.DEBUG branch checks verified
Hardcoded API URLs/keys removed
Test code removed
ANR prevention measures in place

Security

HTTPS only (android:usesCleartextTraffic="false")
API keys stored in BuildConfig or encrypted storage
WebView JavaScript enabled only where needed
SQL injection prevention (use Room)
Input validation implemented
Certificate pinning considered

Performance

// Image optimization with Coil
AsyncImage(
    model = ImageRequest.Builder(context)
        .data(url)
        .size(300)
        .crossfade(true)
        .build(),
    contentDescription = null
)

// LazyColumn optimization
LazyColumn {
    items(items, key = { it.id }, contentType = { it.type }) { item ->
        ItemRow(item)
    }
}

Build Configuration

android {
    defaultConfig {
        applicationId = "com.example.myapp"
        minSdk = 26
        targetSdk = 35
        versionCode = 1
        versionName = "1.0.0"
    }
    buildTypes {
        release {
            isMinifyEnabled = true
            isShrinkResources = true
            proguardFiles(
                getDefaultProguardFile("proguard-android-optimize.txt"),
                "proguard-rules.pro"
            )
        }
    }
}

UI/UX Checklist

Dark mode support
Landscape handling (or fixed orientation)
Tablet layout support
Edge-to-Edge (Android 15+)
Error screens and empty states
Loading indicators
48dp+ touch targets
contentDescription for accessibility

Store Listing

App name (under 30 characters)
Short description (under 80 characters)
Full description (under 4000 characters)
Screenshots (minimum 2, recommended 8)
Icon (512x512 PNG)
Feature graphic (1024x500)
Content rating questionnaire completed
Privacy policy URL

Signing

Release keystore created and backed up
Google Play App Signing enabled
Upload key configured
Signed AAB build verified

Testing

Real device testing (minimum 3 devices)
Android 14+ verification
First launch test
Offline behavior test
Background/foreground transitions
Screen rotation state preservation
Internal test track on Google Play

Summary

Security: HTTPS, key management, input validation
Performance: Memory leaks, image optimization, LazyColumn
UI/UX: Dark mode, error screens, accessibility
Store: Screenshots, descriptions, privacy policy
Build: ProGuard enabled, versionCode updated, signing
Testing: Real devices, offline, rotation, internal test

8 production-ready Android app templates available on Gumroad.

Browse templates → Gumroad

DEV Community