How to unpublish an app in Google Play Developer Console

Question

I've seen other posts asking the same question with answers that all refer to a giant button that says "Unpublish" on it, which is no longer there (at least as of 2016).

How do you really unpublish an app that is uploaded to the Google Play Developer Console?

Solution 1

TL;DR: (As of September 2020) Open the Play Console. Select an app. Select Release > Setup >Advanced settings. On the App Availability tab, select Unpublish.

From https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9859350?hl=en&ref_topic=9872026:

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

• 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:

Open the Play Console. Select an app. Select Release > Setup > Advanced settings. On the App Availability tab, select Unpublish.

How to Disable Managed publishing

Solution 2

In the current version of Google Play store Console as of(August 2017) here is the procedure of unpublishing your app.

• Choose the app you wish to unpublish.
• Go to Store presence > Pricing & distribution.
• You will see "unpublish" button in the app availability section as shown below.

After clicking unpublish a dialog will popup confirm and save the changes.

Solution 3

There are two ways to delete an application you have uploaded from the Google Play Developer Console based off of the application's status within the Console. An app's status can be viewed from the "All Applications" tab listed in the furthest column. (See below)

• If your app has not yet been published to the Google Play store (ie. Is still a draft):

Select your app from the list and at the top of the page, underneath your application name, it will say DRAFT in blue with the super low-profile option to delete it just to the right. Observe below:

Click that and you're done! Keep in mind: all of the work you have put into this application so far will be deleted from the Google Play Developer Console.

• If your app has already been published and you want to remove it from the app store:

This method is similar, however it should be noted that it is not possible to permanently delete an app from your Developer Console once it has been published to the Play Store.

1. Select the application you would like to publish from the "All Applications" tab on the right of the screen

2. Below the title of the app, similar to how it was with the DRAFT application, there will be super low-profile text allowing you the option to unpublish your app from the Play Store. This process "may take a few hours to complete" as it is said by the Developer Console.

I hope this helps to answer some people's questions.

Solution 4

1. Go to your "play.google.com" dashboard
2. Select your app
3. In left menu item select "Store presence"
4. Then, select "Pricing & distribution"
5. Click "Unpublish" in "App Availability" section

Solution 5

Click on Store Listing and then click on 'Unpublish App'.

View more solutions

Comments

[Zoe stands with Ukraine]

I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because developer-centric questions about app stores are off-topic

[McFizz]

If you think that's best for the community. It's been very helpful thus far but I'm always in support of an organized site

[JohnyTex]

Note: It says "Delete" but they mean unpublish.

[Magico]

If I unpublish, then later can i just publish again (same apk)? or i have to wait or rewrite all infos?

[Varun]

You can publish again whenever you want.

[Mike]

It's worth noting that you need to be the application owner (not a listed developer) AND the app needs to be set to Standard Publishing, and not Timed Publishing, otherwise 'Unpublish' will be greyed out.

[Simon Ho]

can you republish it after clicking unpublish??does it require approval again??

[Meryan]

@NateB How do you completely remove it (from the dashboard) ?

[jcrs]

It may take a while for the unpublishing to take effect

[Victor Rendina]

This should not be so damn hard to find. No wonder there are so many abandoned apps still in the Play Store, people can't figure out how to unpublish them.

[CoolMind]

Don't forget to scroll down a page and press "Publish update".

[gumuruh]

and is it deletable once we're in unpublished status?

[Antony]

We can't delete it yet unfortunately

[allexiusw]

Actually because of Google Play Console beta update, this is the updated answer... Thanks.

[Faizan Haidar Khan]

You are most welocme