Is it possible to set a release date on the google play store?

Question

On iOS it is possible to choose when you want your app to be visible on the store after it has been validated by Apple. Is this possible with Android and the Google Play Store?

Solution 1

This is now possible using timed publishing. It appears to be restricted to updates so it may not work for the initial launch unless the app is published to your alpha or beta channels first.

Solution 2

In the new Google Play Console, You could use managed publishing

You can use managed publishing to control exactly when changes to your app are published. When managed publishing is turned on, you can clearly see which changes you submit are in review and which changes are ready for publishing on the Publishing overview page.

1- go to Publishing overview 2- click on manage, then turn it on.

Solution 3

Edit: This is now possible. See Eric P's answer.

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No, this is not possible unfortunately. The best you can do is upload the apk and fill in the store listing information. Then, when you want to go live it's just a matter of clicking 'publish'. You can not do this automatically.

Solution 4

As mentioned above it is restricted to updates, it does not works for the very first release (unless the app is published to your alpha or beta channels first)

With that said you could use Timed Publishing feature from Google Play Store.

Basically you have to go to the Google Play Console login, then on your left menu, select Store presence that will show a page and just scroll down right to the bottom, you will see a Timed publishing switch, just turn it on, please note that once your update release/APK has been processed and you would like to publish your app scheduled as a job per se, just look for the Timed publishing header at the top of any page in your app release dashboard.

Hope this helps!

Solution 5

Yes Time Publishing is now possible to do this you have to got to the setting StorePresence>Store listing> at the bottom of the page there is time toggle button just enable it ,,and make release as you do previously once app is approved by google then now app will not get publish automatically you have to got to the release page and click on GoLive button to make app live

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Comments

[hvaughan3]

This should now be the accepted answer! Thank you sir.

[Seb]

Seems like the page has moved. Answer is now here: support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/63342‌​82

[William]

Timed publishing doesn't provide this capability.It just alows you to get your APK vetted so that it is a quick process when you manually set it live later.

[Kerberos]

Hi, do you know if Is only for updates or I can use it for a first release?

[juliusspencer]

Is there a way to choose a date / time in advance (eg. 2am on the 15th Nov)

[Luke Needham]

As of 2020, 'timed publishing' has been retired in favour of 'managed publishing', which provides the same capabilities, plus more! See here: support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/…

[Luke Needham]

Managed publishing (same as timed publishing) cannot be used for a first release. From the docs: Your app must already be available to use managed publishing – you can’t use it when publishing an app for the first time. support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/…

[Bruce]

Seems like we can't use managed publishing for the first release, which ironically is the only time I need to use managed publishing!! I only want to control the app release date, but subsequent app updates should be as soon as possible.

[superjos]

@Luke and Bruce from further reading, it seems to me the docs mean you must have already ""published"" your app before using managed publishing where ""published"" refers to any track (or at least to the 3 except Internal Test). In fact other docs specify to at least publish app once on Open or Closed test before you can use managed publishing on Production track.

[Madhan]

Whether Managed Publishing can be used for first live release if we already have release in Internal Test Track or Closed Test Track?

[Matteo]

Doesn't seem like it.