Publishing a food delivery app is not a single upload. It is an account, a signed build, a store listing, a data-safety declaration, a testing track and a review process. Most launch delays come from missing assets or a policy issue, not from the code.
This checklist covers the Google Play side. Apple has a separate review process and its own requirements.
| Step | What you need | Typical lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Developer account | Google Play Console, $25 one-time fee | 1–3 days |
| App identity | Package name, app name, icon, feature graphic | 1–2 days |
| Signing | Upload key, keystore, Play App Signing | 1 day |
| Listing | Screenshots, description, category, contact | 2–4 days |
| Data safety | Data collected, shared, encrypted, deletable | 1–2 days |
| Testing | Internal → closed → open track | 1–2 weeks |
| Review | Google policy review | 1–7 days |
Before you create the listing
- Choose a permanent package name; it cannot be changed later.
- Prepare a 512×512 icon and a 1024×500 feature graphic.
- Take screenshots from a real build, not a mockup.
- Write a clear description with the delivery area and key features.
- Set the correct category and content rating.
- Add a privacy policy URL that actually loads.
Signing and updates
Use Play App Signing and keep the upload keystore in a secure, backed-up location. If you lose the key and have not enrolled in Play App Signing, you may not be able to update the app. Document who holds the key and how it is transferred if you change developers.
Data safety and permissions
Declare the data your app collects: name, phone, address, payment info, location, device identifiers. Explain whether it is shared with third parties and whether it is encrypted in transit. Request only the permissions you need. A food delivery app that asks for contacts or SMS without a clear reason will be rejected or distrusted.
Testing tracks
Start with an internal test track for the team, then a closed track for 20–50 real customers, then an open track. Use the closed track to test payments, notifications, address entry and rider tracking on real devices. Fix crashes before the production rollout.
Review delays and rejections
Common rejection reasons: missing privacy policy, misleading screenshots, broken core functionality, excessive permissions, incomplete data-safety form, or a login that reviewers cannot access. Provide a test account and clear review notes. If you are rejected, fix the specific issue and resubmit; do not create a new listing.
After launch
- Monitor crashes and ANRs daily for the first week.
- Respond to reviews, especially negative ones.
- Track install → first order → repeat order.
- Ship a small update every 4–6 weeks.
- Keep target SDK versions current.
- Review the data-safety form when you add a new SDK.
See the source code page, the maintenance guide, or the $299 licence.
Publishing mistakes
- Losing the upload keystore or sharing it in a chat.
- Submitting screenshots from a mockup instead of the real build.
- Leaving the data-safety form incomplete or inaccurate.
Document the package name, signing key owner and release process before the first upload. Those three details cause the most expensive launch delays.