Setting Up Google Play Service Account
Follow these steps to connect AppShots to your Google Play Console so you can fetch and publish metadata directly from the app.
1
Go to Google Cloud Console
- → Open console.cloud.google.com
- → Select or create a project linked to your Play Console account
2
Enable the Google Play Android Developer API
- → Go to APIs & Services → Library
- → Search for "Google Play Android Developer API"
- → Click Enable
3
Create a Service Account
- → Go to APIs & Services → Credentials
- → Click + Create Credentials → Service Account
- → Fill in a name (e.g.
play-console-api) — the ID is auto-filled - → Click Create and Continue
- → You can skip the role (permissions are granted in Play Console instead)
- → Click Done
4
Generate the JSON Key
- → Click on your newly created service account
- → Go to the Keys tab
- → Click Add Key → Create new key
- → Choose JSON → Click Create
- → The
.jsonfile downloads automatically — keep it safe!
5
Grant Access in Google Play Console
Critical StepThis is the step most people miss.
- → Go to Google Play Console — make sure you are on the main account page, not inside an app
- → In the left sidebar, navigate to Users and permissions
- → Click Invite new users
- → Enter the service account email (looks like
name@project-id.iam.gserviceaccount.com) - → Set the appropriate permissions:
- • View app information — for read/fetch access
- • Manage production releases — for publishing
- • Manage store listing — for metadata
- → Click Invite user → Apply
You're all set!
Go back to AppShots → Settings → Google Play and import the downloaded JSON key file. The Fetch and Publish buttons will become active.