In July 2023, we announced verification requirements for anyone creating new Play Console developer accounts. We're now rolling out these verification requirements to all existing Google Play developers.
This article contains guidance on what you'll need to do, and when.
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep Google Play a safe and trusted platform, you must complete the verifications described on this page when setting up your Play Console developer account. This helps us to better understand developers and help prevent bad actors from distributing malware. Developers can complete verifications in Play Console 60 days before their individual deadline by following the steps in this Help Centre article.
Important: Selecting the correct type of developer account for your situation and completing the necessary verifications is key to a smooth onboarding experience. Learn about choosing a developer account type.Developer information that must be verified and is shown on Google Play
This section describes the information that you need to provide that will be shown to users on Google Play after it's been verified.
Legal name and address
As part of creating your Google Play Developer account, you will be asked to link a Google payments profile. This profile helps Google Play verify your developer identity.
During the registration process, you can select an existing payment profile (if you have one), or you will have the option to create a new one. The type of payment profile is based on the type of developer account that you want to create (personal or organisation). Payments profiles for personal accounts and organisation accounts have different information verification requirements.
Personal accountIf you create a developer account for personal use, and a Google payments profile has not been verified, you will be required to provide the following information in Play Console as part of verifying your identity details:
- Official government identity document
If you create a developer account for an organisation and a Google payments profile has not been verified, you will be required to provide the following information in Play Console as part of verifying your identity details:
- D-U-N-S number (unless your developer account is for a known government organisation or agency)
- Official government identity document
- Official organisation document
Government organisations or agencies
If you create a developer account for a known government organisation or agency, and a Google payments profile has not been verified, you won't need to provide a D-U-N-S number.
If your developer account is for a government organisation or agency and you are prompted to provide a D-U-N-S number when trying to create a payments profile as part of the verification process, you can contact our support team. They can enable your account to complete verifications without providing a D-U-N-S number.
Important: You should only do this if you cannot provide a D-U-N-S number.
Learn more about developer information verification requirements.
Developer email address
All developers must provide and verify a developer email address that will be shown on Google Play. This is to help Google Play users learn more about the developer.
The following steps describe how to verify your developer email address when providing contact information, creating your account or updating your information on the Account details page in Play Console:
- Enter your email address.
- Click Verify email address. You will receive an email containing a six-digit code.
- Enter the six-digit code and click Verify.
Developer phone number
Organisations must provide and verify a developer phone number that will be shown on Google Play. This is to help Google Play users learn more about the developer.
The following steps describe how to verify your developer phone number when providing contact information, creating your account or updating your information on the Account details page in Play Console:
- Enter your phone number in international format.
Phone numbers in international format begin with a plus (+) sign, followed by the country code, the area code and the phone number:
+(Country code)(Area code)(Phone number)Examples: +14155552671, +441234567890
- Choose whether you’d like to receive your verification code by text message or voice call.
- Click Verify phone number. You will receive a text message or voice call sharing a six-digit code.
- Enter the six-digit code and click Verify.
Note: You will be required to complete the phone verification process whenever you update your developer phone number.
Website
In February 2024, we introduced new verification requirements for developers who create new organisation accounts. These requirements are described in this article, along with guidance for creating a website and the verification process.
Other developers can optionally provide and verify a website to help Google verify your identity, which we recommend you do to help us keep Google Play safe.
Contact information that Google uses to communicate with you
To keep Google Play safe and protect users from abuse, you must verify your contact information. This information is not shown on Google Play.
Verifications are an effective way to keep spammers from abusing our systems, and verifiable contact details ensure that we have trusted means to communicate with developer account owners.
Contact phone number
The following steps describe how to verify your contact phone number when providing contact information, creating your account or updating your information on the Account details page in Play Console:
- Enter your phone number in international format.
Phone numbers in international format begin with a plus (+) sign, followed by the country code, the area code and the phone number:
+(Country code)(Area code)(Phone number)Examples: +14155552671, +441234567890
- Choose whether you’d like to receive your verification code by text message or voice call.
- Click Verify phone number. You will receive a text message or voice call sharing a six-digit code.
- Enter the six-digit code and click Verify.
Note: You will be required to complete the phone verification process whenever you update your developer phone number.
Contact email address
The following steps describe how to verify your contact email address when creating your account or updating your information on the Account details page in Play Console (this email address will not be shown on Google Play; it will be be used by Google to contact you if necessary):
- Enter your email address.
- Click Verify email address. You will receive an email containing a six-digit code.
- Enter the six-digit code and click Verify.
Note: If the contact email address that you entered has already been verified as part of your Google Account, you do not need to verify it again and can skip the email verification process. However, you will be required to complete the email verification process whenever you update your contact email address in the future.
Other verifications not shown on Google Play
Device verification
Starting in early 2024, developers with new personal accounts will be required to verify that they have access to a real Android mobile device using the Play Console mobile app before they can make their app available on Google Play.
This is an important step in our ongoing efforts to improve user trust and safety for the billions of people that use Google Play. By requiring developers to verify that they have access to an Android device, we can help ensure that they are able to properly test their apps before making them available to users. This will help to improve the quality of apps on Google Play, and to keep users safe.
Learn more about completing device verifications.
Frequently asked questions
Email verification
I didn't receive an email verification code. What should I do?If you’ve tried to verify your email address several times and you’re still unable to receive a verification code, we suggest that you do the following:
- Check your spam folder in case the message has been marked as spam.
- Verify your email address at a different time.
- Use a different email address.
Phone number verification
How should I enter my phone number?Enter your phone number for verification using the E.164 format.
Depending on your country, you may be charged for the SMS or voice call that you receive. The cost of your text or voice messages will also vary based on your plan and provider, but will likely be standard text message and call charges. Contact your mobile phone provider for details.
Text message delivery can be delayed if you live in a densely populated area or if your operator's infrastructure isn't well maintained. If you've waited more than a few minutes and still haven't received our text message, try the voice call option.
Most mobile operators support text messages from Google. If your operator does not support text messages from Google, you can try the voice call option or use a different phone number.
If you’ve tried both the SMS and voice call options several times and you’re still unable to receive a verification code, we suggest that you do the following:
- If you’ve been using a mobile phone, then you can try using a landline phone or vice versa.
- Confirm that you can receive calls or text messages from other people on your phone.
- If you’re using a mobile phone, make sure that it has a strong signal while attempting the verification. Sending an SMS while your mobile phone is out of range and then going into range can sometimes cause failure in SMS delivery.
- Try verifying your phone number on another day when telecoms network faults that might be causing difficulty in SMS and voice call transmission are possibly resolved.
- Try a different supported operator.
General
Can I submit apps while my verifications are pending?You must verify your developer account before you can submit apps for consideration on Google Play.
Yes. You can follow these steps to share a payments profile when creating or verifying a Play Console developer account.