Deploying Android Apps in 2025 — A Solo Dev's Journey

We all know I develop Android and iOS applications using Flutter — and I’m pretty good at it. Building an application is just one part of the game. The real challenge often lies in the second part: deploying those applications to the respective app stores.

Now, here’s the truth:
I mainly develop Android applications because I don’t own an Apple device, which means I can’t test or deploy apps to the Apple Store. That’s a story for another day.

But today, we’re going to talk about something closer to home — the harsh reality of deploying Android applications on the Google Play Console in 2025.

Buckle up, because it’s going to be a hell of a ride.

This blog post is my personal journey of deploying an Android app after a long time. Things have changed, and if you’re getting back into it after a while, you might want to read this all the way through.

A Little Context

In one of my previous blog posts, I shared the journey of building a new Android app called MS Bridge. It’s a simple note-reading and note-taking application — something I built because I was never really a fan of Google Keep. I wanted to create a tool that met my own workflow and personal needs.

And guess what?
I actually use this app every day.

If you’re curious about the build process or want to see how I made it using Flutter, check out the full write-up here. In that blog post, I dive into the architecture and the thought process behind the app.

TL;DR

A while back, deploying apps on Google Play Console used to be simple:

• You paid a one-time $25 fee.
• Filled out your developer profile.
• Generated and uploaded a signed AAB file.
• Completed a few forms and privacy declarations.
• Shared demo credentials (if applicable).
• And then, waited 2–3 business days for a manual review.

If all was well, your app would go live and be available to users around the world. Easy, right?

Well, that was then.

The Past: How It Used to Be

Back in the day, Google had the most lenient rules for deploying apps. Whether those rules were too relaxed is up for debate, but for indie developers like myself, it was manageable.

The flow was straightforward:

• Buy access to the Play Console for $25 (one-time payment).
• Verify your identity with a valid ID.
• Build and sign your APK or AAB file.
• Create a new release and fill out the required forms.
• Upload your AAB, and submit it for review.

If everything was filled out correctly, your app would get approved — no fuss, no confusion.

It was a solo dev’s dream.

Absolutely, here’s a refined and polished version of your paragraph with proper grammar, improved flow, and a tone that still sounds like you. I’ve also made it blog-ready and added it as a continuation of the previous section.

The Present: A Reality Check (continued)

In late 2022, Google announced a major update to the Google Play Console — and with it came a new policy that hit indie developers the hardest.

Both individual developers and companies are now required to meet at least 12 testing requirements before submitting an app for review. You can read the full breakdown of the policy here.

And let me tell you — this was a huge pain point for me.

As a solo developer, I handle everything myself: designing, building, testing, and deploying the app. But now, before even submitting the app for review, I need 12 testers, each with a different Google account, using 12 different physical devices, who must test the app for at least 4 minutes straight.

Seriously?
This feels absurd.

I don’t have access to 12 Android devices. Devices are expensive, especially in my region. And coordinating 12 unique testers with valid Google accounts just to meet a requirement? That’s a lot of overhead for someone working alone.

To be fair, I understand where Google is coming from. They want to prevent low-quality or crash-prone apps from reaching production. In the past, many developers pushed broken apps to production without proper testing, which damaged user experience and hurt the reputation of the Play Store.

So yes, the intent behind this policy makes sense — but the execution? Not so much.

For solo devs and small teams, this is a major hurdle. And it’s one more reason why deploying Android applications is no longer the simple process it used to be.

So… What’s This “12 Testers” Requirement Anyway?

Let’s get into the juicy part — the actual “12 testers” rule that tripped me up.

If you’re reading this and wondering, “Wait, what even is that?” — you’re not alone. It’s a relatively new policy introduced by Google, and it’s mainly targeted at new developer accounts.

Basically, if your Google Play Console account was created after November 13, 2023, and it’s a personal (individual) account, then buckle up: you must run a closed test with at least 12 testers before even thinking about going public with your app.

Let me break it down:

• You need 12 unique testers (yes, actual humans with different Google accounts).
• These testers must opt into a closed testing track and keep the app installed for 14 consecutive days.
• It doesn’t matter if they use it every day — just that they opted in and didn’t uninstall the app during that period.
• Only after that test run can your app even be considered for production release.

This is Google’s way of filtering out buggy, unstable, or half-baked apps from flooding the Play Store — which, let’s be real, used to happen a lot.

Fun fact: when this policy was first introduced, the requirement was 20 testers, but later they brought it down to 12 — probably because of all the backlash from indie devs like us who don’t have the time, energy, or reach to coordinate that many testers for every app.

For me personally, this was the most frustrating part. I don’t have a huge community or team. I’m a solo dev. I make things that I need and want to share with others. Getting 12 people with different devices and accounts, and making sure they stick around for two weeks? That’s just not feasible all the time.

Sure, you can ask friends and family or reach out to communities online, but it’s still a hurdle that didn’t exist before. Some even use paid tester platforms now — yes, that’s a thing.

At the end of the day, I get why Google introduced this rule — they want to protect the store from poor-quality apps and ensure a smooth user experience. But as someone who’s been deploying Android apps for years, this change hit hard. And it’s not exactly beginner-friendly.

Tips or Workarounds

After all this, you’re probably wondering: “Okay, so what’s the workaround?”

Well — there really isn’t one. You can’t bypass the 12-tester requirement if your account is new and falls under the policy. It’s mandatory, and Google will not let you move to production without completing it.

But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck.

Here are a few ways you can get those 12 testers and make the process a little smoother:

• Reach out to developer groups on Reddit/Discord
  Communities like r/FlutterDev, r/androiddev, or niche Discord servers often have devs willing to help out. Just be transparent and respectful when asking.
• Use Firebase App Distribution
  This is a great tool for sharing your app easily and collecting feedback — even if it won’t fulfill the Play Console requirement, it helps make sure your app is solid before you go hunting for testers.
• Ask friends, classmates, or colleagues
  Sometimes, all it takes is a WhatsApp message to people in your circle. If they have Android phones and Google accounts, you’re halfway there.
• Post on LinkedIn or Twitter (X)
  Mention you’re looking for testers for a new app. You’d be surprised how many in your extended network are willing to help.
• (Optional) Use paid tester platforms
  There are platforms where you can pay to get real testers (e.g. BetaFamily, Test IO). I haven’t personally tried this route yet — but it’s out there if you’re short on time or community.
• Join indie dev circles or Telegram groups
  Many regions have active tech Telegram groups — these are goldmines for finding supportive devs who’ve been through the same grind.

At the end of the day, yes — this is extra effort. But it’s part of the game now. If you’ve built something valuable, it’s worth that extra hustle to get it out there.

Conclusion

Deploying an Android app in 2025 isn’t what it used to be — especially for solo developers.

What was once a fairly straightforward process has now become a complex dance of policies, forms, and mandatory testers. And while I understand Google’s motivation behind these changes, it still feels like a heavy burden for indie devs who are building out of passion, not profit.

But here’s the thing — we don’t build because it’s easy.
We build because we love creating. Because we see a problem and want to solve it. Because we want to share something useful with the world.

So yes, the road is harder now. But it’s not impossible.
With the right support, the right community, and a little persistence, we can get through the red tape and ship great apps that actually help people.

If you’re going through this right now, you’re not alone.
And if you’ve already been through it and survived — hats off to you. ✌️

Let’s keep building. Let’s keep sharing.
And maybe, just maybe, let’s hope Google finds a better balance in the future for solo devs who just want to make cool stuff.

Until then, peace out, nerds. 👓