Transfer existing Android app to another developer account? - android

I'm currently working on an application for a small company I work for. I'm happy to, and the company has agreed, that they are happy for me to host the application under my own developer account for now.
If I do this, and later on we transfer the app to the companies own dev account (which I will get setup in the future), will users still receives updates as per normal? They should not have to uninstall and reinstall the app once it's live in the new dev account correct?
Thank you!

Here is new method to do this
Go to the Developer console
In the "Help & Feedback" > "Manage Your Apps" > "Transfer your application"
Follow the instructions and make sure you have the details from the suggested checklist available
Submit the form
You will receive instructions on what to do in about a day.
Once you submit the form you will see the below message:
Please note, we'll do our best to respond to your request within one business day. This depends heavily on the complexity of your app transfer request, and the completeness and accuracy of the information you've provided. We appreciate your patience while we process your request.
OLD METHOD:
You can transfer you app without loosing download count or rating.
The steps to transferring your app/game:
click: Developer Home > Help > Contact Support > Developers > Publishing and Distribution Issues
Fill out the form completely and accurately
Select “Transfer Applications to Another Account” from the Issue Type drop down
Submit Form
Check your E-Mail and reply with the requested information
Forward the E-Mail to the person accepting the app/game transfer and have them reply as requested
Wait for Google to wave their magic wand
Here is the link, Hope you find it useful.
http://phandroid.com/2012/06/21/getting-acquired-how-to-transfer-ownership-of-your-android-app-or-game/

For 2019, follow below steps:
Open Google Support Page.
Open Transfer apps to a different developer account form
Get target account Transaction Id from the Google Payments
In Google Payments, Select Activity from the side menu which is the first option. From the Activity list choose one of the activity and you will get the Transaction details from your right side where you can scroll and check TRANSACTION ID
Fill the Transfer apps to a different developer account form and google will review and transfer the app.
Notes: Google hasn't updated the steps based on new pay.google.com page.

For the most recent method for transferring your app, see this official guide, which is published by Google Play, and will hopefully remain up-to-date.

Update:
Now you can manage Owner and User Accounts:
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/2528691?hl=en
You can add users and grant them permissions to create/draft and publish apps.
So, Basically you ask the final owner create the publish account (as the owner). And only add you/developer (as a user) with proper permissions to upload and update app.

Related

Facebook social login for Android apps NOT on Google Play Store

We received the message below from FB regarding our Android app. Our app was originally on the PlayStore but is currently not approved / published. We are still using the Play Store link in the field > 'Android: Google Package Name'. Seems Google may have made a change & this link is no longer valid.
While we work on restoring PlayStore approval, the Android app is available as a direct download. We don't know how long this process will take. My question is, does FB support Android APKs that are not listed on the PlayStore? Is there a way to use a different link in the field > 'Android: Google Package Name'? Our Android users have used FB login to create accounts so we really need to keep this feature active. If anyone has any input here that would be great. cheers
Message from FB:
In order to keep our Facebook platform and community safe, we periodically review apps for compliance. We need the following action from you on your app, (), in order to approve your app’s continued operation on our platform.
URL(s) listed on your app dashboard settings could not be accessed for platform compliance review. Kindly make sure that the following field(s) on your app dashboard are working correctly:
Android: Google Package Name
The corresponding URL(s) should return a successful HTTP status code. You can verify this using the Sharing Debugger.
Sharing Debugger: https://developers.facebook.com/tools/debug/sharing/
Compliant response codes: 200-299
Violating response codes: 100-199, 300-399, 400-499, 500-599
Please also allowlist the user agent strings or the IP addresses (more secure) used by the crawler. For detailed instructions, please visit: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/sharing/webmasters/crawler.
For Google Package Name(s) and iPhone Store ID(s), please make sure that these are publicly available.
Kindly apply the requested changes to prevent your app from being restricted on our platform. You can check your app dashboard to verify if the violating fields are now compliant, otherwise you will receive an automated alert as soon as we've detected that the fields are compliant.
Thank you for your cooperation in our continued efforts to keep our platform safe.

How to fix "Issue: Violation of Families Policy Requirements"

I've tried to publish an app on Play store but it's rejected and I've received an email titled: "Issue: Violation of Families Policy Requirements"
And it also followed by: "Apps that contain elements that appeal to children must comply with all Families Policy Requirements. We found the following issue(s) with your app:
Eligibility Issue
<>
In order to review your app for “Designed for Families” eligibility, we will need you to provide a test login account. Please provide login credentials to the support team before you submit any updated version for another review (select “Test Login Needed” and include the test login account and password details in the open box field)."
I sent the test login account and password as requested, and I'm sure that my app doesn't violate Families Policy Requirements that includes these items:
https://play.google.com/about/families/children-and-families/families-policy/
I've received the same email several time without any further detailed information about this issue.
How can I contact Play_store to Know more about my Problem?
We had the exact same issue (see my comment under the question) and what eventually got us published was changing our "Target age group" configuration in Play Console (App Content -> Target audience and content -> Target age group) - we unchecked everything below 13-15. Not sure if you had those checked, but if you did, try unchecking them then resubmit the app.
I realize that we basically had to lie and are now maybe risking some penalty (getting removed from the Play Store?) but doing everything right got us nowhere, so we had to resort to this "cheating".
Not saying you should do what we did, just saying what worked for us. Do it at your own risk.
Google Play updated the Polices on regular bases here is the new Policy...
Families Policy Updations
Step 1: Login with google play account
Select Your App to Publish and select Release Management-->> App Release from left side corner as below..
Step 2 : Click on the App Content option and follow the screens
Question 1 : Click on Start option and Complete all the questions and submit as follow
answer the correct age group to which your app support.
Example : i selected 18 and Above
Question 2 : Does it appeal to children give your answer
Example : i selected NO because my app not appeal to children
Submit : Click on Next and finally Submit
Final Step Go Back and select your app which you want to update select Release Management>> App Release... now you wont find any error...
#Ambilpura
Check your privacy policy. I had also like this issue, then I provided privacy policy.
Add valid Privacy Url in App Content
and use This easy Privacy and Policy GENRATOR Click here
Here's the latest way to add test credentials in the Play Console:
Open Play Console and go to the App content page (Policy > App content).
Under "App access," select Start (or If you’ve previously added instructions for app access and you want to make changes, you’ll see and select Manage instead of Start.)
Click + Add new instructions and provide your access details.
Use the “Any other instructions” field to let us know if there’s anything special about your login mechanism, such as using a one-time password, multi-factor authentication, or logins with more than two fields. Then, press the "Apply" button.
Source: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9859455?visit_id=637584518828340026-1664302252&rd=1#app_access
Pay attention to "Blocking controls" under app-level on your admob page and check "Ad content rating".

App not setup: This app is still in development mode

I have followed the instructions here:
The developers of this app have not set up this app properly for Facebook Login?
Made my app public and the circle is green so the app is public.
But when I try to login, I go to the Facebook app, it asks me to login which I do and then I get this message:
App Not Setup: This app is still in development mode, and you don't have access to it. Switch to a registered test user or ask an app admin for permissions.
BTW: I am the admin
Any help is much appreciated. I am using SeattleClouds and this happens on both iOS and Android.
STEP 1:
In Settings -> Basic -> Contact Email. (Give your/any email)
STEP 2:
in 'App Review' Tab : change
Do you want to make this app and all its live features available to the general public? Yes
This is an answer I haven't seen much around (this it was in a comment somewhere) although yes taking the app off development mode will work this can be bad for security or really annoying if the app isn't ready yet but you need to submit the app for review on account of needing access to special permissions (e.g. user_birthday).
What I did instead to fix the error was go to https://developers.facebook.com/sa/apps/{appId}/roles/ or from the app dashboard click roles on the left side
Then add the user account(s) to either developer or tester. Developers will need to be verified by mobile and will get access to the app to make changes but a tester will only need to be verified by email (not sure if even this is necessary but it probably is) and will only be able to use the API instead of make changes to settings.
If the app is ready for the public, obviously just take the app off development mode.
Issue Log: App Not Setup. This app is still in development mode. and you dont have access to it. register test user or ask an app admin for permission
The app are not in Live Mode
You are not listed as admin or a tester in https://developers.facebook.com/app/yourapp
Your App Hashkey are not set. if Facebook app cant be on Live Mode you need a hashkey to test it. because the app are not yet Live. Facebook wont allow an access.
HOW TO CHANGE TO LIVE MODE
1. go to : https://developers.facebook.com
2. select your app on "My Apps" List
3. toggle the switch from OFF to ON
HOW TO ADD AS TEST OR ADMIN
1. go to : https://developers.facebook.com
2. select your app on "My Apps" List
3. go to : Roles > Roles > Press Add for example administrator
4. Search your new admin/tester Facebook account.
5. admin must enter facebook password to confirm.then submit
the new admin must go to developer.facebook page and accept the request
6. go to : https://developers.facebook.com
7. Profile > Requests > Confirm
8. Congratulation you have been assign as new Admin
HOW TO GET AND SET HASHKEY FOR DEVELOPMENT
as Refer to Facebook Login Documentation
https://developers.facebook.com/docs/android/getting-started/#create_hash
The most preferable solution by me is by code ( Troubleshooting Sample Apps )
it will print out the hash key. you can update it on
https://developers.facebook.com/apps/yourFacebookappID/settings/basic/
on Android > Key Hashes section
a step by step process on how to get the hashKey.
Firstly Add the code to any oncreate method
Run The app and Search the KeyHash at Logcat
step by step process on how Update on Facebook Developer.
Open Facebook Developer Page. You need access as to update the Facebook Developer page.https://developers.facebook.com
Follow the step as follow.
2021 UPDATE
I have done successfully Login with Facebook by doing below things. Now it is working fine.
As per described by George Mano
Visit Facebook Apps Page and select your application.
Go to Settings -> Basic.
Add a 1 Contact Email, 2 Privacy Policy URL, 3 User Data Deletion and choose 4 Category and Last 5. Live your application
The Privacy Policy URL should be a webpage where you have hosted the terms and conditions of your application and data used.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires developers to provide a way for people to request that their data be deleted. To be compliant with these requirements, you must provide either a data deletion request callback or instructions to inform people how to delete their data from your app or website
Toggle the button in the top of the screen, as seen below, in order to switch from Development to Live.
captain_a is right that your app needs to be public with a developer email address. But if you are still getting the error then make sure that your website is using an SSL certificate.
For more detailed information and workarounds please checkout my answer at Facebook app is Public, but gives error "App not setup" when logging in
I had the same problem and it took me around one hour to figure out where i went wrong only to note that i had used a wrong app id....just go to your code and used a correct id here
window.fbAsyncInit = function() {
FB.init({
appId : '1740077446229063',//your app id
cookie : true, // enable cookies to allow the server to access
// the session
xfbml : true, // parse social plugins on this page
version : 'v2.5' // use graph api version 2.5
});
2020 UPDATE
Visit https://developers.facebook.com/apps/ and select your application.
Go to Settings -> Basic. Add a Contact Email and a Privacy Policy URL. The Privacy Policy URL should be a webpage where you have hosted the terms and conditions of your application and data used.
Toggle the button in the top of the screen, as seen below, in order to switch from Development to Live.
I did what is written in this answer and still had the same problem, then I downloaded the facebook app, logged into my facebook admin account from my phone. TADAA! it worked.
When app is release some time that case
https://developers.facebook.com/apps/{$appid}/alerts/
"Your app has been placed into development mode due to an invalid Privacy Policy."
can change you app from release mode to development mode
so check the Privacy Policy
Go to Settings->Basic, on top you will find a Switch button which will say App is in development mode.
Click on in development switch button, it will ask you to make app live, and after providing all necessary things, it will become live.
Facebook and Instagram apis were perfectly working fine but they suddenly stopped working due to invalid privacy policy statement. Facebook deactivated api access.

Debug Android inapp billing using Eclipse

Now I managed to sign the apk (using Eclipse Android Tools) and adb install .. to the device for testing.
But this removed the debug function, e.g. "step over" which make problem tracing much more difficult.
Is it possible to debug the inapp billing using Eclipse?
Unfortunately I don't think there is any way to step debug, I have just been using print outputs. This is due to the fact that you have to sign your app with a release key in order for it to communicate properly with the billing service. Very annoying.
When you go through the in app billing documentation, you kinda realize that it can take substantial amount of time to understand this complex piece of technology. Most developers feel the need for a working HelloWorld, and then later play around with the builds.
I have uploaded 2 projects
The android sample project. You can download this project, and immediately run the sample. This will help you quickly debug/trace thru and figure out how the in app billing works.
A cleaned up project to help you integrate your app quickly. This can help like a library. Just integrate make your “purchase requests” on your “checkout” button action.
Mind you : I have not incorporated the security recommendations. Read android in app billing documentation. Until then you are on your own risk.
For 1
Download “http://www.4shared.com/file/f5wH3qke/InAppBilling1.html”
Create a new gmail account for all correspondence (Why, I will explain below)
Pay that 25$ and purchase a “Market Place” account.
Import the project to your eclipse environment
Create a signed application apk, File-Export-Select Your Project-Create OR Use keystore, it should be valid for 25 years from today.
Upload the signed apk to the market place as a “Draft Application”, DO NOT PUBLISH it.
For the uploaded apk, you need to add “In App Products”. You will find this link on the home page for your uploaded apk.
In Security.java dont forget to add your “public key” from your market place account “edit profile” page.
On the “In App Product List”, you need to add the following products one by one
The text below should used as “In app Product id”
sword_001 as Managed
potions_001 as Unmanaged
Title and Description dont matter (for testing purpose). Add what you need here.
Cost add 1$ (minimum)
Click auto fill
Save
Publish the in app project (dont get confused here, you only need to publish the in app product, NOT the APP)
In the test account, add your personal gmail id here. Now, this gmail account needs to be configured as your first gmail account on your phone.
Yes, this WONT work on your emulator
Now the sample app should work.
For 2
Download “http://www.4shared.com/file/h8YnJyf_/InAppBillingIntegration.html”
To integrate, in your calling activity initialize the checkout code
Handler handler = new Handler() ;
CheckoutPurchaseObserver checkout = new CheckoutPurchaseObserver(this, handler);
To send the checkout request for your product
checkout.sendCheckoutRequest(purchaseUri.toString(),null);
Important Note :
This purchaseUri is the “In-app Product ID” of your resource on the “market.android.com/publish-->Create New In-App Product” options. This string should be set as the “in app product” id.
That’s why the “id” is most important. The “In-App Product ID” is how you refer to that particular product.
Also, in Security.java dont forget to add your “public key” from your market place account “edit profile” page.**
Debugging Notes
LogCat will show all errors as InAppBilling tag
This project creates a shared_preferences named “inappbilling” And debug is set to true
The androidmanifest.xml may not be needed since this project does not
have a home screen.
Why do we need to create a new gmail account ?
Simple. The account you purchase your market place account for, cant be used for “testing” your in app billing. Since you cannot purchase products for yourself. And your primary account on your device should be set as a “test account” on the market place account. Chicken-Egg issue here. Hope its clear.
An interesting blog I came by “http://crazyviraj.blogspot.com/2011/06/some-notes-on-implementing-in-app.html“ (not mine).
In my app, I used the test product id, android.test.purchased, which will simulate the actual buying process (ie, will show the in app dialog and you'll be able to purchase and get a response that can be handled by your application). Using that product id, you can run the in app code on the device (unsigned) via eclipse over usb connection. You still might need to work around some things for testing (ie, account for the fact that you are using a testing product id and not your real id), but I found using that product ID did help me quite a bit.
See the testing section of the in app billing guide

Android sync adapter with appengine Google user accounts

I am implementing a sync adapter for my app to sync with an appengine backend. On appengine I am using the built in User api for authentication. There is a post HERE that tells how to do it, however the app is listed under the gmail account. Ideally my app would be listed in the accounts. I don't want to ask the user for username and password, just use the existing google account for authentication. Has anyone done this before??
Update:
I've been working on this and it looks like I could implement the AuthenticationService and store the users account name and leave the password as an empty string. In the getAuthToken() methods I should be able to simple return the google auth token. Will post once I get further along...
Perhaps you have misunderstood the Android account system. When you go to Settings -> Accounts & Sync and add a new account what you see then is a list of account types. Often there is a relationship between account types and apps, for example Facebook accounts are used together with Facebook. Normally you would add a new account type if you have a different backend system for handling authentication etc.
If I understand you correctly, you use Google accounts but want it to appear as your own account type. That sounds wrong to me. You'll end up reimplementing the Google account handling, with little value. I believe it is simpler for users if you simply piggyback on what Google provides you with. Your app / service / content provider can be seen when clicking on the account. For example, after installing "Tasks" by "Team Task" (disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with that company) they add "Sync Tasks" to the list of data & sync options.
But if you really want to create your own account type, follow the sample Sample Sync Adapter. Look for the Authenticator code and related resources (e.g., manifest, activity layout, etc.).
This is indeed possible and I have implemented this with success but be warned it is a bit of a headache.
There is an excellent tutorial available called writing-an-android-sync-provider-part-1
... don't forget to check the follow up in part 2
Beyond this there is also an example in the Android SDK samples called SampleSyncAdapter which was invaluable in my development.
With a little hard work and a lot of coffee you should be able to get this working ;)

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