How to publish Enterprise apps as Private Play Store apps directly from the MDM Console?

Description

MDM allows you to add enterprise apps as Private Play Store apps directly from the MDM server via Managed Google Play. This method does not require you to pay the fee to register with Google as a developer. When you publish a private app for the first time, Managed Google Play automatically creates a Play Developer account on behalf of your organization. Refer to this, to know more about publishing private apps in Google Play Store.
To manage multiple versions of private apps in Google Play Store, click here.

Publish Enterprise app as Private app in Google Play Store

Follow the steps mentioned below to publish an enterprise app as a private app:

1. Go to Device Mgmt -> App Repository -> Managed Google Play.
2. Click on Add Apps and select Google hosted apps.
3. Click the + button at the lower right to add a new app.
4. Add an app Title and click Upload APK to add the APK app package.
5. Click on Create.
6. After clicking Create, Google validates the app and publishes it to the organization. It might take up to 10 minutes.
7. After uploading the app, click Save & Sync.

The app will be added to the App Repository and can be distributed to the managed devices as explained here.

Note: The first time you publish a private app, you'll need to provide an email address to receive notifications from the Play Console about your apps and Google Play developer account.

Updating Private Apps

Private Apps can be upgraded to the latest version, by following the steps mentioned below:

1. Go to Device Mgmt -> App Repository -> Managed Google Play.
2. Click on Add Apps and select Google hosted apps.
3. Select the private app you want to edit.
4. Click Edit to upload a new APK.
5. Click Save & Sync.

The latest version of the App will be updated in the App Repository and it can be distributed to the groups/devices.

Edit Advanced App Details

To add a description and other advanced app details, or unpublish an app, you need to use the Google Play Console. You can access the Google Play Console from the Private apps feature:

1. Go to Device Mgmt -> App Repository -> Managed Google Play.
2. Click on Add Apps and select Google hosted apps.
3. Select the private app you want to edit.
4. Click on Make advanced edits.
5. You will be redirected to the Google Play Console.
6. Sign in to the Play Console using the same Google account used for publishing private apps.
7. Go to Grow -> Store presence -> Main store listing.
8. Make any edits and click Save & Sync.

Your Enterprise Private App is ready to be distributed to devices and groups.

Possible Error Message

1. Error Message: The package is already used by another application.

   Cause: If the app with a particular bundle identifier is already published from another developer account, it cannot be published again as a new app.

   Solution: If the app is published via another developer account, the developer should share it with the customer's organization. Kindly follow these steps.

2. Error Message: Can't publish. Try Again in few minutes.

   Cause: App update failed because only version name is increased and not version code. (or) Signature mismatch between the previous and current version.

   Solution: Update the version name and version code of the app and try uploading again.

3. Error Message: APK has been signed with a different certificate to previous APKs.

   Cause: The uploaded APK is signed with a different certificate than your previous APKs. The same certificate used in the existing APK must be applied.

   Solution: Ensure that the APK is signed with the same certificate as the existing APKs. Contact the developer to provide an APK with the correct signature.