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Google Play Service Account Setup: JSON Key Guide

A Service Account in Google Play Console is a crucial tool for secure app management and ASO automation.
It enables safe automation of Google Play tasks without sharing developer login credentials, allowing services to manage app data strictly within assigned permissions and perform tasks that would otherwise take hours manually.

With it, you can:

  • automatically update app metadata and descriptions
  • manage reviews and ratings
  • retrieve analytics and reports
  • handle publishing and releases
  • scale ASO processes for multiple apps and accounts
    The Service Account ensures access control, security, and reliable automation - which is why it is the standard for professional ASO tools and teams.

Creating

Create or Select a Google Cloud Project

  1. Open the Google Cloud Console main dashboard.
  2. Click Select a project in the top bar.
  3. Choose one of the following:
    Create a new project, or Select an existing project.

Enable Google Play Developer API

  1. Open the Google Play Developer API page:
    https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/library/androidpublisher.googleapis.com
Поиск Google Play Developer API
  1. Make sure the correct project is selected.
  2. Click Enable.
Включение Google Play Developer API

Create a Service Account

  1. Go to IAM & Admin → Service Accounts in Google Cloud Console.
  2. Click Create Service Account.
  3. Fill in:
    • Service account name (for example: ASO.dev)
  4. Click Create and continue.
  5. Skip assigning roles at this step (permissions will be set in Google Play Console).
  6. Click Done.
Создание сервисного аккаунта
Google Play Service Account Roles

Create and Download the JSON Key

  1. In the Service Accounts list, find the newly created service account.
  2. Click Actions (⋮) → Manage keys.
  3. Click Add key → Create new key.
  4. Select JSON format.
  5. Click Create and download the file.
Создание сервисного аккаунта в JSON

Grant Access in Google Play Console

  1. Open the Google Play Console.
  2. Select Users & permissions.
  3. Click Invite new user.
  4. Enter the email address of the created service account (find it in Google Cloud Console on the Service Accounts page).
  5. Choose the apps you want to grant access to.
  6. Assign one of the following roles:
  • Release Manager, or
  • A custom role with the minimum required permissions:
    • Edit store listing
    • Pricing & distribution
    • Reply to reviews (optional, if review automation is needed)
  1. Click Invite user.
  2. Save changes.
  3. If prompted, accept the invitation.
Inviting a user in Google Play Console

Next Step

Upload the downloaded JSON key to ASO.dev to complete the integration and start automating your Google Play workflows.

Deletion

Disabling the service account

To disable (revoke access for) a service account, do the following:

  1. Open Google Play Console and go to Setup → API access.
  2. In the Service accounts section, find the service account you need.
  3. Click Revoke access next to it.
  4. Confirm the action in the dialog.
  5. Verify the account no longer has access (its status/access should show as revoked).
Disabling the service account

Deleting the service account key

If you need to delete a service account key, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Google Cloud Console.
  2. Go to IAM & Admin → Service Accounts.
  3. Find the required service account and click its name.
  4. Open the Keys tab.
  5. Find the key you want to delete and click Delete next to it.
  6. Confirm the deletion in the dialog.
Deleting the service account key