Set up a Google Play Service Account

For automated APK uploads to the Play Console, FlawDesk needs a Google service account with API access. The service account is account-wide — once created, it can manage any number of your apps.

Prerequisites

Owner or admin of a Google Play Developer account
At least one app in the Play Console (even an unreleased one is enough)

1. Create a service account in the Google Cloud Console

1. Open the Google Cloud Console 2. Select or create a project (e.g. "Play API") 3. APIs & Services -> Library -> search for Google Play Android Developer API -> Enable 4. IAM & Admin -> Service Accounts -> Create service account 5. Give it a name (e.g. flawdesk-play-publisher), Create and continue 6. Skip the role — permissions are granted in the Play Console 7. Done

2. Create a JSON key

1. Click the service account -> Keys tab 2. Add key -> Create new key -> JSON -> Create 3. The .json file is downloaded — you can only back it up this once

3. Grant permission in the Play Console

1. Open the Google Play Console 2. Users and permissions -> Invite new user 3. Paste the service account email (format: name@project-id.iam.gserviceaccount.com) 4. Select the app, permissions: Release Manager or Admin 5. Invite user

ℹ️ After inviting, it can take 5–10 minutes for the permission to become active in the Google API.

4. Upload the JSON to FlawDesk

1. Project -> ⚙️ -> Android tab -> Google Play service account section 2. Open the .json file, copy the contents, paste them -> Upload

FlawDesk does not store the JSON content on its servers — it is placed encrypted as a PLAY_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_JSON secret directly in your GitHub repo.

Common problems

"insufficient permissions" — the permission hasn't propagated yet. Wait 10 minutes.

"Package not found" — the app_id in FlawDesk doesn't match the Play Console package name, or the service account has no permission for that specific app.

Service account email not accepted — copy the email exactly from the Cloud Console (...@...iam.gserviceaccount.com).