How to unpublish an app in Google Play Developer Console

Question

I've seen other posts asking the same question with answers that all refer to a giant button that says "Unpublish" on it, which is no longer there (at least as of 2016).

How do you really unpublish an app that is uploaded to the Google Play Developer Console?

score 420 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 11 '20 at 21:54

420

TL;DR: (As of September 2020) Open the Play Console. Select an app. Select Release > Setup >Advanced settings. On the App Availability tab, select Unpublish.

From https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9859350?hl=en&ref_topic=9872026:

When you unpublish an app, existing users can still use your app and receive app updates. Your app won’t be available for new users to find and download on Google Play.

Prerequisites

You have accepted the latest Developer Distribution Agreement.

Your app has no errors that need to be addressed, such as failing to fill in the content rating questionnaire or provide details about your app's target audience and content.

Managed publishing is not active for the app you want to unpublish.

To unpublish your app:

Open the Play Console. Select an app. Select Release > Setup > Advanced settings. On the App Availability tab, select Unpublish.

How to Disable `Managed publishing`

edited Sep 11 '20 at 21:54

technoplato

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answered Aug 02 '17 at 16:34

iCreateAwesome

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It's worth noting that you need to be the application owner (not a listed developer) *AND* the app needs to be set to Standard Publishing, and not Timed Publishing, otherwise 'Unpublish' will be greyed out. – Mike Oct 18 '17 at 09:05
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can you republish it after clicking unpublish??does it require approval again?? – Simon Ho Dec 13 '17 at 16:22
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@NateB How do you completely remove it (from the dashboard) ? – Meryan Feb 24 '18 at 07:35
It may take a while for the unpublishing to take effect – jcrs Mar 25 '18 at 20:52
This should not be so damn hard to find. No wonder there are so many abandoned apps still in the Play Store, people can't figure out how to unpublish them. – Victor Rendina May 11 '18 at 23:43
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Don't forget to scroll down a page and press "Publish update". – CoolMind Oct 26 '18 at 15:06

score 84 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 11 '17 at 08:28

In the current version of Google Play store Console as of(August 2017) here is the procedure of unpublishing your app.

Choose the app you wish to unpublish.
Go to Store presence > Pricing & distribution.
You will see "unpublish" button in the app availability section as shown below.

After clicking unpublish a dialog will popup confirm and save the changes.

McFizz · Answer 3 · 2021-05-04T18:57:38.623

There are two ways to delete an application you have uploaded from the Google Play Developer Console based off of the application's status within the Console. An app's status can be viewed from the "All Applications" tab listed in the furthest column. (See below)

If your app has not yet been published to the Google Play store (ie. Is still a draft):

Select your app from the list and at the top of the page, underneath your application name, it will say DRAFT in blue with the super low-profile option to delete it just to the right. Observe below:

Click that and you're done! Keep in mind: all of the work you have put into this application so far will be deleted from the Google Play Developer Console.

If your app has already been published and you want to remove it from the app store:

This method is similar, however it should be noted that it is not possible to permanently delete an app from your Developer Console once it has been published to the Play Store.

Select the application you would like to publish from the "All Applications" tab on the right of the screen
Below the title of the app, similar to how it was with the DRAFT application, there will be super low-profile text allowing you the option to unpublish your app from the Play Store. This process "may take a few hours to complete" as it is said by the Developer Console.

I hope this helps to answer some people's questions.

Note: It says "Delete" but they mean unpublish. – JohnyTex Jul 05 '16 at 22:13 — JohnyTex, Jul 05 '16 at 22:13

score 27 · Answer 4 · edited Dec 01 '19 at 10:13

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Go to your "play.google.com" dashboard
Select your app
In left menu item select "Store presence"
Then, select "Pricing & distribution"
Click "Unpublish" in "App Availability" section

edited Dec 01 '19 at 10:13

Mateusz Kraska

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answered Oct 27 '18 at 05:46

Raviteja V

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score 24 · Answer 5 · edited Dec 15 '16 at 08:14

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Click on Store Listing and then click on 'Unpublish App'.

edited Dec 15 '16 at 08:14

Shashanth

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answered Nov 29 '16 at 16:26

Varun

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If I unpublish, then later can i just publish again (same apk)? or i have to wait or rewrite all infos? – Magico Jan 27 '17 at 11:32
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You can publish again whenever you want. – Varun Jan 28 '17 at 14:21

score 15 · Answer 6 · answered Aug 29 '17 at 13:01

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Go to "Pricing & Distribution" and choose "Unpublish" option for "App Availability", please refer below youtube video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaH3X8ZD-l8

answered Aug 29 '17 at 13:01

Umang Joshi

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score 13 · Answer 7 · answered May 19 '17 at 01:03

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The new version is hard to find. Select the app, then look for "3 dot menu" in upper right corner.

answered May 19 '17 at 01:03

timh

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score 9 · Answer 8 · answered Oct 17 '21 at 15:18

If you are facing error during Unpublish the application in your Google Play Consol, just follow these 2 steps and its done.

The Error:

Solution:

1st step: On the left panel, click Publishing overview -> Manage, then change the Managed publishing status to Managed publishing off.

Example:

2nd step: Now goto Setup->Advanced Setting->App availability.

Now you can able to click the Unpublished option.

Example:

Thanks for reading.

score 5 · Answer 9 · answered Aug 10 '20 at 12:22

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As per new Interface follow these steps

Go to Google Play Developer Console
Select your app you want to un-publish
From the left Navigation Release >> Setup >> Advance Settings
In the App Availability Check on Unpublished Radio button

answered Aug 10 '20 at 12:22

Faizan Haidar Khan

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Actually because of Google Play Console beta update, this is the updated answer... Thanks. – allexiusw Sep 01 '20 at 18:10
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You are most welocme – Faizan Haidar Khan Sep 02 '20 at 06:37

score 2 · Answer 10 · edited Jan 08 '21 at 17:40

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As per recent version. You need to go advanced settings. In this section you will find the un-publish button.

edited Jan 08 '21 at 17:40

McFizz

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answered Jan 07 '21 at 18:07

Muradtheoz

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score 1 · Answer 11 · answered Apr 20 '17 at 19:11

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FYI, they've updated the Google Play developer page again. Now, at the far right, click the vertical ellipsis (like a colon with an extra dot in it). That now has the 'Unpublish App' option.

answered Apr 20 '17 at 19:11

Jim

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score 1 · Answer 12 · answered Jul 10 '20 at 08:28

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To unpublish your app on the Google Play store:

Go to https://market.android.com/publish/Home, and log in to your Google Play account.
Click on the application you want to delete.
Click on the Store Presence menu, and click the “Pricing and Distribution” item.
Click Unpublish

answered Jul 10 '20 at 08:28

Mahdi Bashirpour

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and is it deletable once we're in unpublished status? – gumuruh Jul 16 '20 at 14:02
We can't delete it yet unfortunately – Antony Jul 28 '20 at 07:58

How to unpublish an app in Google Play Developer Console

12 Answers12

Prerequisites

To unpublish your app:

How to Disable `Managed publishing`

Linked

How to unpublish an app in Google Play Developer Console

12 Answers12

Prerequisites

To unpublish your app:

How to Disable Managed publishing

Linked

How to Disable `Managed publishing`