FAQ: Everything About Play Hero, Answered
From your first AAB upload to a live Play listing — what Play Hero does, what happens to your data, and when to let us publish for you. Fifty answers, no account needed to read them.
The Basics
1. What is Play Hero?
Play Hero turns your Android app into a submission-ready Google Play listing. From your app bundle, it pre-fills your Data Safety form, generates a privacy policy and store listing copy, and reframes your screenshots. You review everything before it goes anywhere.
2. Who is Play Hero for?
Indie developers, small studios, and anyone publishing an Android app to Google Play who would rather not spend hours on Play Console paperwork.
3. Do I need to be technical to use it?
No. If you can export your app as an AAB and upload it, you can use Play Hero. Everything it produces is written in plain language you can review and edit.
4. What do I get at the end?
A pre-filled Data Safety form (as a CSV), a hosted privacy policy, store listing copy, reframed screenshots, an app icon and feature graphic, plus a readiness score showing what is complete and what still needs your attention.
5. Does Play Hero publish my app for me?
Not by default. With the free self-serve option, you download your materials and submit them yourself. If you want us to handle publishing, there is an optional managed publishing tier — see the Managed Publishing section below.
6. Is Play Hero affiliated with Google?
No. Play Hero is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Google. Google Play and Play Console are trademarks of Google LLC.
Getting Started
7. What file do I need to upload?
An Android App Bundle (.aab) — the same format Google Play requires for new apps.
8. How do I export an AAB?
In Android Studio, go to Build > Generate Signed Bundle / APK, choose Android App Bundle, and follow the prompts. Most build tools (Gradle, Flutter, React Native CLIs) offer an equivalent bundle command.
9. Can I upload an APK instead?
Play Hero is built around AAB files. If you only have an APK, generate an AAB from your project first.
10. Do I need to create an account?
No. Analysis previews work without signing up. A free account saves your projects, keeps version history, and unlocks exports.
11. How long does the analysis take?
About a minute for most bundles — you get the full manifest picture (package ID, version codes, permissions, fingerprinted SDKs) with live progress while it runs.
12. Is there a file size limit?
150MB per upload. Files travel via direct upload or project storage depending on size, and larger bundles are supported — contact us if yours won't go through.
How the Analysis Works
13. What does Play Hero look at in my AAB?
It decodes your manifests for package name, version codes, SDK levels and declared permissions, fingerprints third-party SDKs from the file list, and resolves your app label — every finding carries its evidence string so you can verify it.
14. How accurate is the Data Safety form it generates?
It is a well-informed starting point, not a guarantee. An SDK's presence suggests a disclosure to check, not a fact to declare — Play Hero pre-fills what it can detect with confidence and flags the rest for your call.
15. What do the “your call” / review flags mean?
Some Data Safety answers cannot be determined from code alone, such as how you use collected data or whether you share it with a partner. Play Hero flags these instead of guessing, so you make the final decision.
16. Can Play Hero detect third-party SDKs?
Yes. It fingerprints common SDKs — Firebase, AdMob, Maps, payment and crash-reporting libraries — because they often collect data on your behalf, and each match shows the file-list evidence behind it.
17. What if my app collects data through a server, not the app itself?
Server-side behavior cannot be seen in an app bundle. Play Hero leans toward flagging these areas for review so you can answer them accurately.
18. What is the readiness score?
A 0–100 summary of how complete and submission-ready your materials are, with per-item checks (listing, privacy, screenshots, Data Safety) showing what still needs your input before you submit.
19. Can I re-run the analysis after updating my app?
Yes. Upload the new AAB — each upload gets an ID tied to its version code, so re-analysis never overwrites the old findings, and regenerating for the new version is free.
20. Does it work for apps built with Flutter, React Native, Unity, or other frameworks?
Play Hero works from the compiled AAB, so it can analyze apps built with common frameworks. Results may vary depending on how the framework packages its libraries.
The Data Safety Form
21. What is the Google Play Data Safety form?
A section of Play Console where you disclose what user data your app collects, why, and whether it is shared. Google requires it for apps on Play, and the information is shown on your store listing.
22. What format is the Data Safety output?
A validated Play CSV generated from your reviewed profile — tick and untick the suggested categories first, then generate and import.
23. How do I import the CSV into Play Console?
In Play Console, open your app's Data safety page and use the option to import answers from a CSV file. Then review each section before saving.
24. What happens if my Data Safety answers are wrong?
Permissions and SDKs in the binary that the form doesn't declare — location, contacts, advertising ID — are classic rejection triggers. That is why you review every row yourself instead of trusting confident guesses.
25. Who is responsible for the final answers?
You are. Play Hero helps you get there faster, but you are the app owner and the final submission is yours.
Privacy Policy and Store Listing
26. What kind of privacy policy does Play Hero generate?
A policy drafted from your actual data profile — what you collect, why, and who to contact — covering data types, purposes, and third-party services in clear language. You preview it exactly as it will look hosted, then edit the text.
27. Is the generated privacy policy legally binding or legal advice?
No. It is template assistance drafted from your data profile, not legal advice. Review it for accuracy and legal suitability for your jurisdiction before publishing — consider a lawyer for sensitive data or regulated markets.
28. Where do I host the privacy policy?
Google Play requires a live public URL. Play Hero publishes one for you in a click (a stable /privacy/ link you paste into Play Console's store settings and Data Safety section), or you can host the text on your own website.
29. Can I edit the generated policy?
Yes. Treat the output as an editable draft, adjust it to match your actual practices, and republish — the same hosted URL serves the updated version.
30. What is included in the store listing copy?
Short and full descriptions, feature bullets, release notes, promotional copy, screenshot captions, and keyword suggestions — drafted from what your app does, with Play's character limits enforced (short description caps at 80).
31. Will the copy work for keyword search (ASO)?
The copy is written to be clear and relevant, and keyword suggestions come with every draft. Refine further with your own keyword research for your niche.
32. Can I change the tone or style of the listing copy?
Yes. Every field is editable, with a live Play Store preview beside the editors so you can see the listing as shoppers will.
33. Does Play Hero support multiple languages?
English for now — both the tools and the documents they generate.
Screenshots
34. What does “reframing screenshots” mean?
Play Hero takes your raw app screenshots and places them into clean, store-ready frames with consistent sizing and layout, using pro templates.
35. What screenshot sizes does it produce?
Phone-first portrait templates (1080×1920). Every export is validated for dimensions and format before it is saved to your project.
36. Do I need to provide my own screenshots?
Yes. You upload real captures of your app — one or many at once — and Play Hero handles the framing, layout, and safe zones.
37. Can I add captions or text overlays?
Yes. Each template has editable headline and sub-text fields, plus controls for background, padding, device frame, and format — with a live preview as you edit.
Privacy and Security
38. Is my app bundle stored?
Raw AAB binaries are kept for 14 days for re-analysis, then auto-deleted. Your parsed analysis results and every generated file stay in your project history permanently.
39. Does Play Hero see or store my signing keys?
No. Play Hero analyzes the compiled bundle and never needs your signing keys — it does not ask for them.
40. Does Play Hero ask for my Google Play Console credentials?
No. Self-serve has no publish button at all — you always submit yourself. Managed publishing works purely through a Play Console invite you grant; we never ask for Google passwords or 2FA.
41. Who can access my uploaded files?
Files live under your private project and only your account can read them. Raw binaries expire after 14 days; support staff may access records only for operations and support.
42. Do you use my app or data to train AI models?
No. Your bundles and files are used to operate the service — they are not sold, and AI providers only receive the text needed for the generation you asked for. See our privacy policy for the full data-use terms.
Managed Publishing
43. What is managed publishing?
An optional tier where our team submits your materials to Google Play on your behalf — upload, testing tracks, production access requests, and review handling — so you don't go through Play Console yourself.
44. How is it different from the free self-serve option?
Self-serve gives you all the materials to review and submit on your own, free. Managed publishing adds hands-on submission: Tier A for organization accounts (review time only) and Tier B for personal accounts (includes the managed 14-day closed test with 12+ testers).
45. Do I still get to review everything first?
Yes. Nothing is submitted without your approval, and you track every stage — access, testing, review, live — from your order page.
46. What access do you need for managed publishing?
You invite playherolaunch@gmail.com via Play Console → Users and permissions, with scoped roles only (store presence, releases and testing tracks). We never get financial data, account settings, or the ability to remove users — and you revoke the invite once the app is live.
47. How much does managed publishing cost?
Per-tier pricing is on the pricing page and the managed publishing page. Personal costs more because Google requires 12+ testers for 14 consecutive days, covered via TestSlot.
Pricing and Support
48. Is Play Hero free?
Analysis and exports are free — no payment required to analyze your AAB and generate files. Managed publishing is the paid option.
49. Does using Play Hero guarantee my app will be approved?
No. Google makes the final decision on every app, and there are no approval guarantees. Play Hero helps you prepare complete, accurate materials, which reduces avoidable rejections.
50. How do I get help or report a problem?
Open the support chat at the bottom of every page — it reaches a human, and guests can use it too. Include a short description and, if relevant, your app name.
Still stuck?
Open the support chat at the bottom of any page, or dig into the guides and tools.
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