A limited distribution account in Android Developer Console is designed for students and hobbyists who want to distribute their apps to a small number of users. This account type is completely free. With this account, you can distribute your apps on up to 20 authorized devices.
Learn more about choosing the right distribution type for you
What you'll need to sign up for a limited distribution account
To successfully create a limited distribution account, you will need to provide the following:
- A Google Account: A Google Account is needed to create any type of account in Android Developer Console, including a limited distribution account
- 2-Step verification: You must have 2-Step verification turned on for the Google Account you use to sign in
- Google payments profile: You need to link a Google payments profile to your account. Limited distribution accounts use your payments profile so you can easily provide and manage your legal name and address
- Contact email address: This will only be used by Google to contact you if we need to, and won't be shown publicly
There are no additional verification requirements for limited distribution accounts. For example, you do not need to provide a government ID.
Restrictions on the package names you can register in limited distribution accounts
There are specific restrictions on the package names you can distribute using limited distribution accounts. You can only register new package names that have never been seen before on Android. If you attempt to register a package name that already exists on Android, you will receive an error and will not be able to register it. You'll need to choose a different package name.
Authorizing test devices
To distribute your package names on certified Android devices, you must first authorize the devices in Android Developer Console. You can have up to 20 authorized devices at any one time. Any devices not authorized won't be able to install or receive updates from apps that use your registered package names.
How to authorize a new device
Authorize devices on the Devices page in your Android Developer Console account.
- Add a friendly name: First, provide a device friendly name to help you identify the specific device in Android Developer Console (for example, "My Pixel 9"). This is just to help you identify the device in your account, and isn't shown publicly.
- Generate an authorization code: To authorize the device, you need to use the physical device to generate a unique authorization code.
- If you have access to the device: Scan the QR code provided in Android Developer Console directly with the device.
- If you don't have access to the device: Share the provided link with your contact. The link contains all of the information they need to generate the authorization code and share it with you. This link will include your developer name so that your contact can confirm that they know and trust you.
- Enter the authorization code: Once the authorization code is generated by the device, enter it into Android Developer Console, and select Add device.
Note: Shared authorization links expire in 7 days. If you or your contact do not generate and enter the code within this timeframe, you will need to start the process again and reshare a new link. When a user receives a request to authorize a device, this request will include your developer name, and the user will be asked to confirm that they personally know and trust you as a developer before the code is generated.
Removing devices
If you have added the maximum number of 20 devices to your Android Developer Console account, you will need to remove an existing device before you can add a new one. When you remove a device, it will no longer be able to install or receive updates from apps registered to your account. This action cannot be undone; to re-enable installs or updates, you would need to authorize the device again.
Related resources
For more detailed guidance on setting up your account and completing your verification, refer to the following resources: