---
title: "How to Connect Your Google Developer Account to the Learndash App"
source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/software/learndash/connect-google-developer-account/"
description: "Introduction Connecting your Google Play Developer account to the Learndash App  lets you synchronize in-app products and submit your Android builds through our…"
vertical: "Software"
area: "LearnDash"
date: "2025-09-23"
last_modified: "2025-09-23"
---

# How to Connect Your Google Developer Account to the Learndash App

## **Introduction**

Connecting your Google Play Developer account to the **Learndash App**  lets you synchronize in-app products and submit your Android builds through our publishing service. In this tutorial, you’ll create a Google Cloud service account, enable the necessary API, grant Play Console permissions, and upload the credentials to your Learndash App plugin.

## **Creating your App**

1. Navigating [**Google Cloud Console**](https://play.google.com/console/), click on the Create App button.
2. Fill out the App name and Default language. Select App then select if it’s a Free or paid app.
3. Scroll down to tick the **Developer Program Policies** and US report laws options. Now, hit the **Create App button**.

## **Creating Your Google Cloud Project and Service Account**

4. Navigate to [**Google Cloud Console**](https://play.google.com/console/) and sign in with your Google account.
5. Click the project at the top and select **NEW PROJECT**.
6. Enter a **Project Name**, choose your **Organization** and **Location**, then click **Create**.
7. Ensure your new project is selected in the header dropdown.
8. From the sidebar, go to **APIs & Services > Enable API & Services.
9. Click the **Library**.
10. Search for **Google Play Android Developer API**.
11. Click **ENABLE**.
12. Click **APIs & Services > Credentials**, then click **Create Credentials > Service Account**.
13. Enter a **Service account name** (e.g., “Learndash App”) and click **Create and Continue**.
14. Under **Select a role**, choose **Basic > Owner.
15. Then click **Continue** and **Done**.
16. In the **Service Accounts** list, click the pencil icon next to your new account.
17. Go to the **Keys** tab.
18. Select **Add Key > Create New Key**.
19. Choose **JSON** and click **Create** the .json file downloads automatically. Store it securely (it can only be downloaded once).
20. Copy the **Service account email** from the list; you’ll use this in the Play Console.

## **Granting Play Console Permissions to the Service Account**

1. Navigate to [**Google Play Console**](https://play.google.com/console/) and Go to **Play Console Button**.
2. From the left sidebar, select **Users and permissions**.
3. Click **Invite new users**.
4. Paste the **Service account email** into the Email **address**.
5. Under **App permissions**, click **Add app**, select your app, and click **Apply**.
6. For full access, select **Admin** under **Account permissions** (or tick only the scopes you need), then click **Invite user**.
7. Confirm by clicking **Send invite** in the popup.
8. Verify the service account appears with status **Active** in your users list.

## **Uploading Your Service Account Key in your Learndash App**

1. In WordPress, go to **Learndash App > Configure > Android Settings**.
2. Click **Upload File**, select the downloaded .json key file, and click **Connect Account**.
3. A green **Connected** indicator confirms your Learndash App is now linked to your Google Developer account.

## **Setting Up Internal Testing for Your Android App**

### **Navigating to Internal Testing**

1. In the **Google Play Console**, go to your **Home** page and select your app.
2. From the sidebar, click **Testing > Internal testing**.
3. Click **Create new track** if you haven’t already, then:  
    
    - **Select testers** by adding email addresses or Google Groups.
    - **Provide a Feedback URL** or email address for testers to submit bug reports.
4. Click **Save**.

### **Creating a New Release**

1. Still under **Internal testing**, click **Create new release**.
2. Under **App signing**, click **Choose signing key**.
3. Select **Use Google-generated key**, then confirm.

Note: You’ll see a notification that your releases will be signed by Google Play.

### **Requesting an AAB Build** 

1. In WordPress, go to **Learndash App > Build**.
2. Click **Request Build**.
3. Tick **Android** as the platform and **Release App** as the build type.
4. Click **Next**, then **Send Build Request**.
5. Monitor your request under **Build History**, this usually completes in 5–10 minutes.

### **Uploading the AAB to the Play Console**

1. In the Play Console’s **Create release** screen, scroll to **App bundles** and click **Upload**.
2. Download the AAB from your **Build History** by clicking **Upload to Google Play Console** and selecting **Download build**.
3. Choose the downloaded **.aab** file (required for new submissions since August 2021).
4. Wait for the upload to complete.
5. This is how your uploaded App bundle will look.

### **Adding Release Notes and Completing Declarations**

1. Scroll down to **Release notes**, enter a brief description of changes or features.
2. Click **Next**.
3. If you encounter a metadata error, click **Complete declaration**.
4. On the **Advertising ID** page, answer **Yes** to “Does your app use advertising ID?” and click **Save**.

5. Return and click **Save** again to finalize the release.

## **Troubleshooting and FAQs**

**Q: Why can’t I download my JSON key again?  
 A: Google Cloud only allows one download per key. Create a new key if you’ve lost the file.

**Q: My service account invite isn’t accepted in Play Console.  
 A: Check that the email is correct, resend the invitation, and ensure Admin privileges in the Play Console.

**Q: Uploading the JSON file fails in WordPress.  
 A: Verify you’re using the correct .json key file, clear your browser cache, or try another browser.

**Q: I don’t see the Internal testing option.  
 A: Ensure you’ve created at least one release in the **Internal testing** track; then the option appears in the sidebar.