Text Scratchpad PWA app Google Play Submission; App published on Play Store
Last updated on 31 Aug 2026
Quick Info
As most Android users would want to install the PWA app via Google Play Store, I created a TWA (Trusted Web Activity) Android bundle using PWABuilder and submitted it to Google Play Console.
Use 'Early Access' App by Installing from Google Play Store #
31 Aug 2026: This section is currently not relevant. As mentioned earlier, the app has got published on Play Store. However, I am retaining it for any future needs, say for updates to the app where I want users to contribute to 'Closed Testing'.
If you want to install the app via Play Store and then use it, you can still do so by following the steps given below.
- Using your Google id, visit my Google groups page for this Closed Testing work: https://groups.google.com/g/ravis-apptesters and click 'Join Group' button on it. You will get added to the Google group right away. But this change seems to take a few hours to get registered in Google Play. Note that this is required by Google for 'Early Access' apps.
- After a few hours, visit the Text Scratchpad Closed Testing app link from your Android mobile (where you are using same Google id added above): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.netlify.textscratchpad.twa.
- If your Google id addition to https://groups.google.com/g/ravis-apptesters has been noted by Google Play, you will be shown the Play Store screen for the Text Scratchpad app (as 'Early Access'). You can install the app and use it like any 'production' app.
- If your Google id addition to https://groups.google.com/g/ravis-apptesters has not yet been noted by Google Play, you will be shown a not found error screen. You have to wait for few hours more and try again.
- You could also contribute to help app pass Google 'production' review by providing feedback on the same Play Store page of the app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.netlify.textscratchpad.twa.
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Details
Project document: PWA-to-PlayStoreSubmission.md has some details of which a summary is provided below.
On 23 July 2026, I did the following:
- Packaging with PWABuilder
- Digital Asset Links (TWA Domain Verification)
- Google Play Console App Creation
- Mandatory Privacy Policy
- Google Play Console Submission for Closed Testing
- Post-Submission: Play App Signing & Verification
The following was done on 24 July 2026
- Noted Play Console warning about app targeting old API level 35 instead of new API level 36
- Using 'Testers Community' App's free community testing option to meet 12 testers requirement
- Around
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09:46, 24 July 2026
Using procedure followed in https://raviswdev.blogspot.com/2025/12/submission-of-timestamp-tracker-app-to.html to handle closed testing of Text Scratch Pad app.
Installed Testers Community app. Used dG Google login.
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Note prepared with Google Search AI help:
The Testers Community app requires an app icon. Transferring the icon file (.png) from my Windows 11 PC to an Android mobile turned out to be a tricky process. When transferred via WhatsApp or Google Keep, the file was visible within those apps but could not be downloaded directly to the device Gallery. I needed it in the Gallery so the Testers Community app's file picker could access it.
Uploading it as a document to WhatsApp Web initially didn't seem to help because the app's internal 3-dot menu only allowed forwarding or sharing, not saving directly to the system storage.
Following a troubleshooting session with Google Search AI, I tried using the destination app's built-in file picker to browse through 'My Files', but this offered a limited view of the filesystem. It had some Whatsapp documents and images folders but I could not locate the icon in them (probably because I did not drill down to Sent folder).
Finally, I opened the native 'My Files' app directly from the home screen and navigated to:Internal Storage > Android > media > com.whatsapp > WhatsApp > Media > WhatsApp Documents > Sent
Because I sent the file to myself from my PC, it was located in the 'Sent' folder (which Android automatically hides from the Gallery using a .nomedia restriction). I copied the .png file from there and pasted it into Internal Storage > Pictures. This instantly forced the Android Gallery to index it, allowing it to be easily selected via the Testers Community app file picker.
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Generic note added to Google Keep (under Reference):
Transferring Images/Icons from PC to Samsung M21 Mobile
## Method 1: Transferring Images via Gmail (Recommended & Fastest) (Ravi: Have not tested it)
Phase 1: Send from PC
1. Open Gmail in your PC browser and click Compose.
2. Address the email to your own email address.
3. Click the Paperclip icon (Attach files) at the bottom. (Do not use the "Insert photo" icon, as it can compress your image).
4. Select your .png or image file and click Send.
Phase 2: Download on Samsung M21
1. Open the Gmail app on your mobile and open the email you just sent to yourself.
2. On the image attachment card, tap the Download icon (down arrow).
3. Alternative: Tap the image to open it full screen, tap the three dots in the top right, and select Save.
Result: Gmail saves the file directly to your public Internal Storage > Downloads folder. The Samsung Gallery app indexes this folder automatically. The image will instantly appear in your Gallery under the "Downloads" album and will be immediately visible to all third-party app file pickers.
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## Method 2: Backup Option: Transferring Images/Icons from PC to Samsung Gallery via WhatsApp. (Ravi: This worked for me on 24 July 2026)
Phase 1: Send from PC
1. Open WhatsApp Web or the WhatsApp Desktop app on your PC.
2. Open your self-chat (or a chat you use for notes) and click the + (plus) attach icon.
3. Select Document (do not select Image, as it compresses the file and strips metadata).
4. Choose your .png or image file and send it.
Phase 2: Locate and Move on Samsung M21
Because you sent the file from your own linked PC, Android hides it inside a protected "Sent" folder that the Gallery app is forced to ignore. You must manually move it out:
1. Open the native My Files app on your Samsung M21.
2. Navigate to: Internal Storage > Android > media > com.whatsapp > WhatsApp > Media > WhatsApp Documents > Sent.
3. Long-press on your transferred image file to highlight it.
4. Tap Copy (or Move) at the bottom of the screen.
5. Tap the Back arrow until you return to the main Internal Storage menu.
6. Open the Pictures folder (or DCIM folder).
7. Tap Copy here (or Move here) at the bottom right.
Result: The Samsung Gallery app will instantly index the new file. It will now be universally visible inside the Gallery and accessible by any third-party app file picker.
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11:54, 27 July 2026
Testers Community app got stuck at 11 testers.
Noted that its approach has changed. Some pack has to be opted in, after 100 points, to cross 11 testers. There also seem to be lot of rules related to that. Giving it a quick shot to see if I can get bumped to 12 testers.
I increased my credit to over 100 points (moons) but I did not see an option to change my app to 'pack. So I deleted the app from Testers Community and tried to add it again but this time with the intention of choosing 'pack' under community testing (if that were shown to me as now I have over 100 credits). But I was told that I have to wait 96 hours before adding the app again.
Now till try out https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.codignia.apphive (mentioned in my TT submission post). It had complicated procedure including an assurance to test other apps in the 'hive' every day for 14 days. Backed out of that. I think Testers community may have similar procedure for 'pack' in which I case I can go for non-pack community testing after 96 hours which may bump my testers from 11 to 12 and get me past the starting point. Uninstalled App Hive.
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20:08, 27 July 2026
Now trying out: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nadeemgs.testerscommunity (app is called 12 Testers and NOT testerscommunity which is another app)
Had to add two google group email ids. Submit for review ...
Later could not add app till I accumulated 100 points.
Trying to install first set of apps failed after Google PLay showed me their page!
But an app lower down in the list did get installed. used it and gained 20 points ....
Was able to test 4 other apps and got total of 100 points.
Then was able to add app. It now shows in the app listing at the top. This was little before 21:11, 27 July 2026
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11:50, 28 July 2026
GPC shows that I have met req. of "Have at least 12 testers opted-in to your closed test"
12 Testers app shows 3 testers for my app. That would have taken me beyond 12 testers.
It took quite some hours after app was added to 12 Testers listing for app testers figure to go up from 0. Even when I checked late night yesterday including short period after 12 midnight, it was 0. But around 10 AM today, it had touched 3 testers.
12 Testers app itself as well as some of the apps I tested from its list, had lot of ads including video ads for which one has to wait till it finishes (like YouTube video ads). So in this aspect, it is poorer UX wise than Testers Community app that used earlier for Text Scratch Pad app.
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10:53, 29 July 2026
GPC shows: 12 testers have currently been opted in for 1 day
20:00, 29 July 2026
I tried adding TSP app again to Testers Community app. Did not choose pack to avoid commitments and chose community or whatever it is called (60 points). It went through and added it to the list of apps even though it has been surely less than 96 hours since I removed the app from the list (more like btw 48 and 72 hours, I think).
The 12 Testers app still shows only 3 testers.
20:06, 29 July 2026 - Within perhaps less than half an hour or perhaps even less than 15 minutes, 2 testers are shown to have joined the test in Testers Community app. Also I see a new review in GPC @ 29 Jul 2026, 19:59. This must be from one of the testers in Testers Community app. I think this shows that Testers Community app is significantly better than 12 Testers app, even though 12 Testers app helped me move from 11 testers to 12 and above testers.
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11:45, 04 August 2026
TSP on GP: 12 testers have currently been opted in for 7 days continuously
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11:48, 05 August 2026
TSP on GP: 12 testers have currently been opted in for 8 days continuously
Added TSP again to Testers Community App library. It got accepted without warning about 96 hours or whatever wait period.
Next I tested one app to bump my points to over 60. After that I added TSP to Home page apps list under free Community testing.
It has got added and appears towards the top of the list. The Testers figure which earlier was frozen at 11, now 12:05, 05 August 2026, shows 0.
13:45, 05 August 2026 - 4 testers, and I have one new rating (4 star) with review comments by --snipped-- on 5 Aug 2026, 12:35: Simple, modern, intuitive. could use improvement: add confirmation to clearing the notes add a formation bar at the bottom. was weird not having bold, title, colors, etc. as a super super simple notes app, it's so simple to use, and adequate.
My response: Thanks for the review, --snip--! App has one use case only as mentioned in app desc.: "Draft text conveniently. Use one-tap copy to paste into small input box apps." We skip formatting (bold, colors) as that's not needed to copy-paste into apps like WhatsApp/Gemini. We skip clear confirm dialog for speed. Undo/Restore buttons fix accidental clears.
User responded with adding the following to his original review:
edit: if the intention was a bare simple, uncluttered, and stress-free note taker, it's perfect!
edit: if the intention was a bare simple, uncluttered, and stress-free note taker, it's perfect!
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My response: Edit: Thanks --- for the added edit.
Old ver.: Thanks for the review, ---! App has one use case only as mentioned in app desc.: "Draft text conveniently. Use one-tap copy to paste into small input box apps." We skip formatting (bold, colors) as that's not needed to copy-paste into apps like WhatsApp/Gemini....
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Note that GPC seems to only allow editing the earlier response and not sending a new response while retaining old response. Though it also has a history option which gives all messages.
Note that GPC seems to only allow editing the earlier response and not sending a new response while retaining old response. Though it also has a history option which gives all messages.
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I also got two new reviews both 5 stars, and Testers Community App showed 7 testers IIRC, as of 17:45 5 Aug. 2026.
12 Testers app is still showing only 4 testers.
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17:55, 13 Aug 2026
On 11 Aug 2026, I crossed the 14 day, 12 testers requirement and GPC allowed me to apply for production, which I did on same day at around 13:30. As of now, it is still under review.
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21:55, 17 August 2026
On 14 Aug 2026, 10:17, I got a mail from Google Play Support with subject as: 'More testing required to access Google Play production'. The main content of the mail was:
We reviewed your application, and determined that your app requires more testing before you can access production.
Possible reasons why your production access could not be granted include:
- Testers were not engaged with your app during your closed test
- You didn't follow testing best practices, which may include gathering and acting on user feedback through updates to your app
-- end of main content of Play Support mail --
My view of GPC Rejection
Google may have figured out (through some automated mechanism) that my community testing where testers would have done minimal testing of my app (like I did their apps), is not thorough testing.
I don't want to invest much time in this procedure for this free utility. I had added built-in cursor navigation buttons for easier mobile text editing and also updated app branding to Text Scratchpad: One-Tap Copy. Today I did a new build but with old signing key on PWABuilder which generated API 36 Android TWA bundle (first release built through PWABuilder was using API 35). I uploaded TWA bundle to Google Play Closed Testing track, which got published.
As of now, interestingly, the old testers still seem to have my app on their devices and so Play Console Dashboard states, '12 testers have currently been opted in for 3 days continuously'. If and when it becomes 14 days and I can apply for production again, I may do it just as a matter of routine.
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12:13, 26 August 2026
Testers Community - Perhaps 3 or 4 days back, I had removed app and then tried to add it again. It got blocked with some confusing error of app is already listed (which it was not as I had deleted it from that list (but kept it in App library)). But I think the 96 hours gap period before resubmission, which was not strictly enforced earlier, seems to have got enforced. Though I tried again a few times over past few days, the app failed to get added to list of apps in Home page. Today morning when I tried it went through. So looks like the 96 hours waiting period got over and so the app could be added again. I need to also mention that I tried removing from App library and adding it again. That did not help. Today when it went through, it was already in App library. So App library new addition was not the trigger - the 96 hours period having got over seems to have been the trigger.
15:37, 26 August 2026 - I got 3 additional comments (2 x 5 star, 1 x 2 star). Testers Community app shows 9 testers. These are all new testers I guess as count was 0 when I had added the app again earlier today.
GPC Dashboard is showing 12 days with at least 12 testers. I think I did not miss a single day since the app was rejected for Production access on 14 Aug. 10:17
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31 Aug 2026
On 25 Aug 2026, I Created new PWABuilder Android bundle with version code 3, submitted as new release to Play Console which got published in Closed Testing track
On 28 Aug 2026, I crossed the second round of 14 day, 12 testers requirement and GPC was allowing me to apply for production. I decided to apply right away.
The submission of application for production access, was done at 19:18, 28 Aug 2026.
On 30 Aug 2026, I created a new release for 'Internal testing' track using same release as in 'Closed Testing' track to remove notification-warning about updating target API level. Later, on same day, I saw a notification that a recent policy violation in my app had been addressed. Also the earlier red warning notification was gone.
On 31 Aug 2026, I received a mail sent at 05:44 (on 31 Aug 2026) from Google Play Support - "Congratulations! Your app has been granted Google Play production access".
On 31 Aug 2026 itself, I promoted latest Release in 'Closed testing - Alpha' track to Production and submitted changes for review. Production release got published within around 10 to 15 minutes - "Released on 31 Aug 2026, 10:49". The app was now live on Google Play Store at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.netlify.textscratchpad.twa.
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