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Google Play Console: App Permissions vs Account Permissions

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Letโ€™s break down the difference between App Permissions and Account Permissions in a simple, clear way:


๐Ÿ”‘ Key Difference

TypeScopeAffects
App PermissionsSpecific App(s) onlyControls what a user/group can do with a particular app
Account PermissionsEntire Play Console AccountControls what a user/group can do at the account-level (all apps, settings, finance, policy, etc.)

๐Ÿงฑ Think of It Like This:

  • App Permissions = “What can you do to a specific app?”
  • Account Permissions = “What can you do in the entire developer account or across all apps?”

๐Ÿ“ฆ 1. App Permissions (Granular, Per-App)

These permissions control what a user/group can do with individual apps.

For example, per app, you can grant permission to:

  • View app details
  • Edit production or testing tracks
  • Upload artifacts (like APK/AAB)
  • Edit store listing
  • Manage testers
  • View or respond to reviews

You can apply these permissions differently for each app in your account. So a group may have full access to App A, but read-only for App B.

๐Ÿ’ก These are useful when your organization has multiple apps and different teams working on each.


๐Ÿ›๏ธ 2. Account Permissions (Global or Admin-Level)

These are higher-level permissions that apply across your Play Console account, not tied to a specific app.

Examples:

  • Manage users & permissions (e.g., add/remove team members)
  • View financial reports and earnings
  • Manage policy status and appeals
  • Link Developer Account to payment profiles
  • Manage subscription & monetization settings globally

๐Ÿ’ก These are ideal for owners, finance teams, legal, admins, or SREs handling compliance and account-level ops.


๐Ÿ” Use Case Example

Letโ€™s say you’re managing a team of 3 groups:

Group NameApp PermissionsAccount Permissions
DevelopersFull access to App A & BNone
MarketingStore listing only for App BNone
Finance/AdminsNo app-level accessCan view earnings & manage users

๐ŸŽฏ Best Practices

  • โœ… Give developers mostly app permissions
  • โœ… Give legal/finance mostly account permissions
  • โœ… Only give account permission to trusted roles (Owners, Admins)
  • โœ… Use Groups to manage roles in bulk instead of assigning users individually
  • โœ… Audit permissions frequently to avoid accidental exposure of sensitive data

โš ๏ธ Important Note

Even if someone has App Permissions, they cannot manage other users unless they also have the “Account > Manage Users & Permissions” permission.


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