Set up a Firebase

Creating a Firebase account specifically for use with your Google Play Store console involves several steps. Here’s a detailed guide to help you set up a Firebase project, linking it to your Google Play Store account and configuring all necessary settings.

—

Step 1: Create a Google Account (If You Don’t Have One)

• Go to Google Account Creation Page
• Open your browser and visit [Create Google Account](https://accounts.google.com/signup).
• Fill Out Your Information
  • Enter your first name, last name, desired email address, and password. Follow the prompts to complete your account setup.
• Verify Your Account
  • Google may ask you to verify your phone number or provide additional information. Complete these steps to finalize your Google account.

—

Step 2: Create a Firebase Account

• Visit Firebase Console
• Open your browser and navigate to the [Firebase Console](https://console.firebase.google.com/).
• Sign In
  • Click on Sign in and use your Google account credentials to log in.
• Create a New Firebase Project
  • Once logged in, click on Add Project.
  • Enter Project Name: Name your project (e.g., “MyPlayStoreApp”).
  • Choose Google Analytics: You can enable or disable Google Analytics for your project. Enabling it allows you to track user interactions.
• If enabled, you may need to choose your Google Analytics account or create a new one.
• Click on Create Project:
  • After filling in the necessary information, click Create Project.
• Wait for the project to be set up, then click Continue to access the project dashboard.

—

Step 3: Add Your App to Firebase

• Select the Platform
  • In the Firebase project dashboard, you will see options to add platforms: iOS, Android, and Web.
  • Click on the Android icon to add an Android app.
• Register Your App
  • Enter Package Name: This is your app’s package name (e.g., com.example.myapp). This must match the package name defined in your Android app.
  • App Nickname: (Optional) You can provide a nickname for your app.
  • Debug Signing Certificate SHA-1: (Optional) For some features (like Google Sign-In), you may need to provide the SHA-1 certificate. You can skip this for now if you’re not using these features immediately.
  • Click Register App.
• Download the google-services.json File
  • After registering your app, download the google-services.json file.
  • Move this file to the android/app directory of your React Native or Android project.

—

Step 4: Link Firebase to Google Play Console

• Visit Google Play Console
  • Open your browser and navigate to the [Google Play Console](https://play.google.com/console/).
  • Sign in with the same Google account you used for Firebase.
• Create a New Application
  • Click on All Apps on the left sidebar.
  • Click on Create App.
  • Fill in the app details:
  • App Name: Enter the name of your app.
    • Default Language: Choose your app’s default language.
    • Application Type: Select whether your app is a game or an app.
  • Click Create.
• Set Up Your App
  • After creating your app, you’ll be taken to the app’s dashboard.
  • Complete the necessary information under Store Listing (description, screenshots, etc.).

—

Step 5: Test Your App with Firebase Test Lab

• Upload Your APK/AAB
  • In the Google Play Console, navigate to Release > Production.
  • Click on Create New Release.
  • Upload your signed APK or AAB file.
• Run Tests
• Before publishing, you can test your app using Firebase Test Lab.
• Go to the Test Lab section in the Firebase Console.
• Click Run a test and select the type of test (e.g., Robo Test or Instrumentation Test).4. Upload your APK/AAB file and select devices for testing.
• Start the test and monitor the results.

—

Step 7: Monitor and Maintain Your App

Once your app is live, continue to monitor it using Firebase Analytics, Crashlytics, and other Firebase tools for user engagement and app performance.

Set Up Firebase Crashlytics

• Install Crashlytics by running:
  
  XHTML

  npm install @react-native-firebase/crashlytics

  1	npm install @react-native-firebase/crashlytics

• Follow the configuration steps provided in the Firebase Console for Crashlytics.

—

Conclusion

You have now successfully created a Firebase account linked to your Google Play Console and set up a new project with all necessary configurations. You can use Firebase services to enhance your app and utilize the Google Play Console for distribution and monitoring. If you have further questions or need assistance with specific features, feel free to ask!