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App Submission FAQ

This page contains frequently asked questions (FAQ) about publishing apps to the Amazon Appstore.

Amazon Appstore general questions

Q: What can I do in the Amazon Developer Console?
Using the console, you can distribute your apps and games on Amazon Fire devices and on Android devices through the Amazon Appstore app for Android.
Q: How do I sign up for a developer account on Amazon?
On the Developer Console, click the Create your Amazon Developer account button. The console is a self-service tool that guides you through account creation. After creating an account and accepting the Amazon Developer Services Agreement, you can start submitting apps.
Q: How will customers find my apps on Amazon?
Users will be able to find your apps using features such as search, search refinement, browse, and recommendations based on customers’ past purchases. Customers can also search, browse, and purchase apps on Amazon websites in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, UK, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, India, Australia, and other countries. See Distribute Your App Internationally.
Q: Which mobile operating systems does Amazon support?
Amazon currently supports the Android operating system on devices running Android OS 5.0 and higher.
Q: How do I update my app that is already live on the Amazon Appstore?
Users with appropriate permissions can submit app updates and bug fixes through the Developer Console. See Update a Published App.
Q: What’s the difference between an order and a download?
An order is a successful app purchase per unique customer ID. Once a customer has ordered an app, they can download it one or more times to a device by using the Amazon client.
Q: I sell an app on Google Play. Can I submit the same app to the Amazon Appstore? What should I do to ensure the app works on Amazon?
Yes. Just make sure that your app does not include any copy protection functionality. For information about DRM, see Entering your app submission information section. Also, review the different signing options available to you (developer signed or Amazon signed) and choose the option that works best for your users.
Q: Where does Amazon sell mobile apps?
Amazon Appstore apps are currently available to customers in nearly 200 countries, including the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, India, South Africa, and more. Check the developer blog for more information on international availability.

Developer account and user permissions

Q: How do I contact Amazon if I have questions about my account?
Please use the Contact Us form.
Q: How do I change my contact information?
If you are the administrator of your Developer Console account, sign in to the console, click Settings, and then click Edit to edit your email address, account information, company profile, and user permissions. If you do not have administrator permissions, ask the account administrator to make the changes.
Q: How do I change the company name for my account?
To protect the security of your account, Amazon does not allow changes to your company name. You can request changes to your company name by using the Contact Us form.
Q: How do I change the information Amazon uses to pay me?
Only users with the administrator role can change payment information. In the Developer Console, click Settings, click Payment Information, and then click Edit. Make changes as necessary and then click Save.
Q: How do I add a user to my organization's developer account?
Only users with the administrator role can add users. For instructions, see User Permissions.
Q: What privileges does each user role have?
All users can manage their personal details, view their company’s profile, view their company’s apps, access Support, and initiate Contact Us inquiries with Amazon. See Setting User Permissions for the Amazon Appstore.
Q: How do I remove a user from my organization's developer account?
On the Developer Console, click Settings, click User Permissions, click Edit, and then click Remove access next to the user you’d like to remove. Click OK to confirm the action. Administrators cannot change the owner’s access.

Entering your app submission information

This set of questions discusses how to enter information into the App submission UI when submitting your app to the Amazon Appstore. For comprehensive instructions on filling out the UI, see Submitting Android Apps to the Amazon Appstore.

Q: Where can I get an overview of the app submission process?
For an overview of the app submission process, see Understanding Amazon Appstore Submission.
Q: Are there non-technical specifications that my assets must meet?
Yes. See the Amazon Appstore Content Policy.
Q: Can I use the words "Amazon," "Kindle," or "Fire" in the title of my app?
If you would like to refer to Amazon or any Amazon product or service (including Kindle or Fire) in the title of your app, refer to the Amazon Trademark, Brand, and Marketing Guidelines
Q: What assets do I need to submit an app? What specifications do these assets need to meet?
For details on the image assets required, see Images and videos.
Q: How do maturity ratings work for apps on Amazon?
When submitting an app in the Developer Console, you tell Amazon about your app's content in the Content Rating section of the Target Your App screen. Amazon will assign a summary maturity rating to your app based on the information you provide and on Amazon’s review of your submission, and then display that rating on the app detail page. Amazon reserves the right to assign maturity ratings for your app at its discretion.
Q: Can I apply DRM to my app?
Yes. To learn about the different DRM options available to you, see About DRM.
Q: How does Amazon prepare my APK for distribution?
Amazon wraps your APK with code that allows Amazon to enforce DRM (if applicable because you opted for it) and authenticate the IAP transactions to protect the developer’s revenue. See Understanding Amazon Appstore Submission.
Q: How do I add multiple binaries for device targeting to a new app?
For guidance on using multiple binaries for device targeting, see Device Targeting.

Testing your app

Q: Should I test my app before submitting to the Amazon Appstore?
Yes. To learn about the testing tools and services available from Amazon, see App testing tools and services.
Q: Why is my app tested on mobile Android devices or from non-U.S. locations?
Some aspects of app testing for the Amazon Appstore may be carried out internationally. The testing process includes testing on a variety of devices, including both Amazon devices and mobile Android devices, to verify that apps in the store function properly.

App approval process

Q: How can I ensure that the app I submit will be approved for the Amazon Appstore?
Amazon wants to ensure that apps listed in the Amazon Appstore meet certain quality requirements and tests all submitted apps to verify that they meet the following standards:
  • All apps work as outlined in their product description.
  • Apps do not impair the functionality of the mobile device.
  • Apps do not put customer data at risk once installed
  • All apps comply with the terms of the Amazon Developer Services Agreement and Amazon's Content Guidelines.

For more information about the app approval process, see Overview of the app approval process.

Q: Will Amazon tell me when my app is approved or if it fails testing?
Yes. You can track the approval status of your app by signing in to the Developer Console and finding your app in the Dashboard on the home page. Amazon will also send you an email when the submission status of your app changes under the following circumstances:
  • Your app has been accepted into the Amazon Appstore and will be made available on the date you specified in the console.
  • Amazon requires more information to complete the testing process. (Your app submission might be missing a critical asset or a critical asset might not meet Amazon’s specifications.) Amazon will provide you with details on the information or assets needed to resume testing.
  • Your app has failed Amazon's testing process. Amazon will provide you with details on the failure and guidance on resubmission.
Q: What are the status codes for apps that have been submitted to the Amazon Appstore?
For a list of application status codes and their descriptions, see App submission status reference.
Q: There is a review of my app that I feel is inappropriate. How can I resolve this?
Click the Report abuse link below the review. The information you submit will be reviewed by Amazon, and we will take appropriate action.
Q: Why didn’t my launcher, widget, or lockscreen app go live for Amazon devices?
Amazon seeks to preserve a consistent customer experience on Amazon devices. If your app overrides the native user experience, it will not be published on Amazon devices.
Q: Are there any specific restrictions that apply to keyboard apps?
Yes. Keyboard apps must function whether or not an end user's device is connected to the Internet. Any tracking of user activity (including keystroke logging) through a keyboard app must be clearly disclosed to end users and may be used only to provide or improve the app’s keyboard functionality (and not, for example, for advertising purposes).
Q: Can I cancel the review process after I submit an app?
Yes. If the app has a status of Submitted, you can cancel the request for review and continue to edit your app by clicking the Cancel review link. If the app has a status of Under Review, you can also choose to cancel the app review and re-start the submission process.

Device targeting

Q: What is device targeting?
Device targeting allows you to target specific devices with different versions of your app so that you can tailor your APK for variable features such as screen size and density, OpenGL compression format, and Android API level.  You may individually target Amazon devices with different APKs. All mobile Android devices, can be targeted by a single APK. For more information, see Device Filtering and Compatibility.
Q: How does device targeting help me?
Device targeting helps you easily optimize your app for different devices and creates a better customer experience for customers searching for apps for their devices. For additional benefits, see Device Filtering and Compatibility.
Q: How do I format versionCode and versionName for an app using device targeting?
  • For each APK in the app instance, specify the android:versionName string that you want the user to see for the APK.
  • Specify a different android:versionCode integer for each APK in the app instance.

  • For an app update, increase android:versionCode as required by the Android platform.

    For more information about versioning your apps, see Versioning your Applications in the Android documentation.

Q: Why are some devices on the Supported devices screen unable to be selected when I didn't exclude them?
Device support is determined by the attributes in your manifest and the countries you targeted on the Target Your App screen. To understand why a device isn't supported by your APK, move your mouse over the help icon next to the device name on the Supported devices screen. If you want to target a specific device, make sure you have selected the country it's available in, and your manifest has not filtered it out.

For details on how your manifest affects device compatibility, see Device Filtering and Compatibility and Manifest Filters Supported by the Amazon Appstore. For details on which Fire devices are available in which marketplaces, see Fire TV Availability in Marketplaces and Fire Tablet Availability in Marketplaces.

Q: How do I make my app available to devices that support only 64-bit apps?
Some devices no longer support 32-bit apps, including any 32-bit apps currently available on Amazon Appstore. Customers attempting to download a 32-bit app on one of these devices will receive a notification alerting them that the app is not compatible with system requirements.

To make your app available to customers using one of these devices, add 64-bit (arm64-v8a) support to your app and submit an update using the Amazon Developer Console. Do not remove support for 32-bit (armeabi-v7a) while building your app, as it may impact current Amazon device selection.

International distribution

Q: I already offer apps on Amazon. How can I make my apps available in all countries?
You can specify which countries to sell your apps in on the Target Your App screen during app submission. See Submitting Apps to the Amazon Appstore.
Q: What countries are eligible to shop for apps in the Amazon Appstore?
For a current list, see Countries & Territories Eligible to Shop for Apps.
Q: How does international pricing work?
Amazon uses the base list price that you set for your app in the Developer Console to calculate a list price in the currency of each marketplace.
Q: How do I change the list price of my app in an international marketplace?
Sign in to the Developer Console and select Apps & Services on the top navigation bar. Once there, select the app and then go to the Appstore Details screen. Edit list prices for each marketplace by selecting the radio button for I will set my own list prices. Selecting the button exposes the option to change the list price for each marketplace.
Q: How does Amazon split the revenue from international sales?
We’ll pay you royalties as set out in the Amazon Developer Services Agreement.
Q: Do I always get paid based on the marketplace list price?
List prices include any value-added tax (VAT) or similar taxes included in the purchase price, but the taxes are excluded from the list price for royalty calculation purposes. For example, if the list price for your app is 1.15 Euros, and the price we show buyers includes a 15% VAT, the list price for royalty calculation purposes is 1.00 Euro.
Q: How do I determine how much VAT was paid?
You can use your Sales Reports to calculate the VAT that was paid, per unit sold, when Amazon calculated your Gross Revenue.
  1. Look at the total revenue for an app that is not free.
  2. Take your total revenue and divide it by the units sold.
  3. Take your list price and subtract it from the number you found in step 2.

  4. This is the amount of money that was paid for VAT.

    Example:

    In one month, App X had 2,540 EUR in Gross Revenue through 1000 units sold. Take 2,540 (Gross Revenue) and divide it by 1,000 (units sold) for a total of 2.54 EUR in revenue per unit. If App X has a list price of 2.99 EUR, then the difference between the List Price and the revenue per unit is 0.45 EUR. Therefore, you have determined that 0.45 EUR is paid in VAT for every unit sold.

Q: The default language setting for apps is English. How do I change the product information language for my app for different countries?
To provide a localized description of your app, sign in to the Developer Console and select Apps & Services on the top navigation bar. Select an app, and then go to the App Details screen. In the Description section, click Add/Remove localization. To see a list of supported languages, see Localization options supported by the Appstore.

Promoting your app

Q: How do I market my app or game at Amazon?
Listing your app at Amazon exposes it to tens of millions of Amazon customers who can spread the word about your brands and products. Amazon’s automated and targeted marketing provides a unique and personalized experience for every Amazon customer. Algorithms use historical customer behavior to recommend products to each customer. Optimizing the marketing content that you provide to Amazon with your app submission will maximize your exposure.
Q: How do I ask for featured marketing placement?
Submit your app to the Appstore marketing team. The Appstore highlights apps through the storefronts on mobile devices, Fire tablets, and Amazon.com, and through marketing vehicles such as email, Facebook, and Twitter. Examples of featured placements include "Highly Rated Apps and Games" and "Featured New Releases." Your app will be considered for these placements. Your app may also be considered for seasonal placements, such as summer travel, back to school, or holiday apps.
Q: How do I link to/from my app for marketing purposes?
For linking instructions and brand, trademark, and marketing guidelines, see Trademark, Brand, and Marketing Guidelines.
Q: What are the requirements for promotional images?
Promotional images should be 1024 x 500 px and in PNG or JPG format. Consider using images that promote the essence of your app and brand. Text on your promotional image should be large, simple, and readable. Do not add the price to the image or any discount callouts, and do not submit screenshots as promotional art.

Amazon developer support

Q: Where can I find information about Amazon Developer Support?
The Amazon Developer Support team's focus is to help improve the experience of developers through the support options available in the developer portal. These options include FAQs for common help topics, a knowledge base for top-requested developer issues, developer forums, and the developer support Contact Us channel. Information about the types of issues raised by developers through the developer support channel and how those issues are resolved is available in the Amazon Developer Support Report.

Amazon Appstore agreements and policies

Q: Where can I see the Amazon Developer Services Agreement?
When you sign in to the Amazon developer portal, you will see a link to the agreement at the bottom of the page. Review the current version of the Amazon Developer Services Agreement.
Q: Where can I find out about recent changes to the Amazon Developer Services Agreement?
The most recent changes to the agreement are described here.
Q: How do I terminate my Amazon Developer Services Agreement?
Our goal is to establish long-term relationships with developers, and we encourage you to contact us before terminating your distribution agreement to see if we can improve your Amazon Appstore experience.

If you would like to terminate your distribution agreement, please send an email with your developer name, contact information, and a list of your apps to apps-notices@amazon.com with a carbon-copy (CC:) to contracts-legal@amazon.com. It can take up to 10 days from our receipt of your email for your account to be officially terminated.

All requests to terminate an Amazon Developer Services Agreement are final, and all sales of your applications on Amazon will be suspended. You will have limited access to the developer portal after your distribution agreement has been terminated.

Q: What agreements and policies must I comply with in order to participate in the Program?
In order to distribute apps through our Program, you are required to agree to and comply with the Amazon Developer Services Agreement. All content you make available through our Program must also comply with all applicable laws.

If you use any of the APIs, resources, tools or other materials we make available for developers on our portal, your use of those materials is governed by the Program Materials License Agreement. In addition, the use of certain APIs are subject to additional terms, as detailed in the relevant schedules of the Amazon Developer Services Agreement. Your use of the developer portal itself is governed by the Amazon Developer Services Portal Terms of Use.

We've made available certain Amazon trademarks and logos for your use to promote the availability of your app in our Program. Your use of those trademarks and logos must comply with our Trademark, Brand and Marketing Guidelines.

Finally, please carefully review these Policy Guidelines and ensure that the content you make available in our Program complies with these guidelines. You should also review all of our FAQs and the documentation for all APIs, resources, tools and other materials you use to understand additional requirements that may apply to you.

Q: Am I responsible for import and export compliance?
Yes. Many countries around the world, including the United States, the EU, and other countries in which Amazon has marketplaces, regulate the export and import of products, including the export of software that includes encryption. Depending on your location and your app, the submission of an app to Amazon may be an export from your home country or region, and the access or download of apps from Amazon by international customers may be an export subject to applicable export control laws. You are responsible for ensuring that your app complies with all applicable trade control laws and for all obligations under those laws, such as export classification, registration, reporting, and licensing. In particular, if your app makes use of encryption technology, you may be required to obtain an encryption registration before distributing your app through our Program. For more information about US import and export regulations, please refer to the US Bureau of Industry and Security's website.

Policy: Content Guidelines

Q: Do my apps need to comply with a content policy?
Yes. Each app that you submit to us must adhere to the following content guidelines. If we determine that an app contains, facilitates, or promotes content that is prohibited by these guidelines, we will reject the app submission or suspend further distribution of your app and notify you by using the email address associated with your developer account. See Amazon Appstore Content Policy.

For specific examples of expected app functionality, see our Test Criteria for Amazon Appstore Apps.

Q: Are there separate ratings criteria for apps published in the Brazil marketplace?
Yes. The Brazilian Ministry of Justice requires Amazon to display badging and ratings according to local laws for all apps published in the Brazilian store. Amazon assigns the rating for the Brazilian marketplace, where applicable, based on the information you provide to us during the regular app submission process.

Policy: Intellectual Property

Q: What restrictions apply to my distribution of apps that contain a third party's intellectual property?
Amazon cannot distribute apps that infringe the intellectual property rights (including copyright, trademark and publicity rights) of a third party. In general, this means that you should either have obtained a license or otherwise received permission from any third party whose intellectual property you wish to use in your app. You are ultimately responsible for ensuring that you hold all necessary intellectual property rights to distribute an app through Amazon. If you are unsure if you own all rights to the app, please consult an attorney.
Q: Does including a disclaimer in my app mean that I can use a third party's intellectual property without worrying about infringement?
No. Many developers believe that they may use copyrighted or trademarked content, or content that incorporates the name, image or likeness of a celebrity, without infringing upon the third party's intellectual property rights as long as they include a disclaimer stating that such use is unofficial or that they are not affiliated with the intellectual property owner. This is not the case – any unauthorized use of a third party's intellectual property, regardless of any disclosure or disclaimer, can constitute intellectual property infringement.
Q: What should I do if another developer is using my intellectual property without my authorization?
If you believe that an app on the Amazon Appstore contains content that is infringing your intellectual property, you can report it to Amazon using our online form.

Policy: Personal Information and COPPA

Q: My app collects personal information from end users. What requirements apply to the distribution of my app through the Program?
Your app must notify users and obtain their consent before collecting personal information. See Privacy and Security Policy for more details.
Q: The target audience for my app is children. What requirements must my app adhere to?
If the target audience for your app includes the age groups 0-12 or 13-15, depending on the countries where you distribute your app, you might need to adhere to Amazon child-directed app policies. See Child-Directed App (COPPA) Policy for details.

Last updated: Nov 05, 2024