Google Play promo video requirements and tips (2026)
How to add a promo video to your Google Play listing: YouTube link rules, privacy and ads settings, orientation, the feature graphic requirement, a 30-second script structure and when a video is worth it.
Key takeaways
- Add one direct, full YouTube video URL — no playlists, channels, shortened links or timecodes.
- The video must be public or unlisted, embeddable, not age-restricted, with ads and monetization turned off.
- A feature graphic is required for the video to show.
- Landscape and portrait are supported; show the real app within the first few seconds.
A promo video appears at the start of your listing’s media gallery. For visual apps and games, a short, well-made video can lift conversion because it shows the experience faster than screenshots. With Google Play leaning into video discovery in 2026 (Play Shorts), video is becoming more important — but a bad video can hurt more than no video at all.
Requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Source | A single YouTube video URL entered in Play Console (Main store listing → Graphics) |
| URL format | The full video link — not a playlist, channel, shortened link or URL with extra parameters like timecodes |
| Privacy | Public or unlisted (not private) |
| Embedding | Must be embeddable |
| Restrictions | Not age-restricted |
| Ads | Monetization and ads turned off; avoid copyrighted music that can trigger claims and ads |
| Feature graphic | Required for the video to be shown |
| Orientation | Landscape or portrait are supported |
A 30-second structure that works
| Time | What to show |
|---|---|
| 0–5 s | The core experience in action — no logo intro, no splash screen |
| 5–15 s | Two key benefits with short on-screen captions |
| 15–25 s | A differentiator or the “wow” moment |
| 25–30 s | The outcome the user gets; brand at the very end |
Many people watch without sound, so captions matter. Keep text large and on screen long enough to read.
- Record real app footage.
- Keep it short — around 30 seconds.
- Add captions for muted viewing.
- Localize captions for key markets.
- Start with a long logo animation.
- Use claimed music that brings ads.
- Show features the app doesn’t have.
- Upload a private or age-restricted video.
Is a video worth it for your app?
Videos help most when the experience is visual or hard to explain in stills: games, photo and video editors, fitness, music. For simple utilities, strong screenshots may convert just as well. If you’re unsure, add a video and compare conversion before and after — or test it with a store listing experiment.
+Where do I add a promo video?
In Play Console, open your Main store listing and add the YouTube URL in the Graphics section.
+Why isn’t my video showing?
Check that you have a feature graphic, that the video is public or unlisted and embeddable, not age-restricted, and that you used a direct video URL.
+How long should the video be?
Short. Around 30 seconds is enough for most apps; the first few seconds matter most.
Sources
Specifications and figures are as published by Google and the listed sources at the time of writing; check Play Console for the latest.
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