Publish Assistant (Browser Extension)

There are two ways to publish your app:

With the assistant (recommended)

A browser extension guides you on your computer through every step, opens the right page on Apple, Google and Firebase, and handles the technical parts. Ideal if you’re not familiar with the consoles.

Manually in the app wizard

You work through the steps yourself in the app. The path for anyone who already knows the consoles or prefers not to use a computer.

This page describes the assistant. The manual path is covered in the other publish chapters.

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What is the Publish Assistant?

The BLOCQ Publish Assistant is a free extension for Chrome or Edge. It runs in a side panel next to the relevant console and

• opens the exact page you need for the current step with one click,
• visually highlights the right buttons,
• transfers credentials and configuration files to BLOCQ encrypted,
• always shows where you are and what comes next.

You need no coding or technical knowledge.

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Requirements

• Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on a computer
• Your app is set up in BLOCQ and you have started the publishing process
• An Apple Developer Account (for iOS) and/or a Google Play Developer account (for Android)

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Step by step

1. Install the extension

   Install the BLOCQ Publish Assistant in your browser.

   BLOCQ Publish Assistant on the Chrome Web Store To the extension on the Chrome Web Store (works in Chrome and Edge).

2. Choose “On the computer with assistant” in the app

   Start publishing in the BLOCQ app. When asked how you’d like to set up the accounts, choose “On the computer with assistant”. The app then shows you a connection code.

3. Enter the code in the extension

   On your computer, open blocq.io/assist and follow the hint, or open the extension’s side panel directly. Enter the connection code from the app.

   You can close the app

   Once connected, your progress is saved. You can close the app in the meantime – the assistant continues on your computer, and once your build is ready it continues automatically. No new code needed.

4. Click through the steps

   The assistant now guides you through all setup steps – typically:

   • Set up Firebase (project, config files, Cloud APIs if needed)
   • Prepare store accounts (Apple App Store Connect, Google Play Console)
   • Add credentials (API key, service account)
   • Compliance (age rating, privacy details)

   For every step, the assistant opens the right page and tells you exactly what to do. Details you enter are transferred encrypted.

5. Wait for the build

   Once all details are transferred, BLOCQ builds your app. Depending on load, this can take from a few minutes to several hours. The assistant then continues automatically to the next step.

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After the build: Apple and Google separately

Once your build is ready, the assistant shows publishing in two separate sections:

Publish on Apple

Assign the build to your version, fill in the app review info (test login + contact), submit for review and choose the release option. After upload the build is first only in TestFlight – you do the submission in the App Store section. Apple then reviews – a first release can take several days up to one or two weeks.

Publish on Google Play

Download the AAB, upload it in the Play Console and submit for review. New personal accounts first go through closed testing (see note).

Organization account? Skip the testing steps

New personal Google Play accounts (created after Nov 13, 2023) must run a closed test with at least 12 testers over 14 consecutive days before publishing. Organization accounts are exempt – in the assistant you can skip these steps with “Done” or “Organization account – skip” and go straight to production.

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Privacy & security

On the console pages, the assistant only reads the current address (to recognize the right page) – browsing history and page content are not stored. Credential and configuration files are transferred encrypted only and used solely to set up and publish your app.

Details are in the privacy policy under “Browser Extension”.

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The same topics in detail

The assistant guides you through the same topics as the manual path. If you’d like to know more about a point:

Store Accounts Developer accounts and app listings on Apple and Google.

Credentials API key (.p8), issuer ID, key ID and service account JSON.

Firebase Setup Service account for automatic deployment (Firebase modules only).

Compliance Age rating, privacy labels and content rating.

Review & Submit Checklist, submit and store review status.