If you are about to publish your first Android app, there is one screen in the Play Console that deserves more attention than it usually gets. It is the app signing setup, and unlike almost everything else in the publishing flow, the choice you make here is permanent. What app signing actually is Every Android app has to be signed before Google Play will accept it. The signature is what proves future updates came from the same source as the original. If the signature does not match, Play rejects the update. No override, no support ticket that fixes it. There are two keys in play. The upload key is what you use to sign builds before sending them to Play. The app signing key is what Google uses to re-sign your app before delivering it to users. With Play App Signing turned on, Google holds the app signing key and you only manage the upload key. Why the permanent part matters When you enroll in Play App Signing, the app signing key lives with Google for the life of that app.…