Short answer

To publish a React Native Expo app on Google Play, build an .aab with eas build, then get it onto a closed testing track. eas submit uses internal testing by default, which doesn't count. New personal accounts need at least 12 testers opted in to the closed test for 14 days before applying for production.

To publish a React Native Expo app on Google Play from a new personal developer account, build an .aab with EAS Build, get it onto a closed testing track in Play Console, and keep at least 12 testers opted in for 14 days in a row before you apply for production. The catch for Expo developers: eas submit sends your build to the internal testing track by default, and internal testing doesn't satisfy that requirement.

Expo's documentation covers building and submitting well, but it doesn't mention the 12-tester rule at all. This guide fills that gap, step by step.

Step 1: build the AAB with eas build

Run eas build --platform android --profile production.…