Language Support and the APK File

Oct 13, 2025 by pynkocean.com 88 views

When Publishing, 70+ Languages Are Shown as Supported but My App Only Has Two: A Guide to Understanding the Google Play Console

As a developer, you've likely encountered the Google Play Console's language support feature, which claims to support over 70 languages. However, when you publish your app, you're only seeing two languages supported, despite having multiple language folders in your project. This can be confusing and may lead you to wonder what's going on behind the scenes. In this article, we'll delve into the reasons behind this discrepancy and provide a step-by-step guide to help you understand and resolve this issue.

The Google Play Console's language support feature is designed to allow developers to reach a broader audience by making their apps available in multiple languages. However, this feature can be misleading, especially when you have multiple language folders in your project but only see two languages supported. To understand what's happening, let's take a closer look at how language support works in the Google Play Console.

Language Support and the APK File

When you build your app, the Android Gradle Plugin creates an APK file that contains all the necessary resources, including language-specific files. The APK file is then uploaded to the Google Play Console, where it's analyzed to determine which languages are supported. The console uses a combination of factors to determine language support, including:

Language folders: The presence of language-specific folders in your project, such as values and values-es for English and Spanish, respectively.
Resource files: The presence of language-specific resource files, such as strings.xml and strings.xml-es for English and Spanish, respectively.
Translation files: The presence of translation files, such as strings.xml with translated strings.

Why 70+ Languages Are Shown as Supported but My App Only Has Two

So, why does the Google Play Console show 70+ languages as supported when your app only has two? There are several reasons for this discrepancy:

Language codes: The Google Play Console uses language codes to determine language support. These codes are based on the ISO 639-1 standard and include codes for languages such as English (en), Spanish (es), and many others. However, not all language codes are supported by the console, which can lead to a discrepancy between the number of languages shown as supported and the actual number of languages supported by your app.
Language variants: The Google Play Console also supports language variants, which are variations of a language that use different scripts or character sets. For example, English (en) and English (en-US) are two different language variants. However, not all language variants are supported by the console, which can lead to a discrepancy between the number of languages shown as supported and the actual number of languages supported by your app.
Translation files: The presence of translation files can also contribute to the discrepancy between the number of languages shown as supported and the actual number of languages supported by your app. If you have translation files for multiple languages, but only one language folder, the console may show multiple languages as supported, even if your app only supports one language.

To resolve the issue of 70+ languages being shown as supported but your app only having two, follow these steps:

Step 1: Review Your Language Folders

Review your language folders to ensure that you have the correct language folders for your app. For example, if you have an English and Spanish version of your app, you should have values and values-es folders, respectively.

Step 2: Review Your Resource Files

Review your resource files to ensure that you have the correct resource files for your app. For example, if you have an English and Spanish version of your app, you should have strings.xml and strings.xml-es files, respectively.

Step 3: Review Your Translation Files

Review your translation files to ensure that you have the correct translation files for your app. For example, if you have an English and Spanish version of your app, you should have translation files for both languages.

Step 4: Update Your Android Gradle Plugin

Update your Android Gradle Plugin to the latest version to ensure that you have the latest language support features.

Step 5: Rebuild and Reupload Your App

Rebuild and reupload your app to the Google Play Console to ensure that the console has the latest language support information.

In conclusion, the Google Play Console's language support feature can be misleading, especially when you have multiple language folders in your project but only see two languages supported. By understanding how language support works in the Google Play Console and following the steps outlined in this article, you can resolve the issue of 70+ languages being shown as supported but your app only having two. Remember to review your language folders, resource files, and translation files, update your Android Gradle Plugin, and rebuild and reupload your app to ensure that the console has the latest language support information.

For more information on language support in the Google Play Console, refer to the following resources:

We've received many questions from developers regarding language support in the Google Play Console. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions and their answers.

Q: Why does the Google Play Console show 70+ languages as supported when my app only has two?

A: The Google Play Console uses a combination of factors to determine language support, including language folders, resource files, and translation files. However, not all language codes are supported by the console, and language variants can also contribute to the discrepancy between the number of languages shown as supported and the actual number of languages supported by your app.

Q: How do I ensure that my app is properly configured for language support?

A: To ensure that your app is properly configured for language support, review your language folders, resource files, and translation files to ensure that they are correct for your app. Update your Android Gradle Plugin to the latest version and rebuild and reupload your app to the Google Play Console.

Q: What are language variants, and how do they affect language support?

A: Language variants are variations of a language that use different scripts or character sets. For example, English (en) and English (en-US) are two different language variants. The Google Play Console supports language variants, but not all language variants are supported by the console. This can lead to a discrepancy between the number of languages shown as supported and the actual number of languages supported by your app.

Q: How do I add support for additional languages to my app?

A: To add support for additional languages to your app, create new language folders, resource files, and translation files for the additional languages. Update your Android Gradle Plugin to the latest version and rebuild and reupload your app to the Google Play Console.

Q: Can I use a single language folder for multiple languages?

A: No, you cannot use a single language folder for multiple languages. Each language requires its own language folder, resource files, and translation files. However, you can use a single set of resource files for multiple languages by using the @string notation to reference the resource files.

Q: How do I translate my app's resources for multiple languages?

A: To translate your app's resources for multiple languages, create translation files for each language. For example, if you have an English and Spanish version of your app, you would create strings.xml and strings.xml-es files, respectively. Update your Android Gradle Plugin to the latest version and rebuild and reupload your app to the Google Play Console.

Q: Can I use a third-party translation service to translate my app's resources?

A: Yes, you can use a third-party translation service to translate your app's resources. However, be sure to review the translation files carefully to ensure that they are accurate and complete.

Q: How do I test my app's language support?

A: To test your app's language support, use the Google Play Console's language testing feature to test your app in different languages. You can also use the Android Emulator to test your app in different languages.

In conclusion, language support in the Google Play Console can be complex and nuanced. By understanding how language support works and following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your app is properly configured for language support and that the Google Play Console accurately reflects the languages supported by your app. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us.

For more information on language support in the Google Play Console, refer to the following resources:

By following the steps outlined in this article and referring to the additional resources provided, you can ensure that your app is properly configured for language support and that the Google Play Console accurately reflects the languages supported by your app.