How to set up a Google Play Store inbox in Front

Front integrates with Google Play Store to bring your app reviews directly into Front, where you can read and reply to each review. 

For every review, you’ll see:

• Star rating

• Message content

• App version

• Device type

You can add multiple Google Play Store inboxes for multiple apps. Follow the instructions below for each app separately, since you’ll need a unique app id from Google Play Store for each inbox.

You'll need the following to set up a Google Play Store inbox in Front:

• A Google Play Developer account. For information on developer accounts, read on here.

• An app you created and published in the Google Play Store. For more information on publishing on the Google Play Store, read on here.

Step 1

Click the gear icon on the top right of Front and select company, workspace, or personal settings in the left sidebar, depending on the space you’re working with.

Step 2

Click Inboxes in the left menu and create a new shared inbox or individual inbox.

Step 3

Click Channels in the left menu, then click the Connect a channel button.

Step 4

Select Google Play from the channels menu. Now, you’ll need to get some information from your Google Play Developer Console. Keep this Front screen open, as you'll come back to it after the next part.

Step 5

Log into your Google Play Developer Console, where you’ll need to create and configure a Service Account to use for the Front integration.

Step 6

Click on Settings in the left sidebar, select API Access, and click Choose a project to link.

Step 7

Agree to the Terms of Service.

Step 8

On the next page, click Create new Service Account and follow the instructions in the pop-up window.

Step 9

In the pop-up window, follow the link to the Google Cloud Platform.

Step 10

On the next screen, click Create Service Account.

Step 11

Name your service account something recognizable, such as "Front." Then click Create. You will then be able to grant your service account Owner rights by clicking Select a role, Project, and Owner. Your service account must be an Owner in order for the inbox to work properly in Front.

Step 12

Finally, click Done.

Step 13

Next, click on the Service Account you just created, then the Add key button, then Create new key. Choose a JSON key type, then click Create. A JSON key will be automatically downloaded during this step – be sure to save this file.

Step 14

Click the Grant Access button for the Service Account you just created.

Step 15

In the following screen, uncheck all of the permissions except for View app information and Reply to reviews.

Step 16

When both of these are checked, click Invite user in the bottom right corner.

Step 17

Now that you’ve configured your Google Play Service account, go back to Front and enter these details in the Google Play Store set up page where you left off:

• Your Google Play Store App ID in the Package Name field

• Upload the JSON key file you downloaded when you created your Service Account

Step 18

Choose the inbox that conversations will route to and click Save.

Step 19

Once done, return to your inbox view. You'll begin to see Google Play Store reviews arrive in Front. Front will automatically import reviews that have been posted to Google Play Store within the last 7 days.

You can click on reply to draft and send a response, which will post as a reply to the review in Google Play Store.

You can only respond once to each app review and can only update your reply if the same user submits a second app review.

Yes. Each message has a 3,000 character limit. 

This feature is available on all plans.