Cannot upload app to Chrome Web Store - “This item

Question

I am constantly getting this error when uploading my app:

An error occurred: Failed to process your item.
This item is not an app, please remove app section from manifest.

This is the manifest file for my Chrome app (based on the Getting started - Hello World tutorial):

{
  "name":"App name",
  "description":"app description",
  "version":"1.0.4",
  "manifest_version":2,
  "app":{
  "background":{
    "scripts":["background.js"]
  }
  },
  "icons":{
  "16":"icon_16.png",
  "18":"icon_128.png"
  }
}

I tried to install my application locally through the Chrome extensions section and it works just fine. I can see it installed in the Apps section of Chrome.

However, when I try to publish the app by uploading the zip file to the Chrome Web Store, I see the previously mentioned error.

Answer 1

_{[For anyone landing on this page while facing the same error message]:}

The error mentioned above is a possible indication that you are trying to upload your Chrome App as an updated version of an already uploaded item that is not a Chrome App.

Answer 2

I faced this issue while creating an Google apps marketplace app. Following config works. Interestingly if you remove GOOGLE_DRIVE as one of the items from the container node. I get "This item is not an app" error. I also get the error when I add an app node (applicable only to Google apps marketplace app)

{
  "manifest_version": 2,
  "name": "name of the app",
  "short_name" : "short name",
  "version": "2.0.0.6",
  "api_console_project_id" : "your project id as string",
  "description" : "description",
  "container": ["DOMAIN_INSTALLABLE", "GOOGLE_DRIVE"],
  "icons" : {
    "96" : "icons/icon96x96.png",
    "16": "icons/icon16x16.png"
  }
}

Answer 3

It is also possible for the following situation:
You are developing spreadsheet or google-doc extensions, while you are trying to update your app with manifest file, which can only be used for chrome app. Once you uploaded manifest file and tried to publish you script, you will receive the alert.
The solution is to click "discard changes" in the left bottom of publish page, which keeps the file as script app.