Create Application
Updated: Mar 3, 2026
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Before you can upload your game, configure settings, or submit for review, you need to create a Facebook application on the App Dashboard.
This guide walks you through the process of creating a new application and adding the Instant Games product to it.
Prerequisites
- A personal Facebook account. This account will become the administrator of your application.
- You should be a member of (or have applied to) the Approved Partner Program. You can create your application before being approved, but your game cannot go live until you are accepted.
Step 1: Access the app dashboard
Go to developers.facebook.com and log in with your Facebook account.
If this is your first time visiting the Facebook for Developers site, you may be prompted to register as a Facebook developer. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete registration. This is a one-time process.
Once logged in, click My Apps in the top navigation bar to access the App Dashboard, or go directly to developers.facebook.com/apps.
Step 2: Create a new app
- Click the Create App button on the App Dashboard.
- Select a use case for your app. Choose “Gaming” or “Launch a game on Facebook”, depending on what options are presented. Selecting a gaming use case configures your application with the correct settings for Instant Games.
- Click Next to proceed.
Note: If you do not see a Gaming-specific option, you can create a standard app and add the Instant Games product manually in a later step. However, selecting the Gaming use case from the start is recommended because it pre-configures several settings for you.
Step 3: Configure basic settings
On the next screen, you will be asked to provide the following basic information:
App name
Enter the name of your game. This is the name that will appear in the App Dashboard and in internal contexts. It does not have to match the display name shown to players (which you can set separately in Instant Games settings), but using a consistent name is recommended for clarity.
Guidelines for the app name:
- Choose a name that is unique and clearly identifies your game.
- Avoid generic names that could be confused with other apps.
- Do not include “Facebook,” “FB,” “Meta,” or other Facebook trademarks in the name.
- The name must comply with Facebook Platform Policies.
App contact email
Enter an email address where Facebook can reach you regarding your application. This email is used for:
- Review status notifications
- Policy violation alerts
- Platform updates and announcements
Use an email address that you actively monitor. If you are part of a team, consider using a shared email address so that notifications reach the right people.
Business account (optional)
If you have a Meta Business Suite account, you can optionally associate your app with it. This is useful for managing multiple apps, adding team members, and accessing advanced business features. If you are an individual developer, you can skip this for now and add a business account later.
Step 4: Create the App
Click Create App to finalize the creation. You may be prompted to complete a security check (CAPTCHA). After completing it, you will be taken to your new app’s dashboard.
At this point, your application has been created, but it does not yet have the Instant Games product added. The next step is to add it.
Step 5: Add the Instant Games product
From your app’s dashboard:
- In the left sidebar, click Add Product (or look for a “Products” section with an Add or Set Up option).
- Find Instant Games in the list of available products.
- Click Set Up next to Instant Games.
This adds the Instant Games product to your application and creates a new section in the left sidebar where you can configure your game’s settings.
What does adding the Instant Games product do? Adding the Instant Games product tells Facebook that this application is an Instant Game and unlocks the configuration options you need: bundle uploads, game settings, review submission, analytics, and more.
Step 6: Configure the app icon
While you are on the App Dashboard, set your app icon:
- Go to Settings > Basic in the left sidebar.
- Upload an App Icon. This icon is displayed in the App Dashboard and in some developer-facing contexts. It should be a square image, at least 1024x1024 pixels, in PNG or JPG format.
Note: This app icon is separate from the game icon that players see. The player-facing game icon is configured in the Instant Games settings, which is covered in Game Setup.
Step 7: Set App Category
Still in Settings > Basic:
- Scroll down to find the Category field.
- Select “Games” as the category.
- Optionally, select a sub-category that best describes your game (e.g., Puzzle, Action, Strategy).
- Click Save Changes.
The approved partner program
The Approved Partner Program is a requirement for launching Instant Games on Facebook. It is separate from the app creation process, but you should be aware of it early because approval can take time.
What is it?
The Approved Partner Program is an application process through which Facebook vets developers who want to publish Instant Games. It ensures that developers on the platform are committed to building high-quality games and complying with Facebook’s policies.
How to apply
See the Approved Partner Program guide for application steps. You will submit the application in the App Dashboard and be asked to provide:
- Information about your company or development team.
- Your experience with game development.
- Details about the game(s) you plan to publish.
- Links to any existing games or portfolio items.
When to apply
Apply as early as possible — ideally while your game is still in development. The review process can take one to four weeks, and your game cannot go live until you are accepted. By applying early, you can work on development and the partner program approval in parallel.
What happens after approval
Once approved, you can submit your game for the remaining reviews (App Review and Quality Review) and ultimately launch it on the platform. Your Approved Partner status applies to your developer account and covers all apps you create, not just a single game.
App roles and team members
If you are working with a team, you can add other people to your app with specific roles:
- Go to App Roles in the left sidebar of your App Dashboard.
- Click Add People and search for team members by name or email.
- Assign them a role:
| Role | Permissions |
|---|---|
Administrator | Full access to all settings, including the ability to add/remove other admins. |
Developer | Access to most settings, including uploading bundles and viewing analytics. Cannot manage roles. |
Tester | Can test the game in development mode. Cannot modify settings or upload bundles. |
Adding team members as testers is essential for development because only users with a role on the app can access the game while it is in development mode (before it passes review and goes live).
What is Development Mode?
When you first create your app, it is in Development Mode. This means:
- Only users with a role on the app (admins, developers, testers) can access it.
- The game does not appear in any public discovery surfaces.
- You can freely upload bundles, test features, and make changes without affecting real players.
- Some features (such as ads and payments) may behave differently in development mode.
Your app remains in development mode until it passes all required reviews and you explicitly switch it to live mode. See Game Launch for details on going live.
Next steps
Now that your application is created and the Instant Games product has been added, proceed to:
- Game Setup — Configure your game’s assets, metadata, and Instant Games settings.
- Upload Bundle — Upload your game’s code and assets as a bundle.