Submitting to the Facebook Application Directory
December 15, 2007
The Application Directory is just one of many ways of allowing Facebook users to discover your application. It is an official listing of applications created by Facebook and third party developers that can be found via every Facebook user’s Edit Applications screen. While it is a great opportunity to further promote your application, applications must be approved for inclusion in the Application Directory before they will appear here.
Before even considering adding your application to the Application Directory, it is very important that you thoroughly check your application for completion. According to the plentiful number of threads started on the Facebook Developer Forum, half-finished applications are constantly denied addition into the directory. As such, it is vital to clean up any loose ends prior to continuing.
Furthermore, unexpected server errors should not appear within the application. Facebook staff will not hesitate to deny an application addition to the directory if errors are encountered upon performing a check of it. With this in mind, it is recommended that your application error gracefully whenever possible, making use of the fb:error tag as necessary.
Once you’ve made the best application you can, it’s time to get started. Your application must have at least 5 users who have installed the application, as Facebook does not allow additions to the directory without this prerequisite being met. Most developers fulfill this request simply by requesting that development team members and/or friends install the application. If your application includes a built-in invite page, inviting some friends is a great way to get the ball rolling.
Because Facebook runs off many servers, data may not coincide immediately upon reaching the 5 user minimum. After giving the servers time to update, you can ensure that Facebook has recorded the 5 user minimum simply by checking the stats located along the right side of the Developers dashboard.
Once your application has met this prerequisite, head to the My Applications page. Beside each API key you have requested is a link labeled “Submit Application”. Clicking this link will proceed to the application submission form, which will allow you to request inclusion for your application in the directory.
The request form is very easy to fill out. The only information required includes an application name, support e-mail, application description, a logo, and an option to denote that the application is mobile-ready. The application name and support e-mail are copied from the details previously entered within your application’s settings. The description should be a condensed version of your application’s about page. In addition to appearing in the directory, this description is what is displayed within the “add application” and “application login” screens when users attempt to access your application for the first time. Finally, the logo specifies what is displayed to users within the Application Directory alongside your application’s description.
Once your application is submitted, Facebook can take anywhere from hours to two weeks to respond to your listing request. With regards to turnaround time, developers have unfortunately had a wide variety of results to date. As such, there is no guarantee how quickly an application will be approved or denied. However, the process listed here should assist in having your application promptly included in the directory.
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29 Responses to “Submitting to the Facebook Application Directory”
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Good job huggins great work your doing here
Good info, thankx!
I have something additional to add to this - mine was denied since I did not edit the settings and remove it from developer mode. Am I blind or is there nothing in the submission process indicating that you are required to do so.
Dan
You’re right that nothing explicitly states this, Dan. However, the point of submitting to the application directory is to target new users, while the point of using developer mode is to avoid new users from adding the application. In other words, the two points contradict each other, which I’m sure is the reason why your application was denied.
Are there any limitations on what language an application must be in? Could it for example be in german or french?
Because Facebook users are from all around the world and speak many languages, there are no limitations on what language an application can use.
Thank you for your answer!
Thank you for putting this vital info up on the web… Fingers crossed that FB approve our app soon as we have developed it for Valentines day!!!
Hi, do you know what browsers the app needs to work in? I assume Firefox, IE6 and 7… and Safari3?
Can you change your logo and app name once it has been submitted to the directory?
Thanks
@rich - While Facebook doesn’t specifically specify any browsers an app should or should not work with, I would make sure it works with Firefox, IE7, and perhaps Safari. I don’t mention IE6 here simply because if you log into Facebook with IE6, there is a message that Facebook provides recommending the user to upgrade their browser in order to view the website properly.
@m3ntat - Yes, you can change almost anything about the app once it has been submitted. It must simply continue to comply with Facebook’s TOS.
Is it possible to create a application using API ?
Yes Debug, the intention of the API is to create Facebook applications. Good luck!
hi Matt Huggins
there is no way to create application using API please confirm and let me know..
we can add the application in user account but we cant create application using API.
Sorry Debug, I’m afraid I don’t understand the problem you’re having. Feel free to send me an email through my contact page, and I’ll do my best to help you understand whatever it is you need.
Can any of you speak to this problem: We were developing our app under the name Relatively Me Test1. Last night we finished development and created a new app named Relatively Me. We tried to submit it, but we ran into the 5 user minimum problem. Since we had 5 users, we left last night figuring Facebook would update the counts overnight and we would be good to go this morning. Well, no luck. We have over 5 developers and over 5 users, but we still show zero in the count. How long does it take? Is there something I might be overlooking?
Hi, Matt.
I got here via the facebook developer’s forum. Thank you for posting this helpful guide!
Hi,
I have a applciation which is listed in the application directory. But it does not show up in “For The Web” group. Some other applications made it to that listing.
What is the criteria for being included in that list too. My application http://apps.facebook.com/peersgame/ is for the Web too.
Thanks,
Peers Game
hey matt.
we have just completed our application. and your numerous posts on the facebook forums have been very helpful.
i wanted to know if there is anyway i can get you and more people top review our application and get your feedback.
our application is called Awesomondo. you can check it out at http://apps.new.facebook.com/awesomondo
Please check it out and give us your feedback.
Thank you!
Hi my name is marshall I’m looking for a well beave
Hello webmaster
I would like to share with you a link to your site
write me here preonrelt@mail.ru
I have created application in Facebook. But stile its asking
“You need to have at least 5 users before you can submit your application.”
But in my friend list i am having morethan 5 friends, i cannt submit the application.
Please let me know, if you anyone knows.
Thanks for advacne, Vijay
Hello everyone,
I got an assignment concerning the developmment of a small application.I managed to do a quiz sort type and my friends used it and liked it.But the prob is that I cannot register it as an official one.How do I do so??PLEASE
Thanks.
great article, it really helps to understand the development process of a successful app, great to hear from someone who already did it.
hey, nice tut. i’ve followed all of the above and i can’t seem to find the submit link. Could you possibly provide a direct link please?
thanks and you could reply here or to the email address i provided in this form
ah actually nevermind i found it. They’ve put it at the top of the edit app page. its in grey writing as a small anchor link as well so hard to spot for anyone who missed it the url is http://www.facebook.com/developers/submitapp.php?app_id=YourAppIdNumberHere
After so many searches I found a good forum like this.
It is good new to me .facebook provide “facebook Application directory”. That is awesome !
We just added our new Facebook poker app: http://apps.facebook.com/uwinpoker/
Just need the required 10 monthly users to get listed in the Directory