Cannot upload app to Chrome Web Store - "This item is not an app, please remove app section from manifest."

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.