diff --git a/config.go b/config.go
index d4d79dc4..1cd87d53 100755
--- a/config.go
+++ b/config.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ type Configs struct {
 	WhatsnewsDir      string          `env:"whatsnews_dir"`
 	MappingFile       string          `env:"mapping_file"`
 	ReleaseName       string          `env:"release_name"`
+	Status            string          `env:"status"`
 }
 
 // validate validates the Configs.
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index a93b03bd..87d4e0f2 100755
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ func uploadApplications(configs Configs, service *androidpublisher.Service, appE
 func updateTracks(configs Configs, service *androidpublisher.Service, appEdit *androidpublisher.AppEdit, versionCodes []int64) error {
 	editsTracksService := androidpublisher.NewEditsTracksService(service)
 
-	newRelease, err := createTrackRelease(configs.WhatsnewsDir, versionCodes, configs.UserFraction, configs.UpdatePriority, configs.ReleaseName)
+	newRelease, err := createTrackRelease(configs, versionCodes)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/publish.go b/publish.go
index a849ae6b..8653a314 100755
--- a/publish.go
+++ b/publish.go
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ import (
 const (
 	releaseStatusCompleted  = "completed"
 	releaseStatusInProgress = "inProgress"
+	releaseStatusDraft      = "draft"
+	releaseStatusHalted     = "halted"
 )
 
 // uploadExpansionFiles uploads the expansion files for given applications, like .obb files.
@@ -187,24 +189,27 @@ func readLocalisedRecentChanges(recentChangesDir string) (map[string]string, err
 }
 
 // createTrackRelease returns a release object with the given version codes and adds the listing information.
-func createTrackRelease(whatsNewsDir string, versionCodes googleapi.Int64s, userFraction float64, updatePriority int, releaseName string) (*androidpublisher.TrackRelease, error) {
-	status := releaseStatusFromConfig(userFraction)
-
+func createTrackRelease(config Configs, versionCodes googleapi.Int64s) (*androidpublisher.TrackRelease, error) {
 	newRelease := &androidpublisher.TrackRelease{
 		VersionCodes:        versionCodes,
-		Status:              status,
-		InAppUpdatePriority: int64(updatePriority),
+		Status:              config.Status,
+		InAppUpdatePriority: int64(config.UpdatePriority),
 	}
 	log.Infof("Release version codes are: %v", newRelease.VersionCodes)
-	if userFraction != 0 {
-		newRelease.UserFraction = userFraction
+
+	if newRelease.Status == "" {
+		newRelease.Status = releaseStatusFromConfig(config.UserFraction)
 	}
 
-	if releaseName != "" {
-		newRelease.Name = releaseName
+	if shouldApplyUserFraction(newRelease.Status) {
+		newRelease.UserFraction = config.UserFraction
 	}
 
-	if err := updateListing(whatsNewsDir, newRelease); err != nil {
+	if config.ReleaseName != "" {
+		newRelease.Name = config.ReleaseName
+	}
+
+	if err := updateListing(config.WhatsnewsDir, newRelease); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to update listing, reason: %v", err)
 	}
 
@@ -219,3 +224,7 @@ func releaseStatusFromConfig(userFraction float64) string {
 	}
 	return releaseStatusCompleted
 }
+
+func shouldApplyUserFraction(status string) bool {
+	return status == releaseStatusInProgress || status == releaseStatusHalted
+}
diff --git a/publish_test.go b/publish_test.go
index b4f600d5..e4ad600c 100644
--- a/publish_test.go
+++ b/publish_test.go
@@ -6,8 +6,74 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
 
+func Test_verifyStatusOfTheCreatedRelease(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name           string
+		config         Configs
+		expectedStatus string
+	}{
+		{
+			"Given the user fraction is equal to 0 and the status is not set when the release is created then expect the status to be COMPLETED",
+			Configs{UserFraction: 0}, releaseStatusCompleted,
+		},
+		{
+			"Given the user fraction is greather than 0 and the status is not set when the release is created then expect the status to be IN_PROGRESS",
+			Configs{UserFraction: 0.5}, releaseStatusInProgress,
+		},
+		{
+			"Given the status when the release is created then expect the status to be the same as in the config",
+			Configs{Status: releaseStatusDraft}, releaseStatusDraft,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			trackRelease, err := createTrackRelease(tt.config, []int64{})
+
+			assert.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectedStatus, trackRelease.Status)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func Test_verifyUserFractionOfTheCreatedRelease(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name                 string
+		config               Configs
+		expectedUserFraction float64
+	}{
+		{
+			"Given status is IN_PROGRESS and the user fraction is set when the release is created then expect the user fraction to be applied",
+			Configs{UserFraction: 1, Status: releaseStatusInProgress}, 1,
+		},
+		{
+			"Given status is HALTED and the user fraction is set when the release is created then expect the user fraction to be applied",
+			Configs{UserFraction: 1, Status: releaseStatusHalted}, 1,
+		},
+		{
+			"Given status is DRAFT and the user fraction is set when the release is created then expect the user fraction not to be applied",
+			Configs{UserFraction: 1, Status: releaseStatusDraft}, 0,
+		},
+		{
+			"Given status is COMPLETED and the user fraction is set when the release is created then expect the user fraction not to be applied",
+			Configs{UserFraction: 1, Status: releaseStatusCompleted}, 0,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			trackRelease, err := createTrackRelease(tt.config, []int64{})
+
+			assert.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectedUserFraction, trackRelease.UserFraction)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func Test_releaseStatusFromConfig(t *testing.T) {
 
 	tests := []struct {
diff --git a/step.yml b/step.yml
index 4a77d3aa..fa1ba7e1 100755
--- a/step.yml
+++ b/step.yml
@@ -117,8 +117,17 @@ inputs:
       title: User Fraction
       description: |-
         Portion of the users who should get the staged version of the app. Accepts values between 0.0 and 1.0 (exclusive-exclusive).
+        Only applies if `Status` is `inProgress` or `halted`.
+
         To release to all users, this input should not be defined (or should be blank).
       is_required: false
+  - status:
+    opts:
+      title: Status
+      description: |-
+        The status of a release.
+        For more information see here: https://developers.google.com/android-publisher/api-ref/rest/v3/edits.tracks#Status
+      is_required: false
   - release_name:
     opts:
       title: Name of the release