Generate apk or aab in android studio – An Android App Bundle (AAB) is a publishing format that includes all your app’s compiled code and resources, and defers APK generation and signing to Google Play. An AAB file is an Android App Bundle that developers use for uploading apps to Google Play. Also watch the video at the end of this article for illustration.

How to generate apk or aab in android studio

AAB files are not signed and cannot be installed on the device. The AAB file is an intermediate format that is used to upload your app to Google Play. The AAB file contains all the compiled code and resources for your app, along with any metadata that you provide.

When you build and package your app using Android Studio, you create a signed APK file with a digital signature, which cannot be altered without breaking the digital signature.

You must also generate an AAB file before uploading your app to Google Play or Samsung store. When you upload your app using the AAB uploader, the uploaded APK will be signed with a valid digital signature created by the user’s private key.

You can use this signed APK on devices that are compatible with Android 4.1 (API level 16) or higher by enabling installation from unknown sources in Settings > Security > Unknown Sources .

How to generate a signed apk or aab in android studio

The first goal that every android developer aims for is to run an app successfully on a mobile device without errors.

When a project is completed successfully, an android developer should be able to upload it to the Google Play Store and allow others to download it.

To ensure that your app is available in the google play store for download by others, it must follow some steps which we shall discuss here.

In this article, we shall discuss how to generate a signed apk or how to generate a signed aab for upload to the google play store.

What is a signed apk or aab?

A signed apk or aab is the apk file that has been digitally signed by google.

If we have an apk file, it means that it can be used to install on any android device but if we add a string in the signer app which is “Google Play Services” then the installation will fail.

A signed apk or aab is a requirement in the Google Play Store because it allows only authenticated developers to release or update applications. Without a key, you cannot place an app in the store.

You should note that once you release a signed application with a certain key, you cannot change the signature when creating an app update in the Google play store.

If you want to change the key in case the previous one is lost, you will need to write a request to [email protected] titled upload key reset and send them the new key.

How to generate a signed apk or aab in android studio

In order to generate a signed apk or aab for your project in Android Studio, we will need to discuss the steps needed.

Steps to generate a signed Aab/Apk

1. Click build, then generate signed bundle / apk

 

2. Ensure that the android app bundle is selected in the modal that pops up.

3. Click next

In the next screen, for the first time generating a signed aab file you will need to create new credentials else you will need to select existing ones

4. To create a new key store path, click create new and fill in the details in the modal that pops up and click “ok”

5. Click next

Confirm in the next modal by selecting release and click finish

7.Wait for Gradle to build and finish.

Once the build has finished, locate the file and the file generated is ready for uploading to the play store.

                  Watch Full Video Here

 

Conclusion

This article has discussed the steps needed for generating a signed apk or aab. It was discussed that once you release a signed application with a certain key, you cannot change the signature when creating an app update in the Google play store.