How to Generate APK from AAB File Using Bundletool (Super Simple Guide)

Rajen Trivedi — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:19:33 +0000

Hey devs! 👋

We all know Google Play now prefers Android App Bundles (AAB) for publishing because they generate optimized APKs for each device.

But in real-world development, we often need a single APK for:

Testing on physical devices
Sharing with QA teams
Quick installs without Play Store

Here is the easiest and official way to convert your .aab file into an .apk using Google’s Bundletool.

🛠️ Step 1: Download Bundletool

Go to the official GitHub releases:
👉 https://github.com/google/bundletool/releases/latest
Download the latest file:

   bundletool-all-x.x.x.jar

Place the .jar file:

In the same folder as your .aab file OR
Remember its full path

⚙️ Step 2: Generate `.apks` File (Universal Mode)

Open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux) and run:

java -jar bundletool-all-1.18.3.jar build-apks --bundle=app-release.aab --output=myapp.apks --mode=universal

🔁 Replace:

bundletool-all-1.18.3.jar → your actual jar filename
app-release.aab → your AAB file path/name

📦 Output:

myapp.apks

By default, this is signed with a debug keystore.

📦 Step 3: Extract the APK

Rename the file:

   ren myapp.apks myapp.zip

Extract it using:

WinRAR
7-Zip
Default OS extractor

Inside, you’ll find:

   universal.apk

🎉 That’s your final APK!

You can rename it:

app-release.apk

🔐 Generate Signed APK (Recommended for QA)

If you want a release-signed APK, use your keystore:

java -jar bundletool-all-1.18.3.jar build-apks \
  --bundle=app-release.aab \
  --output=myapp.apks \
  --mode=universal \
  --ks=your-keystore.jks \
  --ks-key-alias=your_alias \
  --ks-pass=pass:your_keystore_password \
  --key-pass=pass:your_key_password

🧠 Common Tips & Troubleshooting

✅ Check Java installation:

  java -version

📁 Keep files in the same folder to avoid path issues
📦 Universal APK is larger (contains all device configs)
🚫 Not for Play Store — upload AAB only
❌ Error: Unable to access jarfile
- Check filename and path carefully

🏁 Conclusion

That’s it! 🎯

In less than 2 minutes, you can convert any .aab into an .apk using Bundletool — no GUI tools needed.

If you run into any issues, drop the error in the comments — happy to help! 😊

DEV Community: Rajen Trivedi