Building an Android App (Example)
In this post, we’ll walk through how to build and sign an Android app using Android Studio.
For simplicity, we’ll be using Android Studio throughout this example.
STEP 1: Generate a Signing Key
First, make sure you have Android Studio installed.
Then, open your project in Android Studio.
In the top menu bar, navigate to:
Build → Generate Signed App Bundle / APK…
STEP 2: Choose What to Build
A window will pop up asking what you want to build.
Choose one of the following:
- Android App Bundle (Recommended) — for publishing on the Google Play Store
- APK — for manual installation on devices
Then click Next.
STEP 3: Create a New Key Store
Next, you’ll see a form asking for your keystore and key information.
- Click Create new…
- In the New Key Store dialog, fill in the following details:
| Field | Description / Example |
|---|---|
| Key store path | Click the folder icon and choose where to save it (e.g. android/app/my-release-key.jks) |
| Password | Create a secure password (you’ll need this later) |
| Key alias | Example: my-key-alias
|
| Key password | Can be the same as the keystore password |
| Validity (years) | 25 or more (Google recommends at least 25) |
| Certificate fields | Fill in your name, organization, city, country, etc. |
Click OK to create the keystore.
STEP 4: Complete the Signing Setup
You’ll be redirected back to the Generate Signed App Bundle / APK window.
Now fill it out like this:
- Key store path: (auto-filled from the one you just created)
- Key store password: your password
- Key alias: your alias
- Key password: your alias password
Optionally, check Remember passwords for convenience.
Then click Next.
STEP 5: Build and Upload Your App
Now you’re ready to build your app!
You can build it directly from Android Studio or use VS Code (if you’ve configured Android builds there).
Once the build is complete, upload your generated App Bundle (.aab) or APK file to the Google Play Store.
That’s It!
You’ve successfully created and signed your Android app!
Thank you, and have a great day 😊
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