113 lines
4.1 KiB
Markdown
113 lines
4.1 KiB
Markdown
---
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id: signed-apk-android
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title: Generating Signed APK
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layout: docs
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category: Guides (Android)
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permalink: docs/signed-apk-android.html
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next: activityindicatorios
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---
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To distribute your Android application via [Google Play store](https://play.google.com/store), you'll need to generate a signed release APK. The [Signing Your Applications](https://developer.android.com/tools/publishing/app-signing.html) page on Android Developers documentation describes the topic in detail. This guide covers the process in brief, as well as lists the steps required to packaging the JavaScript bundle.
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### Generating a signing key
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You can generate a private signing key using `keytool`.
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$ keytool -genkey -v -keystore my-release-key.keystore -alias my-key-alias -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000
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This command prompts you for passwords for the keystore and key, and to provide the Distinguished Name fields for your key. It then generates the keystore as a file called `my-release-key.keystore`.
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The keystore contains a single key, valid for 10000 days. The alias is a name that you will use later when signing your app, so remember to take note of the alias.
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_Note: Remember to keep your keystore file private and never commit it to version control._
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### Setting up gradle variables
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1. Place the `my-release-key.keystore` file under the `android/app` directory in your project folder.
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2. Edit the file `~/.gradle/gradle.properties` and add the following (replace `*****` with the correct keystore password, alias and key password),
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```
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MYAPP_RELEASE_STORE_FILE=my-release-key.keystore
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MYAPP_RELEASE_KEY_ALIAS=my-key-alias
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MYAPP_RELEASE_STORE_PASSWORD=*****
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MYAPP_RELEASE_KEY_PASSWORD=*****
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```
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These are going to be global gradle variables, which we can later use in our gradle config to sign our app.
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_Note: Once you publish the app on the Play Store, you will need to republish your app under a different package name (loosing all downloads and ratings) if you want to change the signing key at any point. So backup your keystore and don't forget the passwords._
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### Adding signing config to your app's gradle config
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Edit the file `android/app/build.gradle` in your project folder and add the signing config,
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```
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...
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android {
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...
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defaultConfig { ... }
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signingConfigs {
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release {
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storeFile file(MYAPP_RELEASE_STORE_FILE)
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storePassword MYAPP_RELEASE_STORE_PASSWORD
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keyAlias MYAPP_RELEASE_KEY_ALIAS
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keyPassword MYAPP_RELEASE_KEY_PASSWORD
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}
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}
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buildTypes {
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release {
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...
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signingConfig signingConfigs.release
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}
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}
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}
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...
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```
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### Generating the release APK
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1. Start the packager by running `npm start` in your project folder
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2. In your project folder, run the following in a Terminal,
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```sh
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$ mkdir -p android/app/src/main/assets
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$ curl "http://localhost:8081/index.android.bundle?platform=android&dev=false&minify=true" -o "android/app/src/main/assets/index.android.bundle"
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$ cd android && ./gradlew assembleRelease
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```
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The generated APK can be found under `android/app/build/outputs/apk/app-release.apk`, and is ready to be distributed.
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### Testing the release build of your app
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Before uploading the release build to the Play Store, make sure you test it thoroughly. Install it on the device using:
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```sh
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$ cd android && ./gradlew installRelease
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```
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Note that `installRelease` is only available if you've set up signing as described above.
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You can kill any running packager instances, all your and framework JavaScript code is bundled in the APK's assets.
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### Enabling Proguard to reduce the size of the APK (optional)
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Proguard is a tool that can slightly reduce the size of the APK. It does this by stripping parts of the React Native Java bytecode (and its dependencies) that your app is not using.
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_**IMPORTANT**: Make sure to thoroughly test your app if you've enabled Proguard. Proguard often requires configuration specific to each native library you're using. See `app/proguard-rules.pro`._
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To enable Proguard, set `minifyEnabled` to `true`:
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```
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...
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android {
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...
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buildTypes {
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release {
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...
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minifyEnabled true
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}
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}
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}
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...
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```
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