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How to Download Your APK File from the Google Play Console

If you've published your app to the Google Play Store using an AAB (Android App Bundle) file, you can still download a signed APK version of your app directly from the Google Play Console.

Adalo Support is not able to assist in creating an APK file for your build, it must be done through the Google Developer Console.

Why Doesn’t Adalo Provide APK Files Anymore?

In August 2021, Google officially transitioned from APKs to AABs (Android App Bundles) for all new apps published to the Play Store. AAB is now the required format for distribution on Google Play.

Here’s why Google made this change:

  • Smaller download sizes: AABs allow Google to generate optimized APKs per device configuration.

  • Faster installs and updates for end users.

  • More secure: Google manages app signing and ensures the authenticity of each release.

Since Adalo builds are designed for Play Store distribution, all Android builds generated by Adalo are now AAB files, as required by Google. While these cannot be installed directly on a device, Google provides a way to generate and download APKs from your uploaded AAB.

Steps to Download a Signed APK from Your Google Play Listing

Once your AAB file has been uploaded to the Play Console and published or staged for release, follow these steps to download the APK:

  1. Go to the Google Play Console and sign in.

  2. From your dashboard, select your app from the list.

  3. On the left-hand menu or dashboard, click on “View Releases overview.”

  4. Find the version you want under Production, Testing, or Internal Testing, and click the little arrow or text that says “Release details.”

  5. Scroll down to the “App bundles” section in the middle of the screen.

  6. Click the arrow next to your AAB file to open bundle details.

  7. In the new screen, navigate to the “Downloads” tab.

  8. You’ll see multiple files listed, including:

    • Original App Bundle (AAB)

    • Signed Universal APK

    • Archived APK

  9. Click the download icon next to Signed Universal APK.

  10. The APK file will now download to your device.

  11. You can then sideload this APK directly onto an Android device for testing or distribution outside of Google Play.

The “Signed Universal APK” includes all configurations and is installable on most Android devices.

Help

If you need additional help accessing your APK file, please check out the Google Developer Doc | Inspect App Versions.

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