Android App Bundle (AAB)
Updraft supports Android App Bundle for app distribution.
The file format .aab is the new, official publishing format of Android with which your end-users can install your apps even more efficiently and user-friendly.
Android App Bundle - Updraft
The Google Play Store uses the app bundle file to generate and deliver optimized APKs for each device configuration, so that only the Android code and resources needed for a particular device of your end user is downloaded for them. Updraft is not able to provide this feature because we do not have a reliable way with Updraft app distribution tool to detect the hardware and device information of the end user's device that is required for generating an optimized a perfect APK file.
Updraft takes advantage of Android App Bundle features to generate Universal APKs files that contain all the data needed to install your Android apps on any device. This means that some Android App Bundle features cannot be fully supported by Updraft, such as Dynamic Delivery, which allows for smaller app sizes and feature-based delivery.
Updraft uses the Android App Bundle tool provided by Android when generating the .apk files from the uploaded .aab file.
Default Android App Bundle Settings
Per default the default android app bundle key settings are activated per app.
Deactivate Default Android Bundle Key
Per default the provided android bundle key from getupdraft.com is set. To deactivate it:
Go to the application settings of your app
Deactivate the AAB Default Key
Configuration Android App Bundle Settings
Add your aab Settings
First of all, you need to add you .aab settings.
Go to your app project
Select your android app
Head over to the application overview / application settings
Chose aab settings
Add all necessary information
Keystore: deployment keystore (.jks file) used to sign the APKs file
Keystore password: It's the password - can be added as plain text.
Keystore alias: It's the alias - can be added as plain text.
Key: Specifies the password for the signing key - can be added as plain text.
Upload your .aab file
As soon if you have added your .aab settings you can upload your .aab file. The upload is the same as for .apk or .ipa. You have the 3 options to upload the .aab file:
Just go to your builds / app version of your app and upload your .aab file manually
Use the Upload API
or you can use one of our CI plugins
Error with uploading aab. file
If you got an error while upload the .aab file please re-check your .aab settings on the application overview/ app settings page.
Download your .aab file
Once you have uploaded the .aab file, Updraft will convert your .aab file to an .apk using the Android App Bundle tool. So the download for your end users is exactly the same and does not need any additions.
You can always see in the build history that you initially uploaded an .aab file and you can even download it - we store it securely and encrypted in the cloud. This means you can also manage & version your .aab files with Updraft.
Resign .aab
When uploading an .aab file to Updraft, the file will be automatically re-signed with either the default key or your custom key specified by the developer. This process ensures that the app maintains its integrity and security, aligning with the key management practices established by the developer.
For more information check out the resigning .aab part:
Android ResigningLast updated
