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This guide covers the process of exporting a Defold project as an Android app.
Defold can generate both APK files for local device testing and Android App
Bundles for submission to the Google Play Store.
To start the export process, choose Project > Bundle > Android Application…
from the Defold menu bar. The Bundle Application window opens.
Figure 1. The Bundle Application window
Sign builds
If the Keystore and Keystore Password fields are empty, Defold
automatically generates a debug keystore file and uses it to sign the application.
Builds created with a debug keystore may be installed on local devices, but may
not be uploaded to the Google Play Store.
To create a build for upload to the Google Play Store, you can use Android
Studio to create a release keystore file.
To create a release keystore file for your app:
Launch Android Studio.
In the Welcome to Android Studio window, select Create New Project.
Select the No Activity template, and click Next.
In the Configure Your Project screen, click Finish to create the project.
After creating the keystore file, quit Android Studio and return to the Defold editor.
In the Bundle Application window, select the ... button next to the
Keystore field and select the newly created .keystore file.
Enter the keystore password in the Keystore Password field.
Configure build settings
Use the Bundle Application window to configure build settings. These settings
are different depending on whether it’s for testing on a local device or is a
final build for uploading to the Google Play Store.
To configure a build for testing on a local device:
In the Architectures section, select both 32-bit and 64-bit.
In the Bundle Format list, select APK.
In the Variant list, select Debug.
When Variant is set to Debug, Defold logs engine debug messages to
the device logcat. This is viewable in the logcat window
in Android Studio or with the logcat command in adb. For more information on
using adb to install APK files and view logcat output, see the
Android Debug Bridge page.
To configure a build for upload to the Google Play Store:
In the Architectures section, select both 32-bit and 64-bit.
In the Bundle Format list, select AAB.
In the Variant list, select Release.
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Last updated 2023-08-15 UTC.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2023-08-15 UTC."],[],[],null,["# Export Defold projects to Android\n\nThis guide covers the process of exporting a Defold project as an Android app.\nDefold can generate both APK files for local device testing and Android App\nBundles for submission to the Google Play Store.\n\nTo start the export process, choose **Project \\\u003e Bundle \\\u003e Android Application...**\nfrom the Defold menu bar. The **Bundle Application** window opens.\n**Figure 1.** The **Bundle Application** window\n\nSign builds\n-----------\n\nIf the **Keystore** and **Keystore Password** fields are empty, Defold\nautomatically generates a debug keystore file and uses it to sign the application.\nBuilds created with a debug keystore may be installed on local devices, but may\nnot be uploaded to the Google Play Store.\n\nTo create a build for upload to the Google Play Store, you can use Android\nStudio to create a release keystore file.\n\nTo create a release keystore file for your app:\n\n1. Launch Android Studio.\n2. In the **Welcome to Android Studio** window, select **Create New Project**.\n3. Select the **No Activity** template, and click **Next**.\n4. In the **Configure Your Project** screen, click **Finish** to create the project.\n5. Create a keystore file using the instructions at [Generate an upload key and keystore](/studio/publish/app-signing#generate-key).\n6. After creating the keystore file, quit Android Studio and return to the Defold editor.\n7. In the **Bundle Application** window, select the **...** button next to the **Keystore** field and select the newly created `.keystore` file.\n8. Enter the keystore password in the **Keystore Password** field.\n\n| **Caution:** When Defold updates to a new version, it generates a new debug keystore file. Before attempting to install a new build, uninstall any build generated using the previous debug keystore. If you don't follow this uninstall step, you'll get an `INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_INCONSISTENT_CERTIFICATES` error during installation.\n\nConfigure build settings\n------------------------\n\nUse the **Bundle Application** window to configure build settings. These settings\nare different depending on whether it's for testing on a local device or is a\nfinal build for uploading to the Google Play Store.\n\nTo configure a build for testing on a local device:\n\n- In the **Architectures** section, select both **32-bit** and **64-bit**.\n- In the **Bundle Format** list, select **APK**.\n- In the **Variant** list, select **Debug**.\n\nWhen **Variant** is set to **Debug** , Defold logs engine debug messages to\nthe device `logcat`. This is viewable in the [`logcat` window](/studio/debug/am-logcat)\nin Android Studio or with the `logcat` command in `adb`. For more information on\nusing `adb` to install APK files and view logcat output, see the\n[Android Debug Bridge](/studio/command-line/adb) page.\n\nTo configure a build for upload to the Google Play Store:\n\n- In the **Architectures** section, select both **32-bit** and **64-bit**.\n- In the **Bundle Format** list, select **AAB**.\n- In the **Variant** list, select **Release**."]]
