developers.home-assistant/docs/android/tips/release.md

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Build for release	Build for release

:::warning Ensure the keystore is securely stored and not included in version control. It also applies for the credentials. :::

Building for release

To build the app for publishing, you need to sign it. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Create or use an existing keystore

Before building the app, you must have a keystore. You can either create a new one or use an existing keystore.

Creating a keystore

You can create a keystore directly from Android Studio:

1. Go to Menu > Build > Generate Signed APK.
2. Select the option to create a new keystore.
3. Remember the passwords and the key alias for future use.

Using an existing keystore

If you already have a keystore, ensure it is named release_keystore.keystore and placed in the following folders:

• app
• wear

Alternatively, you can specify a custom location by setting the KEYSTORE_PATH environment variable.

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Step 2: Build the app

You can build the app using either Android Studio or the command line (CLI).

From Android Studio

1. Open Android Studio.
2. Go to Menu > Build > Generate Signed APK.
3. Select the keystore you created or an existing one.
4. Follow the steps to build the app.

From the CLI

1. Set environment variables
   Define the following environment variables used in app/build.gradle.kts:

   • KEYSTORE_PASSWORD
   • KEYSTORE_ALIAS
   • KEYSTORE_ALIAS_PASSWORD
   • KEYSTORE_PATH (if your keystore is located in a custom location)

2. Build the app
   To build the APK, run:

   ./gradlew assembleRelease # To build all the apps
   # OR
   ./gradlew :<GRADLE_MODULE>:assembleRelease # To build a specific module, such as :app, :automotive, or :wear
   

   To build the AAB, run:

   ./gradlew bundleRelease # To build all the apps
   # OR
   ./gradlew :<GRADLE_MODULE>:bundleRelease # To build a specific module, such as :app, :automotive, or :wear