Once you build an application, you can import it into an APK file by selecting Build > Build Bundle(s)/APK(s) > Build APK(s) in the Android Studio dashboard. These APK files are generated for testing purposes and can’t be uploaded to the Google Play Store for the public. Here are the two methods to generate APK files for an application: Once the code is finalized, the development team can use Android Studio to compile the developed application and put it into a container called APK.īased on the type of APK file required, the generation process may differ. How to Create an APK File?Īn Android app is created using Android Studio, which is the official development tool for Android. The user can also download the APK version and manually install the application using the package installer available on the Android device.

When a user installs an application from Google Play Store, the platform automatically installs the APK and acts as a package manager.īut because of the open nature of the ecosystem, developers also upload APKs on multiple other platforms, such as APKPure and APKMirror. Like APPX files in Windows 10 or package files on other platforms, APK files contain instructions to install the application and information about the package. One core use of APK files is allowing users to install apps on their Android phones. You can develop, test, and launch your desired Android application by creating the required APK file.Īn APK file has multiple use cases which may not be significant for the end users but are important for an Android developer and tester. Multiple files are combined to save space and make the APK files more portable.

Android studio build apk