How to Upload Apps Larger Than 100 MB on Google Play Store
Google Play Store is the official app store for Android devices, where users can download and install millions of apps and games. However, Google Play Store has a size limit for apps, which means that developers cannot upload apps larger than a certain threshold. This limit can be a challenge for some apps that need more space for high-fidelity graphics, media files, or other large assets.
Fortunately, there are ways to overcome this limit and upload apps larger than 100 MB on Google Play Store. In this article, we will explain what is the Google Play Store APK size limit and why it exists, what are Android App Bundles and APK Expansion Files and how they work, how to choose between them, and how to upload your app using either option. By the end of this article, you will be able to upload your app on Google Play Store without worrying about the size limit.
google play store apk size limit
What is the Google Play Store APK Size Limit and Why Does It Exist?
The maximum compressed download size for any set of APKs generated from an AAB is 150 MB. This means that Google Play will generate all possible APKs from your AAB, then check that the maximum compressed download size that any individual device receives is not over 150 MB.
The maximum size for an APK published on Google Play is 100 MB. This means that you cannot upload an APK file that is larger than 100 MB on Play Console. If your app exceeds this limit, you will see an error message when you try to upload it.
The size limit is based on the maximum compressed size of the APKs at the time of download across all supported devices. This means that Google Play will compress your APK files using gzip before serving them to users. The actual size of the APK files on the device may vary depending on the device's file system and other factors.
The size limit is intended to conserve bandwidth and storage space for users and developers. This means that Google Play wants to ensure that users can download and install apps quickly and easily, without using too much data or occupying too much space on their devices. It also means that developers can save costs and resources by uploading smaller APK files to Google Play.
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What are Android App Bundles and How Do They Work?
Android App Bundles are a new publishing format that allows developers to upload a single app bundle to Google Play. An app bundle is a file with the .aab extension that contains the compiled code and resources of your app, but not the final APK files. Instead, Google Play uses the app bundle to generate and deliver optimized APKs for each device configuration, such as screen size, density, CPU architecture, language, and so on. This reduces the download size and improves the performance of your app for your users.
Android App Bundles also support Play Feature Delivery and Play Asset Delivery, which allow developers to deliver features and assets on demand or conditionally. This means that you can split your app into modules and decide when and how to download them to your users. For example, you can deliver a feature only when the user requests it, or only when the user is on a certain network or device. You can also deliver large assets, such as game levels or videos, separately from the main APK file, and load them dynamically or in the background.
To create and upload an Android App Bundle, you need to use Android Studio 3.2 or higher, or Gradle 4.6 or higher. You can follow these steps to create an app bundle using Android Studio:
Open your project in Android Studio and select Build > Generate Signed Bundle / APK.
Select Android App Bundle and click Next.
Select or create a signing key for your app and click Next.
Select the build variants that you want to include in your app bundle and click Finish.
Locate the generated .aab file in the app/release/ directory of your project.
Upload the .aab file to Play Console as you would upload an APK file.
You can also use Gradle to create an app bundle from the command line. You can follow these steps to do so:
Navigate to the root directory of your project.
Run the following command: ./gradlew bundleRelease
Locate the generated .aab file in the app/build/outputs/bundle/release/ directory of your project.
Upload the .aab file to Play Console as you would upload an APK file.
What are APK Expansion Files and How Do They Work?
APK Expansion Files are additional files that supplement the APK for apps that need more space for large assets. For example, if your app is a game that has high-quality graphics or sound effects, you may need to use expansion files to store some of these assets. Expansion files are hosted and served by Google Play for free, and they are saved to the device's shared storage location where your app can access them.
There are two types of expansion files: main and patch. A main expansion file contains essential assets that are not included in the APK file. A patch expansion file contains optional assets that can be updated after the app is installed. Each expansion file can be up to 2 GB in size, and you can use up to two expansion files (one main and one patch) per app.
To create and upload expansion files, you can use Play Console or a command line tool called JOBB. You can follow these steps to create expansion files using Play Console:
Create a ZIP archive of the assets that you want to include in your expansion file. Do not compress the archive.
Rename the ZIP archive with the following format: [mainpatch]...obb. For example, main.1.com.example.myapp.obb.
Login to Play Console and select your app.
Select Release > Edit release.
Android App Bundles and APKs to add, select Browse files and upload your APK file.
Under APK details, select Upload next to Expansion files and upload your expansion file.
Select Review release and follow the steps to publish your app.
You can also use JOBB to create expansion files from the command line. You can follow these steps to do so:
Download the JOBB tool from the Android SDK Manager under Extras.
Navigate to the directory where you downloaded the JOBB tool.
Run the following command: jobb -d /path/to/assets -o /path/to/output.obb -k secret-key -pn com.example.myapp -pv 1. Replace the values with your own parameters.
Upload the .obb file to Play Console as you would upload an APK file.
How to Choose Between Android App Bundles and APK Expansion Files?
Both Android App Bundles and APK Expansion Files are useful options for uploading apps larger than 100 MB on Google Play Store. However, they have different advantages and disadvantages that you should consider before choosing one over the other. Here is a comparison table that summarizes some of the main differences between them:
Android App Bundles
APK Expansion Files
Pros:
Pros:
- Reduces the download size and improves the performance of your app for your users by delivering optimized APKs for each device configuration.
- Allows you to upload apps up to 4 GB in size by using up to two expansion files (one main and one patch) per app.
- Supports Play Feature Delivery and Play Asset Delivery, which allow you to deliver features and assets on demand or conditionally.
- Hosts and serves the expansion files for free, and saves them to the device's shared storage location where your app can access them.
- Simplifies the upload process by requiring only one app bundle file instead of multiple APK files.
- Gives you more control over the content and format of your expansion files.
Cons:
Cons:
- Requires Android Studio 3.2 or higher, or Gradle 4.6 or higher, to create an app bundle.
- Requires additional code and libraries to download and access the expansion files from your app.
- Limits the maximum compressed download size for any set of APKs generated from an AAB to 150 MB.
- Limits the maximum size for each expansion file to 2 GB, and the maximum number of expansion files to two per app.
- Does not support dynamic delivery of native libraries or resources that are not compatible with AAPT2.- Does not optimize the download size or performance of your app for different device configurations.
To choose between Android App Bundles and APK Expansion Files, you should consider the following criteria:
The size of your app and its assets. If your app is larger than 150 MB, you may need to use expansion files. If your app is smaller than 150 MB, but has large assets that can be delivered on demand or conditionally, you may benefit from using app bundles.
The type of your app and its features. If your app is a game that has high-quality graphics or sound effects, you may need to use expansion files. If your app is a utility or a productivity app that has modular features or optional assets, you may benefit from using app bundles.
The complexity of your app and its development process. If your app has multiple APKs for different device configurations, you may benefit from using app bundles. If your app has a single APK that contains all the necessary assets, you may prefer using expansion files.
Here are some examples of apps that may use either option:
An online multiplayer game that has high-fidelity graphics, sound effects, and game levels. This app may use expansion files to store some of these assets, as they exceed the 150 MB limit for app bundles. The main expansion file may contain the essential assets that are needed for the game to run, while the patch expansion file may contain optional assets that can be updated after the game is installed. Alternatively , this app may use app bundles to deliver optimized APKs for each device configuration, and use Play Asset Delivery to deliver game levels on demand or in the background.
A photo editing app that has various filters, stickers, and fonts. This app may use app bundles to deliver optimized APKs for each device configuration, and use Play Feature Delivery to deliver features on demand or conditionally. The base module may contain the core functionality of the app, while the feature modules may contain the optional filters, stickers, and fonts that the user can choose from.
A news app that has articles, videos, and podcasts. This app may use expansion files to store some of these assets, as they may be too large to fit in the APK file. The main expansion file may contain the articles and videos that are updated frequently, while the patch expansion file may contain the podcasts that are updated less often. Alternatively, this app may use app bundles to deliver optimized APKs for each device configuration, and use Play Asset Delivery to deliver assets on demand or conditionally. The base module may contain the essential assets that are needed for the app to run, while the asset packs may contain the optional articles, videos, and podcasts that the user can download when needed.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained how to upload apps larger than 100 MB on Google Play Store using Android App Bundles or APK Expansion Files. We have also compared and contrasted the advantages and disadvantages of each option, and provided some criteria and examples to help you choose the best option for your app.
Uploading apps larger than 100 MB on Google Play Store can be a challenge, but it is not impossible. By using Android App Bundles or APK Expansion Files, you can overcome the size limit and deliver your app to your users without compromising on quality or performance. You can also benefit from features such as Play Feature Delivery and Play Asset Delivery, which allow you to deliver features and assets on demand or conditionally.
We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers related to uploading apps larger than 100 MB on Google Play Store:
Q: How can I check the size of my app before uploading it?
A: You can use the in Play Console to see how your app size compares to similar apps in your category.
Q: How can I test my app after uploading it?
A: You can use the to test your app with a larger group of testers before publishing it to production.
Q: How can I update my app after uploading it?
A: You can update your app by uploading a new version of your app bundle or APK file, along with any new expansion files if needed. You can also use to prompt your users to update your app within your app.
Q: How can I monitor my app's performance after uploading it?
A: You can use the to measure and optimize your app's performance across devices and network conditions.
Q: How can I optimize my app's size after uploading it?
A: You can use the for optimizing your app's size. 44f88ac181
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