How to build a big app → APK max. 100 MB or → AAB 150 MB

Anke · January 25, 2020, 12:43am

Steps to build a big app for

APK → max. 100 MB or
AAB → max. 150 MB (new, added on Aug 31, 2021)

1. APK (Note: apps that were released before Aug 1, 2021 can still use APKs !)

You can use e.g. APK Editor Studio for that.
First download the keystore "android.keystore" from your AI2 account and rename it to: "android.ks"

remove some big files (png, jpg, mp3,…) from the assets (AIA < 10 MB, better < 5 MB)

build APK

decompile APK

(re)insert the missing files to the assets

recompile your app

sign APK

Video tutorial (APK Editor Studio):

2. AAB (Note: For new apps you must use AABs.)

Export your keystore (android.keystore)

Remove some big files (png, jpg, mp3, wav, …) from the assets (AIA < 20 MB, better < 5 MB)

Build the AAB

Open the AAB with 7-Zip or WinRAR and (re)insert the missing files to the assets

Sign the AAB (→ Java JDK 8):
jarsigner -verbose -sigalg SHA256withRSA -digestalg SHA-256 -keystore android.keystore appName.aab androidkey -signedjar appName_signed.aab

Upload AAB to the Play Store

Taifun · January 25, 2020, 3:44am

thank you!
added to the list of solutions here How to overcome the App Inventor project limit of 10 MB
Taifun

Trying to push the limits! Snippets, Tutorials and Extensions from Pura Vida Apps by Taifun.

Yong_Tang · January 26, 2020, 2:58pm

java -cp “*” com.google.appinventor.buildserver.Main --inputZipFile %inputfile% --userName %username% --outputDir %outputdir% --dexCacheDir %dexcache%

Taifun · January 26, 2020, 3:11pm

@Yong_Tang please kindly elaborate, what exactly you like to tell us with that snippet
Thank you

Taifun

Trying to push the limits! Snippets, Tutorials and Extensions from Pura Vida Apps by Taifun.

Yong_Tang · March 18, 2020, 9:02am

github.com

mit-cml/appinventor-sources/blob/master/appinventor/buildserver/README

To build using ant:
    ant

To run build server:
   ant RunLocalBuildServer

To test server:
   POST of file to http://localhost:9990/buildserver/build-from-zip -> file. Something like the following works:
        curl --data-binary  @$HOME/MyDownloads/ImageUpload.zip  --output foo.apk --dump-header headers.out \
        http://localhost:9990/buildserver/build-from-zip?uname=$USER

To run standalone zip file builder:
   ant RunMain -Dzip.file=$HOME/MyDownloads/ImageUpload.zip -Duser.name=$USER -Doutput.dir=/tmp

To build using ant:
ant

To run build server:
ant RunLocalBuildServer

To test server:
POST of file to http://localhost:9990/buildserver/build-from-zip -> file. Something like the following works:
curl --data-binary @$HOME/MyDownloads/ImageUpload.zip --output foo.apk --dump-header headers.out
http://localhost:9990/buildserver/build-from-zip?uname=$USER

To run standalone zip file builder:

ant RunMain -Dzip.file=$HOME/MyDownloads/ImageUpload.zip -Duser.name=$USER -Doutput.dir=/tmp

**no 10M limit.**

Yong_Tang · April 26, 2020, 5:36am

*.aia = *.zip
ant RunMain -Dzip.file=$HOME/MyDownloads/ImageUpload.aia -Duser.name=$USER -Doutput.dir=/tmp

Anke · April 26, 2020, 7:01am

Nice information that we know well enough.
What are you trying to tell us in an “educational way”?

Yong_Tang · April 26, 2020, 3:17pm

Angelo_Valdora · August 12, 2020, 11:10pm

Hi
Apk Editor Studio can REsign app with another keystore? not with AI2 keystore?

Thank
Angelo

Anke · August 13, 2020, 4:11am

Angelo_Valdora · August 13, 2020, 9:22pm

Thank Anke
...I don't understand, let me explain:
I already have an'App on Play Store since 2012
I work on AI2 then compile my apk
Once I always signed it by Marketizer then App to Market by my certificate "myApp.ks"
If i try with APK EStudio, I get an error

Error: Invalid or corrupt jarfile C:/myApp.ks

clearly I have inserted the file in the setting of apk editor studio in apksigner path:

Have you some idea?

regards
Angelo

Boban · August 13, 2020, 9:40pm

If you have added your .ks file to Apksigner path: then it's wrong..

Click on reset button + Apply

Now click on Open key manager, point to the path of your .ks, fill in pass etc. and try again..

Angelo_Valdora · August 13, 2020, 9:53pm

Now I understand
I had already tried to open the key manager but seeing the buttons "create" I thought it was a generator of new certificates
Many thanks Boban, you are always precious! and thanks Anke too!
Angelo

CCMUSAVideo · August 20, 2020, 5:28pm

Hi Boban,
Can I use APK Editor Studio to replace App To Market? I cannot recompile my AI2 app in App To Market after last release of AI2.
--Hon

Anke · August 20, 2020, 6:03pm

Why this question? I showed in the video that it works. So just give it a try ...

CCMUSAVideo · August 20, 2020, 6:36pm

Thank you.

Your video was post on Jan 24. I am not sure if it still work after the last AI2 release. (My app worked fine in App To Market before this month).
In fact I did watch your video, but it had no audio or subtitle and the screen changed too fast for me. Maybe that's because I have not used APK Editor Studio and thus not familiar with the screen shot. Will try again.

QUESTION: Can I migrate the keystore from App To Market to APK Editor Studio? I think changing keystore will cause problem with Google Play.

111520 · May 17, 2021, 8:55pm

Thank you very much for the help. Sorry, I did not pay attention from the first time, and I thank you for sending the solution again

Peter · May 20, 2021, 8:15am

I made a dutch tutorial on my website about this. https://petermathijssen.nl/een-grote-app-bouwen/

Anke · August 31, 2021, 3:24pm

Note : I added Part 2 on how to build a big app → AAB & sign it to my guide.
It takes less than 1 minute to insert large files into the assets and sign the AAB .

ABG · October 22, 2021, 3:16am

(added to FAQ)