Android Build Process
Learn to build and package React Native applications for Android platform including APK and AAB generation
75 min•By Priygop Team•Last updated: Feb 2026
Android Build Setup
Configure Android build environment, signing keys, and build variants for development and production releases.
Build Configuration
Set up build.gradle files, ProGuard rules, and app signing for secure Android app distribution.
Android Build Example
Example
// android/app/build.gradle
android {
compileSdkVersion 33
buildToolsVersion "33.0.0"
defaultConfig {
applicationId "com.yourapp.reactnative"
minSdkVersion 21
targetSdkVersion 33
versionCode 1
versionName "1.0.0"
multiDexEnabled true
}
signingConfigs {
debug {
storeFile file('debug.keystore')
storePassword 'android'
keyAlias 'androiddebugkey'
keyPassword 'android'
}
release {
if (project.hasProperty('MYAPP_UPLOAD_STORE_FILE')) {
storeFile file(MYAPP_UPLOAD_STORE_FILE)
storePassword MYAPP_UPLOAD_STORE_PASSWORD
keyAlias MYAPP_UPLOAD_KEY_ALIAS
keyPassword MYAPP_UPLOAD_KEY_PASSWORD
}
}
}
buildTypes {
debug {
signingConfig signingConfigs.debug
minifyEnabled false
proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
}
release {
signingConfig signingConfigs.release
minifyEnabled true
proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android-optimize.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
shrinkResources true
}
}
bundle {
language {
enableSplit = true
}
density {
enableSplit = true
}
abi {
enableSplit = true
}
}
}
// gradle.properties
MYAPP_UPLOAD_STORE_FILE=my-upload-key.keystore
MYAPP_UPLOAD_KEY_ALIAS=my-key-alias
MYAPP_UPLOAD_STORE_PASSWORD=*****
MYAPP_UPLOAD_KEY_PASSWORD=*****
# Build commands
# Debug APK: ./gradlew assembleDebug
# Release APK: ./gradlew assembleRelease
# Release AAB: ./gradlew bundleRelease