Google Play Store Bundle APK: What You Need to Know
If you are an Android user or developer, you might have noticed that Google has changed the way apps are distributed and installed on the Google Play Store. Instead of the traditional APK format, Google now requires new apps to be published with the Android App Bundle (AAB) format. This is a major shift that affects both developers and users, and it has some advantages and challenges that you should be aware of. In this article, we will explain what Google Play Store Bundle APK is, why Google made this change, what are the benefits of using it, and how to use it effectively.
Introduction
What is Google Play Store Bundle APK?
Google Play Store Bundle APK is not a single file, but a collection of files that Google Play uses to generate and serve optimized APKs for each device configuration. An Android App Bundle (AAB) is a publishing format that includes all your app's compiled code and resources, and defers APK generation and signing to Google Play. This means that you don't have to build, sign, and manage multiple APKs to support different devices, languages, screen sizes, and features. Instead, you upload one app bundle to Google Play, and it takes care of creating and delivering the best APK for each user.
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Why did Google switch from APK to AAB?
Google made this change for several reasons, but the main one is to improve the user experience by reducing the download size and installation time of apps. According to Google, app bundles can reduce the download size of apps by up to 15%, which means faster downloads, less data usage, and more storage space for users. Additionally, app bundles can also enable more dynamic and modular app delivery, which allows developers to offer features and assets on demand or based on conditions. This way, users can get only what they need or want from an app, without downloading unnecessary or unused components.
What are the benefits of Google Play Store Bundle APK?
As we mentioned above, one of the main benefits of using app bundles is that they can reduce the download size of apps by up to 15%. This can have a positive impact on user retention, engagement, and satisfaction, as users are more likely to install and keep apps that are smaller and faster. Moreover, app bundles can also provide other benefits for developers and users, such as:
Supporting over various device configurations and languages without increasing the app size or complexity.
Increasing the number of installations and reducing the number of uninstallations by offering customized and optimized experiences for each user.
Using Play Feature Delivery or Play Asset Delivery to deliver features and assets on demand or based on conditions, such as device type, user preferences, or network availability.
Using Play App Signing to simplify the app signing process and access upcoming performance features available on newer devices.
Using popular build tools, such as Android Studio, Gradle, Bazel, Unity, Unreal Engine, and others, to create app bundles easily.
How to use Google Play Store Bundle APK?
How to publish your app with AAB format?
If you are a developer who wants to publish your app with AAB format on Google Play Store, you need to follow these steps:</p How to install apps with AAB format?
If you are a user who wants to install apps with AAB format on your Android device, you need to know that you cannot directly open or install an AAB file like an APK file. Instead, you need to use a tool or service that can convert the AAB file into APKs that are compatible with your device. There are a few options for doing this:
Use Google Play Store: The easiest and most recommended way to install apps with AAB format is to use the Google Play Store, which automatically generates and delivers the optimized APKs for your device when you download or update an app. You don't need to do anything special, just use the Play Store as usual.
Use App Bundle Installer: If you have an AAB file that is not available on the Play Store, you can use a third-party app called App Bundle Installer to install it on your device. This app allows you to select an AAB file from your device storage and then installs the APKs generated from it. To use this app, you need to enable installation from unknown sources in your device settings.
Use bundletool: If you are a developer or an advanced user who wants more control over the installation process, you can use bundletool, a command-line tool that can create and manage app bundles and APKs. You can use bundletool to build APKs from an AAB file and then install them on your device using adb. To use bundletool, you need to have Java and Android SDK installed on your computer.
How to manage feature and asset delivery with AAB format?
If you are a developer who wants to manage feature and asset delivery with AAB format, you need to know that you can use different methods to deliver additional code and resources to your users, depending on your app's needs and requirements. There are two main methods for doing this:
Use dynamic feature modules: Dynamic feature modules are optional modules that contain features or functionality that users can download and install on demand or under certain conditions. For example, you can use dynamic feature modules to deliver features that are only relevant for specific users, such as premium content, AR effects, or game levels. To use dynamic feature modules, you need to declare them in your app's manifest and configure them in your app bundle. You also need to use the Play Core Library to request, download, and install dynamic feature modules at runtime.
Use Play Asset Delivery: Play Asset Delivery is a method for delivering large assets, such as textures, sounds, and models, that are typically used by games or graphically-intensive apps. Play Asset Delivery uses asset packs to store and serve these assets from Google Play, which means you don't need to host them yourself or use a CDN. You can customize how and when each asset pack is downloaded onto a device according to three delivery modes: install-time, fast-follow, and on-demand. To use Play Asset Delivery, you need to add asset packs to your app bundle and use the Play Asset Delivery API to access them at runtime.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In this article, we have learned what Google Play Store Bundle APK is, why Google switched from APK to AAB format, what are the benefits of using it, and how to use it effectively. We have seen that app bundles can reduce the download size and installation time of apps, support various device configurations and languages, enable dynamic and modular app delivery, simplify the app signing process, and work with popular build tools. We have also learned how to publish, install, and manage feature and asset delivery with app bundles.
Call to action
If you are interested in using Google Play Store Bundle APK for your Android app or game, you can start by following the official documentation and guides provided by Google. You can also check out some examples and best practices of apps that use app bundles successfully. If you have any questions or feedback, you can contact Google Play Developer Support or join the Android Developers Community. We hope you found this article helpful and informative. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
What is the difference between APK and AAB?
An APK (Android Package) is a file that contains all the code and resources of an app for a specific device configuration. An AAB (Android App Bundle) is a publishing format that contains all the code and resources of an app for various device configurations, and defers APK generation and signing to Google Play.
How can I reduce the download size of my app with AAB format?
You can reduce the download size of your app with AAB format by using features such as dynamic feature modules, Play Asset Delivery, Play Feature Delivery, or code shrinking. These features allow you to deliver only the necessary or requested components of your app to each user, without including unused or redundant code or resources.
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How can I test my app with AAB format before publishing?
You can test your app with AAB format before publishing by using tools such as bundletool, internal app sharing, internal test tracks, or pre-launch reports. These tools allow you to generate and install APKs from your app bundle, share them with testers or users, or get feedback and reports on your app's performance and quality.
How can I convert my existing APK to AAB format?
You can convert your existing APK to AAB format by using Android Studio or Gradle. You need to make sure that your app meets the requirements for app bundles, such as using Android App Signing by Google Play, targeting API level 29 or higher, and not using legacy multidex. You also need to update your app's manifest and build.gradle files to support app bundles.
How can I access the source code and resources of an AAB file?
You cannot directly access the source code and resources of an AAB file, as they are encrypted and compressed by Google Play. However, you can use tools such as bundletool or apktool to extract the APKs from an AAB file and then decompile them to access their contents. 44f88ac181
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