Android Studio: run/debug release version of app

Question

I have added gradle build to Android app, and can launch from Android Studio. gradlew build produces debug and released (signed, minified with proguard) versions.

buildTypes {
    debug {
        zipAlignEnabled true
        versionNameSuffix "-" + buildDateTime()
    }
    release {
        minifyEnabled true
        // Eclipse project.properties # proguard.config=${sdk.dir}/tools/proguard/proguard-android.txt
        proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-project.txt'
        zipAlignEnabled true
        signingConfig signingConfigs.release
        versionNameSuffix "-" + buildDateTime()
    }

But when I adb install on device the release version it crashes on start.

How can I run/debug release version of app from Android Studio to find exact place of problem?

Or can I debug manually released signed apk in Eclipse?

Gratulant

Answer 1

There's a window called 'Build Variants' where you can choose, which version you want to be installed on your emulator/device.

You also have to add debuggable true to your release build to be able to debug it.

Corydon

BTW must add debuggable true for release buildType see tools.android.com/tech-docs/new-build-system/… – Gratulant

Yes, I missed that aspect, Android Studio only adds that for the debug builds. – Corydon

More exactly those are defaults defined in android gradle plugin, not IDE – Gratulant

Well, I can run, but I cannot debug: Warning: debug info can be unavailable. Please close other application using ADB: Monitor, DDMS, Eclipse and Waiting for process: com.company.app . On devise side there is dialog "Waiting for debugger to connect" :-( – Gratulant

That window is empty for me. No values are listed – Cotemporary

in .kts file : isDebuggable = true – Nigro

Answer 2

Android Run .apk

View -> Tool Windows -> Build Variants

Additionally you can use Gradle toolbar or ./gradlew tasks --all

//install on device(which is running)
Tasks -> install -> install<build_varaiant>

//open 
adb shell am start -n <package_name>/.<activity_name>

*Android Studio v4.2 does not contain Tasks by default. You should disable Do not build Gradle task list during Gradle sync in Preferences -> Experimental

Peccavi

Basically shorter version of the accepted answer. – Gratulant

Answer 3

You can use Profile or Debug APK option in android studio and debug your release apk.

Cavort

this options showed me an error on my debugabble release build that wasn't shown before. In my case I had to download and install a new skd version – Garfield