Export unsigned apk from a Gradle Project in Android Studio

Question

I usually create projects with Eclipse and import them into Android Studio, because I hate the project structure AS gives me. In it´s module settings, I have the possibility to create artifacts which allow me to output the built apk to a certain path.

Now I have created a Gradle project directly with AS and it seems that those projects have quite less options than eclipse projects. I don´t find anything to output my apk and I don´t find any apk inside my project folder after building.

How do I get my unsigned apk out of the build process??

Dagda

Answer 1

Use

Build > Make Project

to build an apk file from Android Studio.

You can get your unsigned apk under the below path

$YOUR_PROJECT/$YOUR_MODULE/build/apk

unsigned apk files will have "unsigned" text in their names.

[ UPDATE ] :

In Recent release of Android Studio you will not get apk file on sysncing or Make Project. There are two other methods in order to get the apk file

1. Run the app
2. Execute assemble Task from Gradle panel present in right hand side of Studio window or from embedded terminal window on bottom(in project Root)

gradlew assembleDebug(or whatever build varient you want a build for)

and the update new apk path will be

$YOUR_PROJECT/$YOUR_MODULE/build/outputs/apk

This has been done by Android Tools team to improve the Android Studio performance.

Boomer

Make Project no longer seems to build an apk as of Android Studio 0.8. – Copland

Not as of Android Studio 0.8, It was removed in 0.5.4 or 0.5.3. Now Make project only compiles the code and create R.java (if required) nothe the gradle tasks. So i order to create apk file you have to run the respective gradle task like assembleDebug from command line or by double clicking on the right listed task in right hand panel. – Boomer

I will update the answer after confirming the version soon, Right now in office busy with some work enjoy. – Boomer

jetbrains.com/idea/webhelp/artifacts.html what is the point of using artifacts? I thought it was to generate an unsigned apk debug apk, etc but it seems as if you can simply go to the build/apk folder to get the unsigned apk so long as you run assemblerelease from gradle menu or build via command line (at least in intellij IDE?). I just configured an artifact but I'm having trouble figuring out what to truly do with it. Can someone please help clarify the difference and use and/or point me in the right direction? many thanks – Rondelet

I don't see this in 1.0.2. I do see an -unaligned.apk – Pursuer

I have updated my answer, thanks for getting my notice on this. – Boomer

Be aware: Android Studio hides the output folder in the project view, but it exists! Check https://mcmap.net/q/502913/-how-to-show-hidden-files-in-android-studio/813951 – Doctrine

Your outdated answer still works with the latest android studio. – Tortricid

There is no $YOUR_PROJECT/$YOUR_MODULE/build/apk directory, (AS 2.2 Preview 5) and using assembleDebug creates a debug signed apk which is not an unsigned apk, build/outputs/apk is debug signed – Gluconeogenesis

@Gluconeogenesis Please check the Update section in recent releases it is moved to $YOUR_PROJECT/$YOUR_MODULE/build/outputs/apk . – Boomer

Answer 2

The above answer of pyus13 did not work for me (Android Studio 0.8.1).

Instead use

Run > Run "YourProject"

to build the code and create the unsigned apk. You can find your apk file under

$YOUR_PROJECT/$YOUR_MODULE/build/outputs/apk

UPDATE

Still works with Android Studio 1.5.1 You only get new APKs when you have code changes since you last built your code.

Roily

@Wayfarer What exactly did not work for you? Which version of Android Studio are you running? Why did you downvote my answer? – Roily

apk found after run/run in the mentioned directory /build/outputs/apk - confirmed in version "Android Studio 1.0 RC 4" - nevertheless I found 2 apks: app-debug.apk and app-debug-unaligned.apk - don't know the diff between them :D – Morbilli

Can't edit my own comment. Just use app-debug.apk and discard the app-debug-unaligned.apk version as that is only an intermediate step to build the aligned one. – Morbilli

When I try to sign app-debug.apk I get "jarsigner: unable to sign jar: java.util.zip.ZipException: invalid entry compressed size" – Pursuer

@TomKincaid This has probably nothing to do with the topic discussed here. A simple Google search brings you to this post: stackoverflow.com/questions/5089042 – Roily

The output folder only had debug signed apk for me. This post is how I got a truly unsigned apk: entzeroth.com/export-unsigned-android-apk – Inelegance

@BeritLarsen Yes, it does (see update above). Just tested it myself with version 1.5.1 Please try it again. – Roily

Answer 3

Open Gradle panel, open the tasks list of your project and double click on BUILD task, then under " -> build -> outputs -> apk" you will find your unsigned APK with name -release-unsigned.apk

Downwards

This is the correct answer with the latest version of Android Studio. Thanks! – Shalom

Works for me - never would have found that! – Premises

Except that the folder is now hidden (v1.0.2). Problem described in this question: https://mcmap.net/q/502913/-how-to-show-hidden-files-in-android-studio/813951 – Doctrine

Answer 4

As of Android Studio 1.5 you can now generate an APK using

Build > Build APK

Which you can then find under

$YOUR_PROJECT/$YOUR_MODULE/build/outputs/apk.

Edit: New Android Studio gives this Path:

$YOUR_PROJECT/$YOUR_MODULE/build/outputs/apk.

Creed

Just used the feature in 1.5.1: The path is $YOUR_PROJECT/$YOUR_MODULE/build/outputs/apk. – Carlile

Answer 5

It is also possible to build an apk by using the command line (Android Terminal).

1. Choose the Terminal in Android Studio - very bottom next to Android Monitor and Version Control
2. Build apk with command Windows: gradlew.bat assembleRelease Mac: ./gradlew assembleRelease
3. Find unsigned apk file - /app/build/outputs/apk/app-release-unsigned.apk

Tested in Android 1.5

Subjective

Answer 6

Edit app.gradle buildTypes block, set

signingConfig null

Then rebuild.

Calan