Overview

You are a BiznessApps user and you need to know how to create a new AAB file, get the custom certificate file, and upload your Android app to the Google Play Store using the new AAB format.

Alternatively, you might have encountered an error while uploading the app bundle such as the ones below.

• "Your Android App Bundle uses an upload certificate with a key that is too weak"
• "To upload an Android App Bundle you must be enrolled in Play App Signing"

Prerequisites

• Publishing your app for the first time: You need to sign the app with the android-build-key.zip key file.
• Republishing your app: You need to sign the app with the android-build-key.pem key file.

Solution

In August 2021, as announced by Google, all new apps uploaded to the Google Play Store must use the new Android App Bundle (AAB) format, which replaces the APK format. Updates to apps that are published in the AAB format must continue to use the AAB format.

1. Log on to the Google Play Console
   • To Update an Existing App: Click the Opt In link on the Create production release page
     
     
     Important: make sure that the release has been created from the Production section of the Play Console. If not, please discard the current release and create a new one from the Production section of the same app build.
     
     
   • To Create a New App for first time publishing: Click on the Change App Signing Key option on the Create production release page
     
     
     Note: if you are not getting the option to Change app signing key, you will need to delete the app or discard the release and create a new app/release once again. Once we skip the step to change the key, google adds its own key and it cannot be changed again without creating a new app/release.
     
     
     • You'll be taken to a different menu, There, click to switch to the App Signing tab:
       
       
       
2. On the Play App Signing page, select the Use existing app signing key from Java keystore option
   
   
   
3. Click the Upload generated ZIP or Upload private key option and upload the key you downloaded from the Prerequisites section, then click the Save button. (In the screenshot below, please ignore Steps 1 and 2 which are related to the PEPK tool, and go directly to Step 3, which is Upload generated ZIP.)
   
   If you are having issues uploading the file using Safari, review Problems Uploading Android Signing Key Using macOS Safari.
   
   
   
   
4. If successful, you will be sent to this screen:
   
   
   • You'll likely see the warning "Your app signing key's encryption strength does not meet Google Play's recommended minimum standard". Please ignore this error as it won't affect your app and it is caused by the fact that our key is shared by our customers.
5. You can now navigate back to the Production section fo the UI and you will be able to upload AAB files, as usual, using the drag-and-drop interface, Upload link, or Add from Library link
   

By following these steps the Google Play Store will accept the AAB format you have provided.