APK vs AAB: Getting Your Android App File

APK vs AAB: Getting Your Android App File

When you build your Android app in Snapp, you'll be asked to pick a format: APK or AAB. This short guide explains the difference so you choose the right one.

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The quick answer

• AAB → for Google Play. It's the format the store requires.
• APK → for installing directly on a phone or sharing the file with someone. It can't be uploaded to Google Play.

If you're publishing to the store, pick AAB. If you just want to test on your own device, pick APK.

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What is an APK?

An APK is a ready-to-install Android app file. You can send it to yourself, tap it on an Android phone, and it installs — no store needed. Great for quick testing or sharing a build with a teammate or client.

> Because it installs outside the store, the phone may ask you to allow "install from unknown sources." That's normal for a file you built yourself.

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What is an AAB?

An AAB (Android App Bundle) is the modern package Google Play uses. Google takes your AAB and generates the optimized APKs for each device automatically. You can't install an AAB directly on a phone — it's meant for the store.

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How to build it in Snapp

1. Open your app → Publish → Android. 2. Choose Just build the file. 3. Pick APK (install on a device) or AAB (upload to Google Play). 4. When it's ready, download it from the publish screen. Snapp also notifies you when the build finishes.

A native build takes around 20 minutes — you can close the screen and we'll let you know.

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Which should I choose?

Goal	Choose
Put the app on Google Play	AAB
Install on my own phone to test	APK
Send the app to a client/tester directly	APK
Let Snapp publish to Play automatically	Use "Publish to Google Play for me" instead

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What's next

• Ready for the store? → Publish your Android app to Google Play
• Need a developer account first? → Create a Google Play Developer account