Create a release build locally

Create an upload key

Inside your Expo project directory, run the following keytool command to create an upload key:

After running this command, you will be prompted to enter a password for the keystore. This password will protect the upload key. Remember the password you enter here, as you'll need it in the next step.

This command also generates the keystore file named my-upload-key.keystore in your project directory. Move it to the android/app directory.

If you commit the android directory to a version control system like Git, don't commit this keystore file. It contains your upload key and should be kept private.

Update gradle variables

Open android/gradle.properties file and add the following gradle variables at the end of the file. Replace the ***** with the correct keystore and key password that you provided in the previous step.

These variables contain information about your upload key:

# If you've downloaded the credentials from `eas credentials` command, see comments below for each value.

# Path to the "keystore" file
MYAPP_UPLOAD_STORE_FILE=my-upload-key.keystore
# Replace with value of the `keystore.keyAlias` field in the credentials.json file
MYAPP_UPLOAD_KEY_ALIAS=my-key-alias
# Replace with value of the `keystore.password` field in the credentials.json file
MYAPP_UPLOAD_STORE_PASSWORD=*****
# Replace with value of the `keystore.keyPassword` field in the credentials.json file
MYAPP_UPLOAD_KEY_PASSWORD=*****

If you commit the android directory to a version control system like Git, don't commit the above information. Instead, create a ~/.gradle/gradle.properties file on your computer and add the above variables to this file.

Add signing config to build.gradle

Open android/app/build.gradle file and add the following configuration:

Generate release Android Application Bundle (aab)

Navigate inside the android directory and create a release build in .aab format by running Gradle's bundleRelease command:

This command will generate app-release.aab inside the android/app/build/outputs/bundle/release directory.

App submission to Google Play Console

To submit the .aab file, upload it manually through Google Play Console. Alternatively, EAS Submit accepts locally built binaries with eas submit --platform android --path ./my-app.aab.