Where is the release apk file for cordova apps in Visual Studio 2015

Where is the release APK file for Cordova apps in Visual Studio 2015?

Understanding the APK Location

When you build a Cordova app in Visual Studio 2015, the release APK file is generated within your project directory. It’s not directly placed in the ‘bin’ folder as you might expect. Here’s how to find it:

Locate the APK File

• Navigate to your Cordova project directory.
• Open the ‘platforms’ folder. This folder holds the platform-specific project files for Android (and other platforms if you’re using them).
• Open the ‘android’ folder.
• Look for a folder named ‘release’. This folder will contain the APK file for your Cordova application.
• The APK file will usually be named ‘android-release-unsigned.apk’ or ‘android-debug-unsigned.apk’ depending on the build configuration.

Example

Let’s assume your project directory is ‘MyCordovaApp’. The release APK file would be located at:

MyCordovaApp\platforms\android\release\android-release-unsigned.apk

Important Considerations

Here are some points to keep in mind:

• Release and Debug APKs: The ‘release’ folder will usually hold the release APK. If you’ve built in debug mode, the APK will be found in the ‘debug’ folder.
• Signing the APK: You’ll usually need to sign your APK before distributing it. This is crucial for security and package validation. You can sign the APK within Visual Studio using its built-in tools.

Release APK: Visual Studio 2015 vs. Visual Studio 2017/Later