Android Builds

Primio builds native Android packages directly from your project. There are two Android build formats — here’s what they are and when to use each.

APK vs AAB — what’s the difference?

Android has two distribution formats. This can be confusing if you’re coming from iOS, where there’s only one format (IPA) for both testing and publishing.

APK (Android Package) is a standalone installer file. You can send it to anyone, and they can install it directly on their Android device — no app store needed. Think of it like a .exe on Windows or a .dmg on Mac. Use APKs for testing and sharing during development.

AAB (Android App Bundle) is Google Play’s required format for publishing. Unlike APK, you can’t install an AAB directly on a device. Instead, you upload it to Google Play, and Google generates optimized APKs for each device automatically (smaller downloads, better performance). Use AAB only when you’re ready to publish to Google Play.

	APK	AAB
Purpose	Testing & direct sharing	Google Play submission
Install directly on device?	Yes	No
Google Play submission?	No (not accepted)	Yes (required)
Cost	20,000 tokens	40,000 tokens
When to use	During development, sharing with testers	When publishing to Google Play

Typical workflow: Build APKs frequently during development to test on real devices. Build one AAB when you’re ready to submit to Google Play.

APK builds

Cost: 20,000 tokens | Build time: ~10 minutes

APK builds are the fastest way to get your app running on a real Android device.

1. Open the Publish section

   Go to Workspace → Publish → Android.

2. Select APK

   Choose APK as the build type.

3. Click “Build APK”

   The build starts and you can track progress in real time.

4. Download or scan

   When the build completes, download the APK file or scan the QR code with your phone to install it directly.

Installing the APK

Your Android device may ask you to allow installation from unknown sources. This is normal for apps installed outside Google Play.

1. Open the downloaded APK on your Android device
2. If prompted, go to Settings → Security → enable “Install from unknown sources” (the exact path varies by device)
3. Return to the installer and confirm

QR code install

After the build finishes, a QR code appears next to the download link. Scan it with your phone’s camera to download and install the APK directly — no need to transfer files from your computer.

AAB builds

Cost: 40,000 tokens | Build time: ~10 minutes

AAB (Android App Bundle) is the format Google Play requires for all new apps. Google Play generates optimized APKs from the AAB for each device configuration, resulting in smaller downloads for your users.

The build steps are the same as APK — just select AAB as the build type.

Set your app icon first

Google Play requires an app icon. Upload one in Workspace → App Icon before building the AAB. See App Icon for details.

Important notes

You're only charged for successful builds

Tokens are deducted only when a build completes successfully. If a build fails — whether due to a compilation error, a configuration issue, or any other reason — you are not charged. You can retry as many times as needed without worrying about wasting tokens.

Preview is not a device

The web preview in the workspace is a Flutter web build, not Android emulation. Features like camera, sensors, and platform-specific APIs only work on a real device. Always test your APK on a phone before submitting to Google Play.

Builds are release-signed

Primio handles code signing automatically. Your APK and AAB files are signed and ready for distribution. If you encounter signing issues or need to change the signing key, contact support.

Build history

Past builds are listed below the build button. Each entry shows:

• Build status (waiting, running, completed, or failed)
• Download link for completed builds
• Error messages for failed builds
• QR code for APK downloads

Scroll down to load older builds.

Next steps

Once you have an AAB file, follow the Google Play Submission Guide to publish your app on Google Play.