What is an AAB?
An Android App Bundle (.aab) is the format you upload to Google Play. It contains your app’s code and resources, and Google Play uses it to generate and serve optimized APKs for each device. New apps on Google Play have been required to use app bundles since August 2021.
App bundles go together with Play App Signing: you sign the bundle you upload, and Google Play signs the APKs it delivers to devices.
The fields Play Console cares about
| Field | Example | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Package name | com.brightpath.mobile | Your app’s permanent ID on Google Play. It cannot change after you publish. |
| Version name | 1.4.0 | The version people see in the store. |
| Version number | 14 | Must be higher than your last upload, or Play Console rejects the bundle. |
| Min SDK | 24 | The oldest Android version that can install your app (24 is Android 7.0). |
| Target SDK | 36 | The Android version your app is built for (36 is Android 16). Google Play requires a recent target. |
HTML to AAB asks for each of these on the Setup step and explains them in place.
From AAB to Google Play
Create the app in Play Console
Choose the app name, default language, and whether it is an app or a game.
Upload to a testing track
Start with internal testing to try the release on your own devices.
Complete the store listing
Short and full description, screenshots, icon and feature graphic.
Fill in App content
Privacy policy, Data safety, content rating and target audience.
Roll out to production
Promote the tested release and send it for review.
New personal developer accounts have to run a closed test before publishing to production. Check the current requirement in Play Console when you create your account.
Frequently asked questions
Can I install an AAB directly on my phone?
No. An AAB is a publishing format, not an installable file. Google Play turns it into APKs for each device. To test, use an internal testing track on Google Play, or generate APKs locally with Google’s bundletool.
Which Android versions will my app support?
Every version from your Min SDK up. A Min SDK of 24 covers Android 7.0 and newer.
How do I publish an update?
Open the project, make your changes, raise the version number and build a new app bundle. Upload it as a new release in Play Console.
