Hi,
If you are distributing mobile applications through Google Play, please read this carefully.
As announced by Google, from August 1 2021 for new apps and from November 1 2021 for app updates, to continue publishing apps in Google Play, apps must target Android 11 SDK and be generated with the Android App Bundle (AAB) format.
In January, OutSystems released MABS 7 to generate Android apps to target Android 11 SDK to prepare for the upcoming changes. In May, we expect to release Platform Version 11.12.0 to allow developers to generate Android apps with AAB format.
From the Platform server version 11.12.0 onwards, to build Android apps with the AAB format, OutSystems added a new distribution type called “Google Play (App Bundle)”, that can be selected in Service Studio or Service Center, and the final result will be an AAB instead of an APK
To support this transition, you can also refer to the following checklists that cover the most usual scenarios, following the steps in the scenario that best fits your situation:
I want to publish a new app in Google Play after August 1, 2021.
Immediately start planning your Platform Server update to version 11.12.0, and update as soon as it’s released.
Make sure that you are building your mobile apps with MABS7.
I want to publish an app update in Google Play after November 1, 2021.
Ensure that your Platform Server is updated to version 11.12.0 by November 1, and that your apps are built and tested with MABS7
If you require further information or if you have any questions, please contact the OutSystems support team.
Thank you,
Hugo Gonçalves
Hi everyone,
The first Google deadline is arriving, August 1, 2021.
If you are preparing to publish a new app after August, be aware of the new AAB file format requirement.
Thank you,Hugo Gonçalves.
My team is preparing an app that needs to be updated with a new plugin therefore need to be resubmitted to the app store, to be clear it will be an update to the currently in production app that is currently in the stores, we are using MABS 7.
According to the Google announcement, the app updates have "No new publishing format requirement" as can be seen in the table mentioned in the announcement.
We are using Version 10.0.1023.0, to be clear, can we or cant we publish updates to the store app after November 1st?
Thank you in advance.
We are in the same situation of @Bruno Ferreira Any updates on his question?
Hello Bruno and Sispro,
For OutSystems 11 customers that weren't able to update their platform in time, OutSystems did a temporary workaround. That workaround was not made and tested on version OutSystems 10, so you could try to use it having in mind that
Also, let me highlight one Google requirement. From Google's announcement, it seems that for app updates in November you can still use the APK file format, but since in the past Google applied the same rules for the new app and app updates, we are suggesting our customers be ready for any scenario.
Workaround steps to generate AAB:
1. In the Extensibility Configuration for your app, add the ForceReleaseAndroidBuildsToGenerateAAB key and set the value to true:
{
"preferences": {
"android": [{
"name": "ForceReleaseAndroidBuildsToGenerateAAB",
"value": "true"
}]
}
2. Generate the Android build using the Release build type
3. Download the file, and change the file extension to .aab
Thanks,
Hello Hugo!Thank you for your response.
Just wanted to share the fact that I was able to upload the file and send the APP to Play Store revision.I wish i was able to mark your response as a Solution.
Hi Sispro,
To bypass the minimum API requirement you must use the latest MABS version (MABS 7.x).
About mark as a solution, no need for that, and thanks for the feedback.
Thanks,Hugo Gonçalves