Use the Android project's release task
For a conventional project, an illustrative APK command is:
cd android
./gradlew :app:assembleRelease
On Windows use the wrapper's .bat form. Flavor-specific projects have different task names. The React Native release guide documents the surrounding signing and bundling configuration; its current build-android --mode=release workflow produces an AAB through bundleRelease, not an APK.
Check release signing and configuration
Verify the selected application ID, signing configuration, version, environment variables and native dependencies. Do not commit keystore passwords or substitute debug signing for a public release.
A successful Android compilation does not establish that the expected JavaScript entry point was bundled.
Test with Metro stopped
Install the output on a controlled device, stop the development server and launch from the device launcher. Exercise navigation, images, native modules and an offline path where supported.
| Failure | Investigate |
|---|---|
| Cannot find JS bundle | Release bundling/task configuration |
| Missing images | Asset paths and packaging |
| Native module unavailable | Linking, code generation or variant dependency |
| Login fails | Release certificate and environment identity |
Understand the JavaScript engine
The Hermes guide describes the bundled engine and release bytecode behavior. A JavaScript engine flag alone does not prove a custom bundle-loading path uses the intended precompiled output.
Inspect the artifact, then test delivery
APKLint's React Native APK Analyzer can help identify framework assets and native libraries. It cannot execute the JavaScript application or prove Metro independence. Retain the exact APK and test result, then separately validate the Play-delivered build when preparing an app-bundle release.
Sources and further reading
Reference review: 22 September 2026. Examples illustrate the workflow; check your installed versions, release artifact and account-specific Console requirements before applying them. This guide is not a claim that APKLint executed your project or verified your private account.
Android inspection tools and practical release guides. About APKLint · Report a correction
