How to build .aab bundle instead .apk file with react native EXPO locally?

Question

When I make a local build of an app created using EXPO react native, I get an .apk file instead of .aab

1. For testing app build I am using expo template with expo router

npx create-expo-app@latest --template tabs@50

2. Then I do prebuild

npx expo prebuild

3. I'm following these instructions
   Production builds locally
   https://docs.expo.dev/deploy/build-project/#production-builds-locally
   Publishing to Google Play Store
   https://reactnative.dev/docs/signed-apk-android

4. I'm generating a key with keytool

5. I'm making changes to the android/gradle.properties file

6. I'm making changes in the android/app/build.gradle adding signing config

7. And finally I am using this command
   

npx expo run:android --variant release

After all this I get app-release.apk file in this folder "\android\app\build\outputs\apk\release"

But how I can get .aab bundle file?

Answer 1

check if your eas.json have

"android":{
                        "buildType": "apk"
                    },

under the channel you are trying to get your build from.

Answer 2

Have you tried ?

First go into your project dir in terminal.

1. npm install -g eas-cli (to install eas in windows)
2. Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned (to change permission of eas issue in terminal)
3. eas build (to build aab file) eas build -p android --profile preview (to build apk file)

Answer 3

One way of doing this is by running:

cd ./android
./gradlew bundleRelease

This will create app-release.aab in android/app/build/outputs/bundle/release directory.

Another way is by running:

npx react-native build-android --mode=release

even though in this documentation, it clearly states that you should use:

npx expo run:android --variant release