Introduction

In this article, you will learn how to create ionic 4 release build for the Android platform.

What is Ionic?

Ionic framework is the free, open-source toolkit for developing high-quality cross-platform apps for native iOS, Android, and the web—all from a single codebase. It allows us to develop UI using the famous frameworks e.g Angular, Vue.js, React, etc.

Setting up release build for Android platform

Steps 1 -
Run "npm install" on the root directory

Steps 2 -
Add android platform with the CLI:

ionic platform add android

Steps 3 -
If you are working in a distributed development environment then make sure to install the required files. Run ionic cordova prepare command. it will Install platforms and plugins listed in "config.xml".

ionic cordova prepare android

Steps 4 -
Now navigate to platforms/android with the CLI :

cd platforms/android

Create/Copy release signing key store file under platforms/android folder
Copy the created Key store file for android application if you already have otherwise generate a key.store file with the CLI and answer all the questions:

keytool -genkey -v -keystore YourApp.keystore -alias YourApp -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000

Follow the steps suggested in the documentation for Deploying to a Device.

Create/Specify release signing information

Steps 1 -
Create a file with name "release-signing.properties" under "platforms\android" folder.

Steps 2 -
Add below information to this file:

key.store=YourApp.keystore
key.store.password=<YourApp keystore password>
key.alias=YourApp
key.alias.password=<YourApp alias password>

Create build for application

Now go back to the root of your Ionic project with the CLI and build a release version:

ionic cordova build android --prod --release

If command run successfully then you will find release APK under -- APP_Root_Folder\platforms\android\app\build\outputs\apk\release

Reset plugins and platforms

To install Or reinstall all cordova plugins In Package.json with Ionic, Run this command on windows command prompt with administrator privilege

rd  plugins /d/s && rd platforms /d/s  && ionic cordova prepare

Conclusion

There are the steps to create a build for ionic 4 application and then you can host your application on Android store.