Google Changes Next Year’s APK File Format

Teknoku.me – Android Package files or commonly abbreviated as APK (. Apk) are commonly used by Android application developers to distribute their applications. However, this format will change in 2021.

Recently, Google announced a new application format, the Android App Bundle (.aab). This file format was first introduced by Google at the Google I / O 2018 event.

In its announcement, Google said that starting August 2021 the Google Play Console will require all applications to switch to the “.aab” file format, not APK anymore.

“This (format) has benefits for smaller applications and simpler release to more users and developers,” Google wrote in its announcement.

Google also claims that there are more than 750,000 applications and games that have been published on Google Play using this new format.

The search engine giant says apps distributed with the Android App Bundle are on average 15 percent smaller than apps that use universal APK files.

Thus, it benefits Android device users who are in areas with low-speed internet.

Some of the apps that are said to have tried this format are Netflix and Riafy, which Google says has a higher download success rate.

“This is especially the case in areas where entry-level devices are used more and data speeds are slower,” Google wrote.

Switching file formats can use the Play Asset Delivery and Play Feature Delivery distributions to send assets or features whose download size is more than 150 MB. The use of the OBB file extension will also not receive support after this change.

In addition, developers must upload new applications to Google Play targeting API level 30 or Android 11. Meanwhile, for updates to existing applications, they must start targeting API level 30 starting November 2021.