(MRWD) Sharing and Packaging Apps Lesson

Sharing and Packaging Apps

There are three different ways to share your app depending on the purpose.

Share as .aia file

You can export and share your source code as an .aia file.  The .aia file can be loaded into App Inventor and remixed. This is not an executable Android program.

Share as an executable.apk

You can share your app in an executable form (.apk) that can be installed on another users' phone or tablet.

Share your app for others to install on their phone/tablet (.apk file)

Package the app (.apk file) by going to the "Build" menu on the App Inventor toolbar.

Select "App (save .apk to my computer)." A pop-up box should alert you that your download has begun.

Email the .apk file to your friends and they can install it by opening the email from their phone. They will need to change the settings on their phone to allow installation of a non-market application.

Distribute on Google Play Store

If you want to distribute it more widely, you can upload it to a website that both you and your friends can access. You can also distribute your app on the  Google Play Store.

There is a checklist to follow before you can upload your app. If your app is going to collect data, you must add a privacy policy to your app's store listing. The privacy policy discloses how you treat sensitive user and device data. It must disclose how your app collects, uses and shares user data, including the parties with whom it's shared.

Go to the Google Play Publishing Home and to learn how to publish your app to Google Play.

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