Google to Replace APK with Android App Bundles (AAB) Starting August 2021

Jul. 1, 2021

Google is constantly improving its digital marketplace, that is Google Play Store, to help developers distribute apps in a better way. Now, the company has announced its plan to switch away from APKs to its existing alternate app-packaging format calledAndroid App Bundles. It aims to solve major issues with the current APK app packaging format and reduce the size of Android apps by 15%.

Why Switch to AAB From APK?

The new format requires apps to be less than 150MB in size for improved distribution. For apps and games that are more than 150MB in size, developers will have to use the new Play Asset Delivery (PAD) system to deliver external resources to users. Currently, apps and games use OBBs to deliver additional assets to users. However, the PAD system uses faster data compression and dynamic delivery strategies to enable faster downloads, even while already playing a game or running an app.

Now, although app bundles solve the issues with APK packaging format, there is a major catch for the developers. The Android App Bundles format is only available for apps on the Google Play Store, unlike APKs that developers can upload to third-party marketplaces likeAmazon App Store (also coming to Windows 11), Xiaomi’s Get Apps, and others.

As a result, developers who switch to AAB willnot be able to deliver the exact same package to other app storesand sources. This eliminates the possibility of sideloading apps unless the developers maintain a separate APK version of their apps.

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