top of page
Search

How zip aligning your APK can improve performance and reduce size

fernandedmx


How to fix the error "you uploaded an apk that is not zip aligned"




If you are an Android app developer, you might have encountered this error message when trying to upload your apk file to Google Play or other app stores. This error means that your apk file is not optimized for Android devices and needs to be aligned using a tool called zipalign. In this article, we will explain what zipalign is, why it is important, how to use it, and how to verify if your apk is aligned.




you uploaded an apk that is not zip aligned



What is zip align and why is it important?




Zip align is a tool that optimizes Android app files




Zipalign is a zip archive alignment tool that comes with the Android SDK. It helps ensure that all uncompressed files in the apk file are aligned relative to the start of the file. This allows the files to be accessed directly via mmap (2), which removes the need to copy this data in RAM and reduces your app's memory usage.


Zip align improves app performance and reduces memory usage




By using zipalign, you can improve your app's performance and reduce its memory footprint. Zipalign can also reduce the download size of your app by removing unnecessary padding bytes. Zipaligning your apk file is a simple but essential step for Android app development and distribution.


When and how to use zipalign?




Zipalign must be used before or after signing the apk depending on the tool




You must use zipalign at a specific point in the build process, depending on which app-signing tool you use. If you use apksigner (recommended), you must use zipalign before signing the apk file. If you use jarsigner (not recommended), you must use zipalign after signing the apk file. If you use Android Studio or AGP to build your app, this is done automatically for you.


Zipalign can be used with Android Studio or command line




You can use zipalign either with Android Studio or with command line. To use zipalign with Android Studio, simply export your signed apk file using the wizard and it will automatically align it for you. To use zipalign with command line, you need to locate the zipalign tool in your system and run it with the appropriate options. For example, to align infile.apk and save it as outfile.apk, you can use this command:


zipalign -p -f -v 4 infile.apk outfile.apk


The -p option page-aligns uncompressed .so files, which are shared libraries used by your app. The -f option overwrites existing output file. The -v option enables verbose output. The 4 argument specifies the alignment in bytes.


How to zip align apk file in android studio


Zip align apk before or after signing


Zip align tool download for windows


Zip align error google play console


Zip align command line example


Zip align android developers documentation


Zip align apk using gradle


Zip align apk mac os x


Zip align apk linux ubuntu


Zip align apk online tool


Zip align apk xda developers


Zip align apk benefits and advantages


Zip align apk tutorial video


Zip align apk stack overflow


Zip align apk android manifest xml


Zip align apk debuggable attribute


Zip align apk version code and name


Zip align apk export unsigned application package


Zip align apk sign with release key certificate


Zip align apk upload to google play


Zip align apk verify alignment


Zip align apk alignment argument


Zip align apk flags and options


Zip align apk verbose output


Zip align apk recompress using zopfli


Zip align apk check alignment only


Zip align apk overwrite existing output file


Zip align apk page-align uncompressed so files


Zip align apk zip archive alignment tool


Zip align apk mmap access and memory usage


Zip align apk optimize for distribution


Zip align apk jarsigner vs apksigner


Zip align apk extra field in zip local file header sections


Zip align apk eclipse export wizard


Zip align apk invalidate signature after changes


Zip align apk security reasons for disabling debugging


Zip align apk sign in release mode vs debug mode


Zip align apk common errors and solutions


Zip align apk frequently asked questions and answers


Zip align apk best practices and tips


How to verify if your apk is zip aligned?




Use the -c option of zipalign to check alignment




To confirm that your apk file is aligned, you can use the -c option of zipalign to check the alignment. For example, to check the alignment of outfile.apk, you can use this command:


zipalign -c -v 4 outfile.apk


The -c option checks the alignment and prints the verification result. The -v option enables verbose output. The 4 argument specifies the alignment in bytes.


Use Android Studio or AGP to build and align automatically




If you use Android Studio or AGP to build your app, you don't need to worry about zipaligning your apk file manually. Android Studio and AGP will automatically zipalign your apk file as part of the build process. You can verify this by checking the build output or by inspecting the apk file with a zip tool.


Conclusion




Zipalign is a simple but essential step for Android app development




Zipalign is a tool that optimizes Android app files by aligning uncompressed files relative to the start of the file. This improves app performance and reduces memory usage. Zipalign also reduces the download size of your app by removing unnecessary padding bytes.


Zipalign can be done manually or automatically with different tools




You can use zipalign either manually or automatically with different tools. If you use apksigner, you must use zipalign before signing the apk file. If you use jarsigner, you must use zipalign after signing the apk file. If you use Android Studio or AGP, zipalign is done automatically for you. You can verify if your apk file is aligned by using the -c option of zipalign or by inspecting the apk file with a zip tool.


FAQs




What are the benefits of zipaligning an apk?




Zipaligning an apk has several benefits, such as:


  • Improving app performance by allowing files to be accessed directly via mmap (2)



  • Reducing app memory usage by removing the need to copy data in RAM



  • Reducing app download size by removing unnecessary padding bytes



How do I find the zipalign tool in my system?




The zipalign tool is part of the Android SDK and can be found in the build-tools folder. For example, if your Android SDK is installed in C:\Android\SDK, you can find the zipalign tool in C:\Android\SDK\build-tools\version\zipalign.exe, where version is the version number of the build-tools.


What are the common errors related to zipaligning an apk?




Some of the common errors related to zipaligning an apk are:


  • You uploaded an apk that is not zip aligned: This means that your apk file is not optimized for Android devices and needs to be aligned using zipalign.



  • Unable to open 'infile.apk' as a zip archive: This means that your input file is not a valid zip file and cannot be processed by zipalign.



  • Unable to open 'outfile.apk' for output: This means that your output file cannot be created or overwritten by zipalign.



  • Verification FAILED: This means that your apk file is not aligned correctly and needs to be aligned again using zipalign.



How do I zip align multiple apks at once?




If you have multiple apks that need to be aligned, you can use a batch script or a shell script to run zipalign on each apk file. For example, you can use this batch script on Windows:


@echo off for %%f in (*.apk) do ( echo Aligning %%f zipalign -p -f -v 4 %%f aligned-%%f ) echo Done


This script will align all apk files in the current folder and save them as aligned-filename.apk.


How do I update an existing apk without losing alignment?




If you need to update an existing apk file without losing alignment, you can use a tool called zipsigner. Zipsigner is a Java library that allows you to sign and align an apk file in one step. You can use zipsigner either as a standalone tool or as a library in your own code. For example, to sign and align infile.apk and save it as outfile.apk, you can use this command:


java -jar zipsigner.jar infile.apk outfile.apk


Zipsigner will automatically detect if your input file is aligned and preserve its alignment in the output file. I have already written the article with the required specifications. There is no need to continue writing the article. I hope you are satisfied with the quality and content of the article. If you have any feedback or suggestions, please let me know. Thank you for using Bing chat mode. 44f88ac181


0 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Pokemon Go APK Original

Pokemon Go APK Original: Como baixar e jogar o Global Gaming Sensation Pokemon Go é um jogo gratuito para smartphone que permite capturar...

Comments


bottom of page