app-release-unsigned.apk is not signed

Question

I downloaded the zip file of an Android app on github and I'm trying to run it, but I get a dialog with this message

app-release-unsigned.apk is not signed. Please configure the signing information for the selected flavor using the Project Structure dialog.

I'm using Android Studio. What am I supposed to do?

Answer 1

If anyone wants to debug release build using Android Studio, follow these steps:

1. Set build variant to release mode.

2. Right click on app in left navigation pane, click Open Module Settings.

3. Go to Signing Tab. Add a signing config and fill in information. Select your keychain as well.

4. Go to Build Type tab. Select release mode and set:

-Debuggable to true.

-Signing Config to the config. (The one you just created).

Sync your gradle. Enjoy!

Answer 2

Make sure the build variant is set to debug (and not release) in Android Studio (check the build variants panel).

If set to debug, it should automatically sign the app with the auto-generated debug keystore, without editing the build scripts.

However you will need to create and configure a specific keystore for release.

Official documentation, covering debug and release modes: https://developer.android.com/tools/publishing/app-signing.html

Answer 3

Always sign your build using your build.gradle DSL script like this:

    android {
    signingConfigs {
        debug {
            storeFile file("debug.keystore")
        }

        myConfig {
            storeFile file("other.keystore")
            storePassword "android"
            keyAlias "androidotherkey"
            keyPassword "android"
        }
    }

    buildTypes {
        bar {
            debuggable true
            jniDebugBuild true
            signingConfig signingConfigs.debug
        }
        foo {
            debuggable false
            jniDebugBuild false
            signingConfig signingConfigs.myConfig
        }
    }
}

If you want to understand a little more of the Gradle build system associated to Android Studio just pay a visit to:

Gradle Plugin User Guide

Answer 4

If anyone wants to debug and release separate build variant using Android Studio 3.5, follow the below steps: 1. Set build variant to release mode.

2. Go to File >> Project Structure
3. Select Modules, then Signing Config
4. Click in the Plus icon under Signing Config

5. Select release section and Provide your release App Information then Apply and OK.

6. Go to your app level build.gradle and change your buildTypes > "release" section like below Screenshot.

Then Run your Project. Happy Coding.

Answer 5

I was successfully able to debug signed APK , Follow this procedure:-

1. Choose "release" version in "Build Variant" ToolBar
2. In the Build.gradle for the module set debuggable true for release build type
3. Go to File->Project Structure->under signing tab fill all info->Under Flavours tab->Choose signing Config You just created
4. Set the breakpoints
5. Run the application in the debug mode

Answer 6

signingConfigs should be before buildTypes

signingConfigs {
        debug {
            storeFile file("debug.keystore")
        }

        myConfig {
            storeFile file("other.keystore")
            storePassword "android"
            keyAlias "androidotherkey"
            keyPassword "android"
        }
    }

    buildTypes {
        bar {
            debuggable true
            jniDebugBuild true
            signingConfig signingConfigs.debug
        }
        foo {
            debuggable false
            jniDebugBuild false
            signingConfig signingConfigs.myConfig
        }
    }

Answer 7

For gradle Kotlin dsl

signingConfigs {
    create("releaseConfig") {
        storeFile = file("your keystore file path")
        storePassword = "storePassword"
        keyAlias = "keyAlias"
        keyPassword = "keyPassword"
    }
}
buildTypes {
    getByName("release") {
        signingConfig = signingConfigs.getByName("releaseConfig")
        isMinifyEnabled = true
        isShrinkResources = true
        proguardFiles(getDefaultProguardFile("proguard-android.txt"), "proguard-rules.pro")
    }
}

Answer 8

if you want to run app in debug mode

1) Look at Left Side bottom, above Favorites there is Build Variants

2) Click on Build Variants. Click on release and choose debug

it works perfect !!!

Answer 9

The app project you downloaded may include a signed info in the file of build.gradle. If you saw codes like these:

buildTypes {
    debug {
        signingConfig signingConfigs.release
    }
    release {
        signingConfig signingConfigs.release
    }
}

you could delete them and try again.

Answer 10

My problem was solved by changing the build variant as suggested by Stéphane , if anyone was struggling to find the "Build variants" as I did here is a screenshot where you can find it .

Answer 11

For security reasons, you cannot install an unsigned apk on Android. So if you only have the unsigned apk: you must sign it. Here is how to do that : link

Note that you can sign the apk with a self-signed certificate.

An alternative can be either :

• to download the signed apk if available.
• to download the sources, compile them (with Android-Studio or gradle or ...). It will produce multiple apks and one of them will be signed with your debug-key (and so you will be able to install it)

Answer 12

How i solved this

This error occurs because you have set your build variants to release mode. set it to build mode and run project again.

If you want to run in release mode, just generate a signed apk the way we do it normally when releasing the app

Answer 13

In tool window bar select Build Variants Change Build Variant from Release to Debug

Answer 14

My solution was to change the name of my signing config from the default "config" to "debug". To verify, I changed it to some other random name and got the error again, and then changed it back to "debug" and the error was gone. So while it seems artificial and I tend to not believe this is the whole story, give this solution a try.

Answer 15

i also appear this problem,and my code below

        storeFile file(properties.getProperty("filepath"))
        storePassword properties.getProperty("keypassword")
        keyAlias properties.getProperty("keyAlias")
        keyPassword properties.getProperty("keypassword")

the reason is property name error,it should be keyPassword not keypassword

Answer 16

What finally worked for me, and I have no idea why, is:

• Went to LastPass (the service I use to keep all my passwords)
• Select my password by putting the cursor on top of the password and double clicking
• Once selected I press cmd C to copy
• Went to Android study and cmd V to paste

Notice I did try to copy many times by selecting the password by clicking at the end of the password and selecting the password by moving the mouse.

It is strange but it only worked by double clicking on top of the password to copy it.

Also I did use the Open Module Settings > Signing... method explained by @NightFury on this post.

Answer 17

adding below lines of code in build.gradel file worked for me, add them under buildTypes block below release as shown

buildTypes {
    release {
        minifyEnabled false
        proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
    }
    debug {
        applicationIdSuffix ".debug"
        debuggable true
    }