How to create/build *.APK file for Android from Ionic project

[JurajChovan]

hi friends,
pls help me - I cannot crete *.APK file for Android device from my Ionic project. What’s wrong?

I created new Ionic app:

ionic start Test006 blank --type=angular

app is created, works fine …
Then I continued by add platform:

ionic cordova platform add android

everything seems OK in this point, but … I try build android package, start command:

ionic cordova build android

and get following:

How can I build my ionic project and create file for Android device (*.apk)?
What commands and what prerequisities I need?

Edit:
If I run command:

ng build

but I don’t know how to create/build for platform android, please HELP.

[Hills90210]

Android Play Store Deployment | Ionic Documentation

[JurajChovan]

This guide is for Capacitor, but I need to use Cordova (in my Ionic 5 app).

According to guide for Ionic 5 (use Cordova) (https://ionicframework.com/docs/v5/deployment/play-store)
I got the same error on first command:

ionic cordova build android --prod --release

[Hills90210]

I think you need to downgrade your node/npm version since your on ionic 5. I’m not sure of what is the highest version ionic 5 is allowed to use.

Also remove the platforms and plugins folders and re-add them. This can be the issue too.

[JurajChovan]

I have these versions:

[abhisheksharma29502]

Thanks for the great share ! Really Helpful article.

[JurajChovan]

abhisheksharma29502, have any tip for me?

[julio-ionic]

use node 16 or 18, angular doesn’t like even versions as they are not LTS

also use ionic 6.x, 5.4 is very old and deprecated

[JurajChovan]

hi friends,
1.) need install “Android Studio” (01/2023 file “android-studio-2022.1.1.19-windows.exe”)

2.) in “Android Studio” run “SDK Manger” and in tab “SDK Platform” check and install necessary Android device versions:

3.) in tab “SDK Tools” check and install “Android SDK Build-Tools” (need 30.0.3 version):

4.) in Ionic application folder - need install:

npm install @ionic/cordova-builders

5.) add to Ionic (ver.5) project “angular.json” next lines:

{
  "$schema": "./node_modules/@angular/cli/lib/config/schema.json",
  "version": 1,
  "newProjectRoot": "projects",
  "projects": {
    "app": {
      "projectType": "application",
      "schematics": {},
      "root": "",
      "sourceRoot": "src",
      "prefix": "app",
      "architect": {
     // ... NEED ADD FOLLOWING LINES: 
        "ionic-cordova-build": {
          "builder": "@ionic/cordova-builders:cordova-build",
          "options": {
            "browserTarget": "app:build"
          },
          "configurations": {
            "production": {
              "browserTarget": "app:build:production"
            }
          }
        },
        "ionic-cordova-serve": {
          "builder": "@ionic/cordova-builders:cordova-serve",
          "options": {
            "cordovaBuildTarget": "app:ionic-cordova-build",
            "devServerTarget": "app:serve"
          },
          "configurations": {
            "production": {
              "cordovaBuildTarget": "app:ionic-cordova-build:production",
              "devServerTarget": "app:serve:production"
            }
          }
        }

6.) check settings path to Java in “Environment Variables”:

7.) and in “System variables” add “JAVA_HOME” and “ANDROID*” to “Path”:

8.) in Ionic project folder check Cordova requirements by command:

cordova requirements

9.) run (again):

ionic cordova build android

10.) “*.apk” file is (finally) created:

So, I believe to help someone.
…