Lighter Apps, Faster Downloads: Android APK Size Reduction Tips
In the dynamic landscape of mobile applications, optimizing the size of your Android app is crucial for a seamless user experience. A smaller APK (Android Package) size not only benefits users by consuming less data but also aids in faster downloads and installations. In this blog post, we’ll explore effective strategies to reduce the APK size of your Android app without compromising functionality or performance.
Before we jump into the strategies, let’s introduce a handy detective tool: APK Analyzer. Provided by Google, this tool helps you inspect what’s inside your APK. It lets you see the nitty-gritty details like resources, assets, and code that make up your app.
Simply drag & drop the APK into the Android Studio IDE to inspect its components.
1. Optimizing XML Files:
Minimize XML file sizes by removing unnecessary attributes and whitespace. Use tools like Android Asset Studio to generate compact XML drawables, reducing the overall size of your app.
2. Unused Resources Cleanup:
Imagine your app as a house. Unused resources are like clutter, taking up unnecessary space. Use tools in Android Studio, such as the Lint tool and the ‘lintChecks’ Gradle property, to spot and eliminate redundant files, images, and code. Regularly sweep through your project to keep only the essentials.
You can also remove unused resources from “Refactor” at the top of Android Studio, then select “Remove Unused Resources.” This action will display a list of resources. Verify whether each resource is being used in your project and proceed to delete resources that are confirmed as unused.
3. Font optimization:
On our optimization journey, we often encounter challenges with design teams suggesting various fonts, leading to increased APK size. We can tackle this by standardizing on a single font style throughout the app. If your app demands multiple font styles, consider using Downloadable Fonts to avoid embedding them directly within the app.
4. Add ResConfigs :
The “resConfigs” option in your app’s build.gradle file gives you control over language-specific resources in the APK. This is vital for optimizing app size by excluding unnecessary resources tied to specific languages.
For instance, to include only English resources and exclude others, add the following line in the defaultConfig block:
defaultConfig {
// ...
resConfigs("en")
// ...
}5. Convert PNG to Webp :
Converting PNG images to WebP format significantly reduces APK size in Android. WebP maintains image quality while offering superior compression, resulting in smaller file sizes and faster app downloads. Embracing this conversion optimizes resource utilization, enhancing overall app performance.
6. ProGuard and R8 for Code Shrinkage:
ProGuard and R8 are both code shrinking tools used in the Android development ecosystem to reduce the size of the final APK (Android Package) file. They help in removing unused classes, methods, and attributes from the code, ultimately resulting in a smaller and more efficient application.
Integrated into the Android build system, ProGuard can be configured through the ‘proguard-rules.pro’ file. R8 is the default code shrinker starting from Android Gradle Plugin version 3.4. It is integrated automatically, and you don’t need additional configurations to enable it.
7. Reduce Unused Dependencies:
Periodically review and update third-party libraries, as some may contribute unnecessary bloat. Stick to essential components, and explore alternatives with a smaller footprint.
8. Dynamic Delivery with App Bundles:
The Android App Bundle format is our next hero, comes into play when publishing on the Play Store. It facilitates dynamic delivery, meaning users download only what’s necessary for their device configuration, reducing overall APK size.
Conclusion: Making your Android app’s file size smaller is an important part of making it run faster and ensuring users have a smooth experience. By using these techniques, you can create an app that works better and is more straightforward, all without losing any features.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on things, check regularly, and update your app with the newest tools and methods. This way, your users will always have a quick and smooth time whenever they use your app.
