Android Studio: automatically signing apps

Question

I'm uncertain about this part of the google docs for signing my app on android studios - http://developer.android.com/tools/publishing/app-signing.html:

When I create my signed apps, in android studios, I usually go to: Build > Generate Signed APK and then fill in the details for my keystore. The release apk is then generated to a location I specify.

What does google mean in this section where I can sign my apps automatically? Do they mean I need to config android studio first before I click on assembleRelease in gradle?

Answer 1

After you provide Signing info in Android Studio (alias, password, etc.) your release apk will be signed by specified key.

To choose release build variant you need to go View -> Tool Windows -> Build Variants and change 'debug' to 'release' and Run the app.