Expansion files in the new Google Play developer console

Question

I am trying to upload my app to Google Play using the developer console. As of a week or so ago they have made it so that each app has a unique key string. You have to use the new developer console to get the key for your app. The problem is that there is apparently no way to upload an expansion file, which my app needs, in the new developer console. How then do I get my key, and get my apk with expansion file uploaded to Google Play?

Uploading an expansion file was simple with the old console all you had to do is upload it at the same time you were uploading the apk file.

What is it that I am missing?

Answer 1

This is a known issue of the Google developer console.

You can't add the expansion file to your first APK.
So if you are uploading for the first time, you will need to generate a second APK with a higher versionCode and upload it again. Only then, you will have the option to add your expansion file in the developer console.

From Google documentation:

Note: If you’re uploading a new app, expansion files can’t be added to the first APK file that you upload.