How to run android app in release not in debug?

Question

In my app I'm using google maps. Now, I realized that you have a build google maps key and release google maps key. When I launch my signed apk into the app store for testing the google maps screen goes grey. And i have to keep signing a new apk and loading it into play store and then test it.

How do I test a release build? Please provide very simple and easy step by step instructions or if you know how to solve the problem with google maps that would be helpful.

Here is a screen shot of how i set up my google maps api in the console for my release one.

Answer 1

Test a release build

1. open Build Variants

2. set debug to release

3. Build and Run

For gray screen Once you have got the release SHA set in dev console

• This is main reason that I forget most of the time

You have two google_maps_api.xml files

One in this folder:

app/src/debug/res/values

Other in this folder:

app/src/release/res/values

But only the debug one contains your API key probably.

Answer 2

You can use gradle tasks to run a release build on emulator.

Default task name is installRelease

just start emulator and fire below command from terminal

./gradlew installRelease

this will install release build into emulator.