Xamarin.Android How to reset upload key with Google App Signing and use it to sign another APK

Question

Somehow I managed to save the wrong keystore for my Android app that I developed using Xamarin and already published. When I wanted to upload an update to the Google Play Store with the keystore that I thought was the right keystore, the SHA certificate did not match.

Luckily I was registered for Google Play App Signing so they were able to reset the Upload Key for me. In order to reset the upload key I:

1.(dont know if i had to do this to generate new upload key) Generated a new archive and new keystore for the Android project in Xamarin and exported the APK to a folder. In that folder i ran the command lines in the next steps:

2.Generated a new upload key using the command line: keytool -genkeypair -alias upload -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 9125 -keystore keystore.jks

3.Exported the certificate for that key to a *.pem file: keytool -export -rfc -alias upload -file upload_certificate.pem -keystore keystore.jks

4.Sent the *.pem to Google Play Developer Support.**

Note: to be able to use the keytool command in Windows 10 command prompt, I searched and opened Environmental Variables, found PATH under User Variables, right clicked and Edit, and added new path of location where keytool.exe is located: C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_191\bin

Now that I have a *.pem file and *.jks file, how do I create the new APK file for my Xamarin Android project that will serve as an update, signed with the new upload key in Visual Studio/Xamarin?

Answer 1

Another alternate way is :

1) Generate new key using command promt:

keytool -genkeypair -alias upload -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 9125 -keystore keystore.jks

2) From app signing select the import option and import the created key path.

3) create the build and submit to play store.

Answer 2

I'll tell you what happened when I lost my upload key.

It was when i was just a beginner and I had no idea if keeping the signing key was that important. anyway, i lost it.

1. I requested a new upload key by going to : PlayConsoleSupport

2. filled the necessary fields.

3. did

4. it took a day or two for them to reply with the complete but, confusing instructions for creating another upload key and sending them the .PEM file as I was a beginner.

5. I did as they said in the email created another keystore.

6. saved it in C:users/****/uploadkey.jks [important]

7. opened cmd and wrote the command that i recieved in the email, i don't remember it.

8. and that gave me certificate.pem

9. I replied to that email and attached certificate.pem

10. after a couple of days, i recieved an email that my upload key was activated and that i have to sign every future update with the upload key that i sent them the certificate.pem of.