To generate a release build for Android run the following climand $ ionic cordova build android --prod --release code This will generate a release build based on the settings in the code in the platforms code directory of an app. An Ionic app will have preset default values in this file but this can be changed to customize builds. Signing an APK First the unsigned APK must be signed. If a signing key has already been generated skip these steps and use that one instead. Generate a private key using the keytoolmand thates with the Android SDK $ keytool -genkey -v -keystore -alias alias_name -keyalg RSA -keysize 248 -validity 1 code Once thatmand has been ran and its prompts have been answered a file called code will be created in the current directory. To sign the unsigned APK run the jarsigner tool which is also included in the Android SDK $ jarsigner -verbose -sigalg SHA1withRSA -digestalg SHA1 -keystore alias_name code Finally the zip align tool must be ran to optimize the APK. The zipalign code tool can be found in code . For example on macOS with Android Studio installed zipalign code is in ~ code $ zipalign -v 4 code This generates a final release binary called that can be accepted into the Google Play Store.