Reduce Android AAB File Size: Beat the 150MB App Bundle Limit

The Google Play Limit

Google Play enforces a strict 150MB download limit for base Android App Bundles (AAB). If you exceed this, you have to use complex Play Asset Delivery systems, which can take weeks to implement.

Where is the bloat coming from?

In 90% of cases, app bloat comes from two sources: Unoptimized native libraries (.so files) and raw image assets.

3 Steps to Shrink Your AAB

1. Convert PNGs to WebP: Android has supported WebP since API 14. Drag your res folders into ImageTight and convert everything to WebP. You will save roughly 60% of your asset weight.
2. Remove Unused Resources: Enable shrinkResources true in your build.gradle to automatically strip images that are never referenced in your code.
3. Use Vector Drawables: For icons and simple illustrations, use XML-based Vector Drawables instead of multiple DPI versions of PNGs.

By executing these three steps, most developers can shave 50-100MB off their final AAB build, safely bypassing the Google Play limit.