Optimizing Large App Sizes for Google Play Store: Strategies and Solutions
According to Play Store policies, apps larger than 200 MB cannot be published on the platform. Google aims to minimize the initial download size for users, reducing the burden on their network bandwidth and device storage. This limitation encourages developers to utilize features like expansion files, Play Asset Delivery, and Play Feature Delivery. It helps them to efficiently manage and deliver additional app content as needed, without overwhelming users with large initial downloads.
Situations where this issue occur
Mobile applications often require rich, immersive content to meet user expectations and competitive standards. Yet, including heavy multimedia elements and functionalities can significantly increase app size. Here are some particular situations where this issue occurs:
- Inclusion of high-quality graphics and multimedia content, such as 3D models, high-resolution images, and videos.
- Integration of extensive audio files, music, or sound effects within the app.
- Incorporation of large datasets, such as maps, offline content, or extensive resource libraries.
- Implementation of complex features or functionalities that require a significant amount of resources and assets to operate effectively.
How we can address this challenge
We typically employ four methods to dynamically manage the app’s large assets, aiming to enhance app performance and user downloads.
- Google Play Assets (We have used)
- Google Play Feature Delivery.
- Google Expansion files / obb files (Works for the apps that are published before August 2021 with APK files not work with aab files).
- Downloading Assets from server such as AWS or Firebase
1 Google Play Assets
Google Play assets are an essential component for developers looking to make an impact on the Google Play Store. These assets consist of different multimedia elements like images, videos, promotional graphics, and screenshots. All these play a crucial role in presenting an app or game to potential users. By leveraging high-quality and captivating assets, developers can effectively communicate the features and benefits of their products. Ultimately, this will increase the likelihood of attracting downloads and cultivating positive user experiences.
→ There are two main types of Play Asset Delivery (PAD) on Google Play: install-time and on-demand. Immediate delivery ensures that assets are downloaded and installed with the initial app installation, while ‘On-Demand’ delivery allows assets to be downloaded later, when needed.
Download size limits
Asset packs are ideal for large games due to their increased size limits:
- The download size limit for each fast-follow and on-demand asset pack is 512 MB.
- The total download size limit for all install-time asset packs combined is 1 GB.
- The total download size limit for all asset packs in an Android App Bundle is 2 GB.
- You can use up to 50 asset packs in an Android App Bundle.
How do we use this : In our BITT SMART APP, we have effectively addressed the challenge of a large app size, which stands at 510 MB, by implementing ‘On Demand Play Asset Delivery.’ It allowed us to request and utilize app assets at runtime, enabling the assets to be downloaded when the app is installed from the Play Store. This way we have significantly improved the user experience and minimized the initial download size, delivering a more streamlined and efficient app installation process.
2 Play Feature Delivery
Play Feature Delivery enables developers to deliver specific features and content within their apps to users on demand. It also allows developers to reduce the initial app size and improve installation times by delivering features when they are needed, rather than including them in the initial installation package. By utilizing Play Feature Delivery, developers can provide a more efficient and tailored app experience, optimizing storage space and network usage while ensuring that users have access to the necessary features.
Example : Consider an app that allows your users to buy and sell goods in an online marketplace. You can reasonably modularize each of the following functionalities into separate feature modules:
- Account login and creation
- Browsing the marketplace
- Placing an item for sale
- Processing payments.
Using Play Feature delivery you can let these modules be delivered to the app using runtime. Decreasing your app size during download. All the required features will be downloaded when required.
3 Expansion files
Expansion files, also known as OBB (Opaque Binary Blob) files, are a way to provide additional data to your app. They are often used when the main APK file is too large and would exceed the maximum size allowed for Google Play Store. Expansion files are uploaded to the Google Play Store alongside the APK and can be downloaded by the app when needed. This allows developers to include high-quality graphics, media files, or other large assets without increasing the initial download size of the app. By utilizing expansion files, developers can ensure a smoother user experience and avoid limitations imposed by the size constraints of the APK.
NOTE : This will only work with the APK Files and apps that are published before August 2021.
4 Download the Large files from Server and use that
You also have the option to utilize a server for file storage, such as AWS or Firebase, to facilitate the download of assets at runtime and their subsequent usage as needed. However, in this scenario, you would be responsible for managing the entire download process within the app. On the other hand, Google Play Asset Delivery and Play Feature Delivery handle this process for you, alleviating the need for manual management within the app.
Concluding Note
Effectively managing app size within the confines of Google Play’s restrictions is paramount for developers seeking to deliver seamless user experiences while adhering to platform policies. The above approaches enable developers to circumvent size limitations and enhance app performance and streamline user downloads. Ultimately, by embracing these innovative solutions, developers can navigate the challenges of app size optimization. Thus, it ensures their apps remain competitive and accessible in the dynamic landscape of mobile technology.
