---
title: "Distribute your Android app privately"
description: "The Google Play store is meant to publish apps for the general public. If you are building an app for a specific group and do not want/need to go through"
canonical_url: "https://www.goodbarber.com/help/publish-your-android-app-yourself-solo-r62/distribute-your-android-app-privately-a237/"
lang: en
---

# Distribute your Android app privately

Source: https://www.goodbarber.com/help/publish-your-android-app-yourself-solo-r62/distribute-your-android-app-privately-a237/

The Google Play store is meant to publish apps for the general public.
If you are building an app for a specific group and do not want/need to go through the public store distribution process, it is possible to distribute your app differently.

## 1. Android Private distribution

To distribute your Android app to your users directly, you need first to get your APK production file from your Google Play console:

1. Build your [adhoc (test) Android version](https://www.goodbarber.com/help/publish-your-android-app-yourself-solo-r62/build-and-test-the-android-ad-hoc-version-a71/) then download your [.**aab file**](https://www.goodbarber.com/help/publish-your-android-app-yourself-solo-r62/publish-your-app-on-google-play-with-an-organization-account-a370/)
2. Login to your [Google](https://play.google.com/apps/publish/?pli=1) [Play console](https://play.google.com/apps/publish/?pli=1)
3. Select your app
4. Go the menu**Release > Production**
5. Click "**Create new release**"
6. Click "**Upload**" to upload your .aab file [downloaded previously](https://www.goodbarber.com/help/publish-your-android-app-yourself-solo-r62/publish-your-app-on-google-play-with-an-organization-account-a370/) from your GoodBarber back office
7. Go to the menu "**[Test and Release > Latest release and bundles > View all app bundles](https://play.google.com/console/developers/app/bundle-explorer) :: Click the arrow next to the App bundle you need :: Tab Downloads**"
8. Download the **Signed, universal APK** file from the Play console

From then, the way to distribute this file to your users is up to you.

![](https://cmsphoto.ww-cdn.com/superstatic/1663330/art/default/27992365-27876317.jpg?v=1751553994.3849287)