Google Ups APK Limit on Google Play to 100MB

Google Play Store Increases Maximum APK Size To 100 MB

Recently we talk about Google New Mobile Payment Platform and now Google Developers, Google is increasing the size of APK files that you can upload to Google Play to 100MB. This doubles the previous 50MB limit, giving you the opportunity to speed up the install process for your customers. 

The change is largely a formality since the file size restriction is an artificial cap. The 50 MB limit was left over from the launch of the Android Market (later renamed to the Play Store).

Back in 2012, Google added a workaround for developers that still required them to keep their app's apk below 50 MB, but allowed them to include up to two "expansion files" (i.e. obb files) that can be as large as 2 GB each. Executable code was to remain in the apk while the obb files were meant for extremely large resources like maps, audio, video, and whatever else couldn't realistically fit into the core app.

With the new limit in place, developers can build their apps to the size they need to be, rather than cutting corners on resources or pushing a few megabytes of leftovers into expansion files. Keep in mind that this change won't really make apps any larger, it'll just make it less of a hassle for developers to package them. Google has been sending out apks that exceed the 50 MB limit for quite a while, like certain variants of the Chrome for Android web browser which can weigh in at about 70 MB.