Google today announced a big change for Android app APK files, doubling the maximum size that developers can upload.
Android app developers can now upload APK files that are up to 100MB in size, double the old limit of 50MB. The change is meant to support richer apps and more graphics-intensive games. Google notes that while APK files can now be up to 100MB in size, devs should keep things like mobile data connectivity and data caps in mind. If an app is too large, it might deter a user from downloading it.
Of course, app developers can make apps that are larger than 100MB in size. If they need to do so, they can add up to two expansion files that are often downloaded at the same time as the main APK. These files can be up to 2GB in size.
One detail that’s worth noting is that this 100MB APK limit applies to apps that target Android 4.0 or higher. Devices on Android 3.2 or lower still have a maximum APK file size of 50MB. Google’s latest Android distribution report shows that less than 5 percent of Android devices are on a version below 4.0, though, so most folks will be able to download 100MB APKs.
