What should I change in my Android .csproj file before uploading it to Google Play?

Question

What should I change in my Android .csproj file before uploading it to Google Play?

Kim Strasser 1,631

I created a new Android project in VS Insiders and I added my files from my old VS 2022 Android project to the new project. But I have not changed my new .csproj file.

My new .csproj file in VS Insiders looks like this and debugging on my Android device works and I was able to create an archive in VS Insiders that I could upload to Google Play Internal Testing.

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <TargetFramework>net9.0-android</TargetFramework>
    <SupportedOSPlatformVersion>31.0</SupportedOSPlatformVersion>
    <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
    <ApplicationId>com.companyname.ProjectAndroid</ApplicationId>
    <ApplicationVersion>12</ApplicationVersion>     <ApplicationDisplayVersion>1.2</ApplicationDisplayVersion>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <None Remove="google-services.json" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <GoogleServicesJson Include="google-services.json" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <PackageReference Include="CommunityToolkit.Mvvm" Version="8.4.0" />
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.AppCenter.Analytics" Version="5.0.7" />
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.AppCenter.Crashes" Version="5.0.7" />
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Maui.Controls" Version="9.0.120" />
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Maui.Core" Version="9.0.120" />
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Maui.Essentials" Version="9.0.120" />
    <PackageReference Include="MonoGame.Content.Builder.Task" Version="3.8.4.1" />
    <PackageReference Include="MonoGame.Framework.Android" Version="3.8.4.1" />
    <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="13.0.4" />
    <PackageReference Include="PlayFabAllSDK" Version="1.205.250718" />
    <PackageReference Include="Plugin.InAppBilling" Version="9.1.0" />
    <PackageReference Include="Plugin.MediaManager" Version="1.2.2" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Collection.Jvm" Version="1.5.0.3" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Collection.Ktx" Version="1.5.0.3" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Core.SplashScreen" Version="1.0.1.17" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Fragment.Ktx" Version="1.8.9" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Lifecycle.LiveData" Version="2.9.3" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Lifecycle.LiveData.Core" Version="2.9.3" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Lifecycle.LiveData.Core.Ktx" Version="2.9.3" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Lifecycle.Process" Version="2.9.3" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Lifecycle.Runtime" Version="2.9.3" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Lifecycle.Runtime.Android" Version="2.9.3" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Lifecycle.Runtime.Ktx" Version="2.9.3" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Lifecycle.Runtime.Ktx.Android" Version="2.9.3" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Lifecycle.ViewModel.Ktx" Version="2.9.3" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Lifecycle.ViewModelSavedState" Version="2.9.3" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.Preference" Version="1.2.1.15" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.AndroidX.SavedState.SavedState.Ktx" Version="1.3.2" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.Firebase.Messaging" Version="125.0.0.1" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.Google.Guava" Version="33.4.8.3" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.GooglePlayServices.Base" Version="118.8.0" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <Target Name="RestoreDotnetTools" BeforeTargets="Restore">
    <Message Text="Restoring dotnet tools" Importance="High" />
    <Exec Command="dotnet tool restore" />
  </Target>
  <Import Project="..\ProjectA\ProjectA.projitems" Label="Shared" />
  <Import Project="..\ProjectB\ProjectB.projitems" Label="Shared" />
  <Import Project="..\ProjectC\ProjectC.projitems" Label="Shared" />
</Project>

My old VS 2022 Android .csproj file is much bigger and I´m not sure which lines of code should be copied from my old .csproj file to my new .csproj file.

Which lines of code should I add to my new .csproj file before I upload my archive to Google Play? Can I use the same .csproj file code for both Google Play Internal Testing and distribution in the Google Play Store?

I have a proguard.cfg and a .keystore file in my Android project. Should both files always be included in the Android project when I upload an archive to Google Play?

My old VS 2022 .csproj file:

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <TargetFramework>net9.0-android</TargetFramework>
    <SupportedOSPlatformVersion>31.0</SupportedOSPlatformVersion>
    <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
    <ApplicationId>com.companyname.ProjectAndroid</ApplicationId>
    <ApplicationVersion>12</ApplicationVersion>
    <ApplicationDisplayVersion>1.2</ApplicationDisplayVersion>
    <AndroidSigningKeyStore>androidkeystore.keystore</AndroidSigningKeyStore>
    <AndroidEnableR8>true</AndroidEnableR8>
      <!-- NOTE: not recommended for Debug builds! -->
      <AndroidLinkTool Condition="'$(Configuration)' == 'Release'">r8</AndroidLinkTool>
      <AndroidSupportedAbis>armeabi-v7a;arm64-v8a;x86;x86_64</AndroidSupportedAbis>
      <DebugType>portable</DebugType>
      <DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols> 
      <AndroidLinkMode>SdkOnly</AndroidLinkMode>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'">
  <AndroidGenerateNativeDebugSymbols>true</AndroidGenerateNativeDebugSymbols>
  <AndroidStripNativeDebugSymbols>false</AndroidStripNativeDebugSymbols>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ">
    <WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
    <NoStdLib>false</NoStdLib>
    <RuntimeIdentifiers>android-arm64;android-arm</RuntimeIdentifiers>
    <AndroidKeyStore>True</AndroidKeyStore>
    <AndroidSigningStorePass>...</AndroidSigningStorePass>
    <AndroidSigningKeyAlias>androidkeystore</AndroidSigningKeyAlias>
    <AndroidSigningKeyPass>...</AndroidSigningKeyPass>
    <EmbedAssembliesIntoApk>True</EmbedAssembliesIntoApk>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ">
    <NoStdLib>false</NoStdLib>
    <AndroidKeyStore>True</AndroidKeyStore>
    <AndroidSigningStorePass>...</AndroidSigningStorePass>
    <AndroidSigningKeyAlias>androidkeystore</AndroidSigningKeyAlias>
    <AndroidSigningKeyPass>...</AndroidSigningKeyPass>
  </PropertyGroup>
…
  <ProjectExtensions><VisualStudio><UserProperties XamarinHotReloadDebuggerTimeoutExceptionProjectAndroidHideInfoBar="True" /></VisualStudio></ProjectExtensions>
</Project>

1 answer

Your answer

Answer 1

Michael Le (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 3,935 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello Kim,

What your new .csproj file needs for Google Play Store

Your current project file is missing several settings required by the Google Play Store. You will need to copy the following from your old VS 2022 project: signing settings, R8 optimization settings, architecture support, debug symbols, and the separate Debug/Release build configurations. You can copy these directly from your working VS 2022 project file into your new one.

Can you use the same .csproj for both Internal Testing and Google Play Store?

Yes, you can use the same .csproj file for both. The difference is controlled by your build configuration—Debug for testing and Release for the store. Internal Testing accepts debug builds, but the Google Play Store requires a properly signed release build.

About your proguard.cfg and .keystore files

Your proguard.cfg file is not needed because your project uses R8 optimization, which is Google's newer tool that replaced ProGuard. In case you still want to use ProGuard, you can include the proguard.cfg file and reference it in your project settings.

<ItemGroup>
    <ProguardConfiguration Include="proguard.cfg" />
</ItemGroup>

Your .keystore file, however, is required for any Google Play upload. Please ensure it is included in your Android project and that the path in your project file is correct.

I hope this helps clarify what you need. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Kim Strasser 1,631 Reputation points

2025-11-06T00:05:39.4633333+00:00
Should I copy both Release configurations from my old .csproj file to my new .csproj file? What is the difference between both configurations?

<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'"> ... <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' "> ...
Michael Le (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 3,935 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-06T03:56:39.1433333+00:00

Yes, you should copy both sections into your new .csproj file. They serve different purposes and are not mutually exclusive. The build system will apply the general Release settings first and then apply the more specific Release|AnyCPU settings for builds that match that particular combination.

Kim Strasser 1,631

I have copied the code from my old .csproj to my new .csproj file. But I get the following errors when I rebuild my Android project:

The specified RuntimeIdentifier 'armeabi-v7a' is not recognized. See https://aka.ms/netsdk1083 for more information. The specified RuntimeIdentifier 'arm64-v8a' is not recognized. See https://aka.ms/netsdk1083 for more information. The specified RuntimeIdentifier 'x86' is not recognized. See https://aka.ms/netsdk1083 for more information. The specified RuntimeIdentifier 'x86_64' is not recognized. See https://aka.ms/netsdk1083 for more information.

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <TargetFramework>net9.0-android</TargetFramework>
    <SupportedOSPlatformVersion>31.0</SupportedOSPlatformVersion>
    <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
    <ApplicationId>com.companyname.ProjectAndroid</ApplicationId>
    <ApplicationVersion>12</ApplicationVersion>
    <ApplicationDisplayVersion>1.2</ApplicationDisplayVersion>
    <AndroidSigningKeyStore>androidkeystore.keystore</AndroidSigningKeyStore>
    <AndroidEnableR8>true</AndroidEnableR8>
      <!-- NOTE: not recommended for Debug builds! -->
      <AndroidLinkTool Condition="'$(Configuration)' == 'Release'">r8</AndroidLinkTool>
      <AndroidSupportedAbis>armeabi-v7a;arm64-v8a;x86;x86_64</AndroidSupportedAbis>
      <DebugType>portable</DebugType>
      <DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols> 
      <AndroidLinkMode>SdkOnly</AndroidLinkMode>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'">
  <AndroidGenerateNativeDebugSymbols>true</AndroidGenerateNativeDebugSymbols>
  <AndroidStripNativeDebugSymbols>false</AndroidStripNativeDebugSymbols>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ">
    <WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
    <NoStdLib>false</NoStdLib>
    <RuntimeIdentifiers>android-arm64;android-arm</RuntimeIdentifiers>
    <AndroidKeyStore>True</AndroidKeyStore>
    <AndroidSigningStorePass>...</AndroidSigningStorePass>
    <AndroidSigningKeyAlias>androidkeystore</AndroidSigningKeyAlias>
    <AndroidSigningKeyPass>...</AndroidSigningKeyPass>
    <EmbedAssembliesIntoApk>True</EmbedAssembliesIntoApk>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ">
    <NoStdLib>false</NoStdLib>
    <AndroidKeyStore>True</AndroidKeyStore>
    <AndroidSigningStorePass>...</AndroidSigningStorePass>
    <AndroidSigningKeyAlias>androidkeystore</AndroidSigningKeyAlias>
    <AndroidSigningKeyPass>...</AndroidSigningKeyPass>
  </PropertyGroup>
…
  <ProjectExtensions><VisualStudio><UserProperties XamarinHotReloadDebuggerTimeoutExceptionProjectAndroidHideInfoBar="True" /></VisualStudio></ProjectExtensions>
</Project>

Michael Le (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 3,935 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

It looks like you've copied some older settings that aren't needed anymore. I've prepared a cleaned-up project as a reference, so carefully go through each section and made the changes. Please don't add back <AndroidSupportedAbis> or specific architecture names like arm64-v8a, armeabi-v7a, x86, or x86_64.

After saving the file:

Delete your bin and obj folders to start fresh.
Build your release bundle with this command: dotnet publish -f net9.0-android -c Release -p:AndroidPackageFormat=aab -p:RuntimeIdentifier=android-arm64
Increase your ApplicationVersion by 1 each time you upload to Google Play. Never reuse the same version number.
Keep using the same keystore file—don't create a new one. Also, make sure you don't accidentally commit your keystore file or passwords to your repository.

Your updated project file (just update the application ID and version numbers to match your app):

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <TargetFramework>net9.0-android</TargetFramework>
    <SupportedOSPlatformVersion>31.0</SupportedOSPlatformVersion>
    <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>

    <!-- App identity -->
    <ApplicationId>com.companyname.ProjectAndroid</ApplicationId>
    <ApplicationVersion>13</ApplicationVersion> <!-- Increase by 1 every upload -->
    <ApplicationDisplayVersion>1.2.1</ApplicationDisplayVersion>
 
    <!-- Signing -->
    <AndroidKeyStore>true</AndroidKeyStore>
    <AndroidSigningKeyStore>androidkeystore.keystore</AndroidSigningKeyStore>
    <AndroidSigningKeyAlias>androidkeystore</AndroidSigningKeyAlias>
    <AndroidSigningStorePass>$(KEYSTORE_PASS)</AndroidSigningStorePass>
    <AndroidSigningKeyPass>$(KEY_PASS)</AndroidSigningKeyPass>
 
    <!-- Architecture (keep only what you need) -->
    <RuntimeIdentifiers>android-arm64</RuntimeIdentifiers>
 
    <!-- Linking (safe baseline) -->
    <AndroidLinkMode>SdkOnly</AndroidLinkMode>
 
    <DebugType>portable</DebugType>
    <DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
  </PropertyGroup>

   <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'">
    <AndroidGenerateNativeDebugSymbols>true</AndroidGenerateNativeDebugSymbols>
    <AndroidStripNativeDebugSymbols>true</AndroidStripNativeDebugSymbols>
  </PropertyGroup>

  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'">
    <RuntimeIdentifiers>android-arm64;android-x64</RuntimeIdentifiers>
    <EmbedAssembliesIntoApk>true</EmbedAssembliesIntoApk>
  </PropertyGroup>
 
  <!-- Uncomment only if you actually use custom keep rules
  <ItemGroup>
    <ProguardConfiguration Include="proguard.cfg" />
  </ItemGroup>
  -->

   <ItemGroup>
    <GoogleServicesJson Include="google-services.json" />
  </ItemGroup>

 
  <ItemGroup>
    <PackageReference Include="CommunityToolkit.Mvvm" Version="8.4.0" />
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Maui.Controls" Version="9.0.120" />
    <PackageReference Include="MonoGame.Content.Builder.Task" Version="3.8.4.1" />
    <PackageReference Include="MonoGame.Framework.Android" Version="3.8.4.1" />
    <PackageReference Include="Newtonsoft.Json" Version="13.0.4" />
    <PackageReference Include="PlayFabAllSDK" Version="1.205.250718" />
    <PackageReference Include="Plugin.InAppBilling" Version="9.1.0" />
    <PackageReference Include="Plugin.MediaManager" Version="1.2.2" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.Firebase.Messaging" Version="125.0.0.1" />
    <PackageReference Include="Xamarin.GooglePlayServices.Base" Version="118.8.0" />
  </ItemGroup>

 
  <Target Name="RestoreDotnetTools" BeforeTargets="Restore">
    <Message Text="Restoring dotnet tools" Importance="High" />
    <Exec Command="dotnet tool restore" />
  </Target>

 
  <Import Project="..\ProjectA\ProjectA.projitems" Label="Shared" />
  <Import Project="..\ProjectB\ProjectB.projitems" Label="Shared" />
  <Import Project="..\ProjectC\ProjectC.projitems" Label="Shared" />
</Project>

If you're still getting errors after making these changes, please share the following with me so I can help troubleshoot:

Your complete current project file
The exact command you ran
Your configuration and runtime identifiers
Your ApplicationVersion and ApplicationDisplayVersion values
Your keystore alias and confirmation that you're using the same keystore file
The names of any environment variables you set (don't include the actual passwords)
The full error message and build summary (please paste as text rather than screenshots so I can read it more easily)

Kim Strasser 1,631 Reputation points

2025-11-07T08:08:31.9966667+00:00

I have a problem with the command. I think that I am in the right directory because my Android .csproj file is in this directory but the command is not working.

C:\Users\Kim Strasser\source\repos\Newvisualstudio\Project\ProjectAndroid> dotnet publish -f net9.0-android -c Release -p:AndroidPackageFormat=aab -p:RuntimeIdentifier=android-arm64

MSBUILD : error MSB1011: Specify which project or solution file to use because this folder contains more than one project or solution file.

Or should I right click my Android project in Visual Studio 2022 and then choose Archive... instead of the command?
Michael Le (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 3,935 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-07T08:21:57.9733333+00:00
Yes, using Archive is also fine. It wraps the same process, just with UI.

Or you can point directly to the Android project file:

dotnet publish ProjectAndroid.csproj -f net9.0-android -c Release -p:AndroidPackageFormat=aab -p:RuntimeIdentifier=android-arm64

Share via

What should I change in my Android .csproj file before uploading it to Google Play?

1 answer

Your answer