Externally hosted private apps

[ElricX]

Hello, I'm trying to follow the instructions to the letter for publishing an application in our MDM (Intune) whose APK is hosted outside the Google Play Store.

However, in the steps, it's mentioned that you have to Opt out of app signing by Google Play.

This no longer seems possible. So I continued the process, but when it came time to import the .json file. It informs me that:

Your APK file exceeds the maximum upload size (100 MB). Switch to the Android App Bundle format or upload a smaller APK file.

You have uploaded an invalid archive ZIP file.

The APK file is hosted externally, so it cannot be signed by Play.

The AndroidManifest.xml file in the Android application collection or in the uploaded APK file could not be analyzed. Has it been compiled correctly?

The name “dji.go.v4” already exists in Google Play. Please use another package name.

Am I at a dead end? Thank you for your help.

Externally hosted private apps - Android Enterprise Help (google.com)

[jasonbayton · Accepted solution]

Hi there

I wrote a guide: https://bayton.org/android/host-apps-externally/

Do note you cannot use any package name that may have been used in Google Play before. The DJI app would most certainly fall under that.