When You Might Need to Reset the Android App Signing Key
1. Lost or Forgotten Keystore Details
The most common reason for resetting the signing key is if the keystore file or its credentials (password, alias) have been lost or forgotten. Without this file, updates to the app cannot be published, as Google Play requires it to authenticate app updates as coming from the same developer.
2. Changing Development Teams
If the app is being transferred to a new development team, and the original team cannot provide the keystore file, resetting the signing key might be necessary to maintain control over future updates.
3. Security Concerns
If there’s reason to believe the keystore has been compromised or accessed by unauthorized parties, resetting the key helps secure future versions of the app and maintain user trust.
How to Reset the Android App Signing Key
1. Sign In to Google Play Console
Go to the Google Play Console and sign in with the email that created the Google Developer account.
2. Navigate to Your App
From the dashboard, select the app for which you want to reset the signing key.
3. Go to Setup > App Integrity
In the left-hand menu, navigate to Setup > App integrity. This section includes app signing details, as you can see below:
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4. Request a Key Reset
In the App signing section, find the Reset key option (may be called "Request key upgrade" depending on your Play Console version).
Click Request key upgrade and follow the prompts to initiate the process.
5. Provide Any Required Information
Google may require details about why the reset is necessary. If the keystore was lost or compromised, mention this to streamline the request.
6. Wait for Google to Process the Request
Google will review and approve the key reset, which may take several days (often up to a week).
Once approved, Google will replace your app’s signing key with a new one.