FAQs

General

Will the app data be retained after the update?

Yes. The update will retain the data of the earlier version, including download and visit data.

HarmonyOS Apps

How do I check my app release status? What statuses can an app have?

To check your app status, sign in to AppGallery Connect, click Apps and atomic services, find your app, and check the value in the Status column.

Statuses that an app can have include:

• Draft: The app has been created but has not been submitted for review.
• Pending review: The app has been submitted but not yet reviewed.
• Reviewing: The app is being reviewed by AppGallery.
• To modify: The app has been rejected and needs to be modified based on review comments.
• Releasing: The app has been approved for release, but the scheduled release time has not arrived yet.
• Released: The app has been approved and released on AppGallery.
• Canceled: The app release has been canceled.
• Removing: A removal request has been submitted for the app, and AppGallery is reviewing the request.
• Removed: The app has been removed from sale by AppGallery.
• Removed by developer: The app has been removed as requested by you.

What is a PC/2-in-1 device?

A PC/2-in-1 device refers to a PC device primarily designed for multi-window, multitasking interactions using a keyboard and mouse, maximizing productivity. In HarmonyOS documentation, "2-in-1 device" indicates PC/2-in-1 device.

What are the differences between an APP package and a HAP? Which format is needed for app release?

The HAP is used for local debugging, and the APP package is used for app release. To support running on different types of devices, an APP package can contain multiple HAPs.

Is signing required for locally debugging and installing a HAP?

If a real device is used to install the HAP, signing is required. If the Emulator is used to install the HAP, signing is not required.

What are the differences between a release certificate and a debug certificate? How about a release profile and a debug profile?

The release certificate and release profile are used to sign the APP package during app release, while the debug certificate and debug profile are used to sign the HAP during local debugging.

Can an APP package be installed locally?

No. The APP package can only be used for app release. Even if it is signed using the debug certificate and debug profile, the APP package still cannot be installed.

Can an app be installed on any HarmonyOS device after being signed with a debug certificate and debug profile?

No. An app can be installed only on a device whose UDID has been added to the debug profile.

Why does an app need to be re-signed when it is uploaded to AppGallery Connect after being signed during packaging?

During packaging, the APP package is signed. After the APP package is uploaded, AppGallery Connect will split the package and then sign the HAPs. A HAP is a basic unit for app distribution. Only a HAP signed by AppGallery Connect is considered as a valid installation source. An invalid HAP cannot be installed.

Will AppGallery Connect change the app signature during re-signing? Will the app fail to be updated due to signature inconsistency?

No. The signature for app update is determined by you. As long as the local keystore file (.p12) for signing does not change, the signature will not change during the update.

Why does a certificate have a validity period? What is the impact of certificate expiration?

The validity period of a certificate is used to dynamically verify the validity of app sources. Currently, for a developer who has completed identity verification, the debug certificate is valid for one year, and the release certificate is valid for three years. For a developer who has not completed identity verification, the debug certificate is valid for 14 days.

Theoretically, certificate expiration does not affect apps that have been released. However, if a package signed by an expired certificate is uploaded for a version update, the update will fail. You are advised to replace the certificate in a timely manner.

Will an app fail to be updated after the release certificate is replaced?

Replacing the certificate does not cause app update failures as long as the certificates are generated using the same CSR file. That is, the keystore file (.p12) must be unchanged. Note that the profile must be updated if the certificate is replaced.

What can I do if the key file is lost? How do I change the signature of a HarmonyOS app?

Currently, HarmonyOS apps do not support changing the signature. If the key file is lost, you need to generate a new key, request a new release certificate and a new release profile, and upload the package again.

If your app has integrated Huawei open capabilities (such as Account Kit), after changing the signature, you need to configure the signing certificate fingerprint on the Project settings > General information page of AppGallery Connect before releasing the app. If you do not perform this operation, your app may fail to be authenticated by these open capabilities.

How do I check the validity period of a certificate? How can I replace a certificate?

• Checking the certificate validity period
  1. Sign in to AppGallery Connect and choose Certificates, app IDs, and profiles.
  2. In the navigation tree on the left, choose Certificates and view the certificate expiration date.
     NOTE

     AppGallery Connect will send you an email notification three months before the certificate expires.

     

• Replacing a certificate
  1. Click Revoke to delete a certificate.
  2. Request a new release certificate and a new release profile.
  3. In DevEco Studio, configure new signing information to compile a new package.
  4. Release the new version through AppGallery Connect.

What can I do if the number of certificates reaches the upper limit?

Each type of certificate in AppGallery Connect has a quantity limit. When the number of certificates reaches the upper limit, you can use any of the following methods:

• Revoke redundant certificates of the corresponding type. Before revoking a certificate, ensure that it is not used by any app.
• If you have multiple apps, make these apps share one certificate. The following uses the release certificate as an example to describe how to share one release certificate among multiple apps:

  Assume that the certificate is occupied by an app named myapp, and the app information is as follows:

  • App package name: com.huawei.demo.myapp
  • Keystore file: myapp.p12
  • Certificate file name: myapp.cer
  • Profile name: myappRelease.p7b; associated certificate: myapp.cer

  

  Configure signing information in DevEco Studio, as shown in the following figure.

  

  To release a new app named myservice, you only need to request a new profile. When requesting a new profile, select the existing certificate as the associated certificate.

  

  The app information is as follows:

  • App package name: com.huawei.demo.hmservice
  • Keystore file: myapp.p12
  • Certificate file name: myapp.cer
  • Name of the new profile: myserviceRelease.p7b; associated certificate: myapp.cer

  

  In conclusion, if multiple apps need to be released, you can use the same certificate, but you need to request a new profile for each app. Other files can be reused.

What are the requirements for the size of an atomic service package?

• For an atomic service of the FA model:

  The size of each HAP is 10 MB at most.

• For an app-type atomic service of the stage model:
  • The total size of all modules for a device type is 10 MB at most.
  • The size of each module of any type in your APP package cannot exceed 2 MB.
  • The total size of a module and the Harmony Shared Packages (HSPs) it depends on via the dependency mechanism is 2 MB at most.
    NOTE

    If an HSP is required by both an entry package and subpackages, it is only counted in the size of the entry package and not again in the subpackages. For example, if an atomic service contains an entry package and subpackage 1, the entry package depends on HSP 1 and HSP 2, and subpackage 1 depends on HSP 1 and HSP 3, then the size of the entry package = entry package itself + HSP 1 + HSP 2, and the size of subpackage 1 = subpackage 1 itself + HSP 3.

• For a mini game–type atomic service adopting the stage model:
  • The total size of all modules for a device type is 25 MB at most.
  • The primary package cannot exceed 5 MB.

Non-HarmonyOS Apps

How do I check my app release status? What statuses can an app have?

To check your app status, sign in to AppGallery Connect, click Apps and atomic services, find your app, and check the value in the Status column.

Statuses that an app can have include:

• Draft: The app has been created but has not been submitted.
• Reviewing: The app has been submitted and is being reviewed by AppGallery.
• To modify: The app has been rejected and needs to be modified based on review comments.
• Releasing: The app has been approved for release, but the scheduled release time has not arrived yet.
• Released: The app has been approved and released on AppGallery.
• Canceled: The app release has been canceled.
• Removing: A removal request has been submitted for the app, and AppGallery is reviewing the request.
• Removed: The app has been removed from sale by AppGallery.
• Removed by developer: The app has been removed as requested by you.

Are there any differences when I release an app to the Chinese mainland and other countries/regions?

• To distribute your app to the Chinese mainland, ensure that your app package supports Simplified Chinese and you have selected Simplified Chinese on the App information page.
• To distribute your app outside the Chinese mainland, ensure that your app package supports English (US) and you have selected English (US) on the App information page.
• If you want to distribute the same APK package to the Chinese mainland and other countries/regions, select the Chinese mainland and other supported countries/regions in the Country/Region for release area. If you have prepared different APK packages for the Chinese mainland and other regions, you need to create two apps with different app package names and then distribute them to the Chinese mainland and other countries/regions respectively.

What are the restrictions on changing an app name?

If your app is a mobile app released in the Chinese mainland in full mode, and supports Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese (Taiwan, China), or Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong, China), you can change its name at most twice each calendar year. The counting starts when your app is submitted for a full release. If the number of your app name changes has reached the upper limit, your app will be rejected. In this case, you can provide feedback in the interaction center.

What are the prerequisites for updating my app?

• The version code is equal to or later than that of the version currently released on AppGallery.
• The package name (project package name) in your new app package is the same as that of the version currently released on AppGallery.
• The signature of the new app package is the same as that of the version currently released on AppGallery.
• The version currently released on AppGallery is the source version for the update.

For details about the prerequisites for updating an app, please refer to Updating an App.

Can I update my app after changing its APK signature? How can my app inherit download data of the earlier version if I change the signature?

You are not advised to change the APK/RPK signature as doing so will make users who have already installed your app or game not able to update to the latest version directly.

If you want to change your app signature and keep the download statistics of your app, you can follow the instructions when uploading the app package.

Why am I prompted that the package name is incorrect?

The package name must be the same as that you have entered when creating the app. The package name cannot be changed once created.

What can I do if my app in App Bundle format is rejected due to a crash issue?

You can check the post on HUAWEI Developers Community to fix this issue.

What can I do if an app release request is rejected by AppGallery because an app with the same name, icon, or content has been released on Google Play Store?

If the app on Google Play Store is owned by you, send an email to Huawei operations personnel with the same contact information used in Google Play. You need to provide your developer name and email address of both your Huawei and Google developer accounts. The email body should contain a declaration saying that you are the owner of the app and you agree to release that app on AppGallery using your Huawei developer account.