Android App Name Change Guide

Understanding the Basics

Before diving into the steps, it's crucial to understand the different components involved in renaming an Android app:

• Package Name: This unique identifier for your app typically follows the format com.yourcompany.yourapp. Changing it involves updating the android:package attribute in the AndroidManifest.xml file and modifying the applicationId in the build.gradle file for Android Studio projects.
• Application ID: Google Play Store uses this identifier to recognize your app. Once published, changing the application ID is not possible.
• App Name: Displayed on the launcher icon and in the app list, this can be changed by modifying the android:label attribute in the AndroidManifest.xml file and updating the corresponding string resource in the strings.xml file.

Step-by-Step Guide

Update the Package Name

If you need to change the package name, do so before publishing your app on the Google Play Store. Here’s how:

1. Update AndroidManifest.xml:

   • Open the AndroidManifest.xml file.
   • Change the android:package attribute to your new package name. For example, if your current package name is com.myname.google, change it to com.myname.newapp.

   xml
   
   …
   

2. Update build.gradle:

   • Open the build.gradle file in your project directory.
   • Change the applicationId to your new package name.

   groovy
   android {
   defaultConfig {
   applicationId "com.myname.newapp"
   …
   }
   }

3. Update Imports:

   • In your Dart files, update any imports referencing the old package name.

4. Update Launch Configuration:

   • If using Flutter, update the launch configuration in launch.json to reflect the new package name.

5. Update Folder Names:

   • On Android, update the folder names in your project directory to match the new package name.

Change Application ID

If the app is already published and the application ID needs changing, it's not possible directly. However, removing any references to Google in the package name without changing the application ID is an option.

Change App Name

To change the app name displayed on the launcher icon and in the app list, follow these steps:

1. Update AndroidManifest.xml:

   • Open the AndroidManifest.xml file.
   • Change the android:label attribute in the <application> tag to your new app name.

   xml
   
   …
   

2. Update strings.xml:

   • Open the strings.xml file.
   • Update the string resource holding the current app name.

   xml
   
   My New App
   

3. Update Launcher Activity:

   • If a splash screen or custom launcher activity exists, update its label attribute accordingly.

4. Build and Run:

   • After making these changes, build and run your app to see the new name reflected.

Additional Considerations

Rebranding Guide

If rebranding the app entirely, including updating graphics and text materials, follow these steps:

1. Update App Icon:

   • Create a new high-resolution icon (512 x 512 pixels) with alpha transparency.

2. Update Splash Screen:

   • Create a new splash screen image (680 x 680 pixels) with a transparent background.

3. Update Login Logo:

   • Create a new login logo image (660 x 124 pixels) with a transparent background.

4. Update Branded Colors:

   • Define new branded colors in a ColorValues.txt file.

5. Update Text Materials:

   • Prepare text materials for Google Play Store, including short descriptions, keywords, and privacy policy URLs in separate language files (e.g., EnglishGoogleplay.txt, GermanGoogleplay.txt).

6. Submit Graphics and Text:

   • Package all necessary graphics and text materials into one .zip file and submit it to your platform provider or Google Play Store directly.

Changing the name of an Android app involves updating multiple files and configurations within your project. By following these steps carefully, you can ensure that your app's name is correctly updated across all platforms without affecting its functionality or user experience.