Google Play Dynamic Delivery: Ship Features On-Demand
Shrink your app's initial install size by delivering features on-demand. Instead of one giant APK, Dynamic Delivery sends a small base app, then downloads larger features like AR modes or special tools only when the user needs them.
Why it exists
Large apps have lower installation rates. To combat this, Google Play Dynamic Delivery was created to reduce the initial download size, making it faster and cheaper for users to get started with an app, especially in regions with limited data or device storage.
The mental model
Think of your app not as a single, monolithic file, but as a base module plus optional feature modules. The Play Store acts as a smart delivery system, sending only the core app initially. It then delivers other features—like a game level or a complex editing tool—only when the user needs them or under specific conditions you define.
How it works
You structure your app using Android Studio's feature modules and build an Android App Bundle (.aab). When a user installs your app, Play generates a highly optimized APK with just the base code. You can configure other feature modules to be delivered in several ways: install-time (for everyone), conditional (based on country or device specs like AR support), on-demand (when the user requests it), or fast-follow (downloading in the background right after install). Your app uses the Play Core Library to request and manage on-demand modules.
When to use it
Use Dynamic Delivery for significant, self-contained features that are not essential for the first-run experience. Examples include advanced photo editing tools, AR/VR features, complex tutorials, or specific high-end game modes. It's most impactful for large applications where modularization provides significant size savings.
When not to use it
Avoid this for small apps where the complexity outweighs the benefits. Most importantly, never place core, essential functionality required for the app to launch and be useful into an on-demand module. The base module must always contain everything needed for a coherent first experience.
One canonical example
A social media app ships with a base module for viewing feeds and posting text. It has a separate, on-demand feature module for a sophisticated video editor. When a user taps "Edit Video" for the first time, the app requests the module. The Play Core Library shows a progress dialog, downloads and installs the video editor, and then launches the feature, all without the user leaving the app.
Interview question
Which feature is the most appropriate candidate for an on-demand module using Google Play Dynamic Delivery?
- a.A small, single-purpose calculator app's core logic.
- b.An advanced, optional augmented reality (AR) filter suite in a large photo editor.Correct
- c.The essential user login and registration flow.
- d.The primary content browsing interface of a news application.
Why? this is the answer
Option B is correct because the card specifies Dynamic Delivery is for "significant, self-contained features that are not essential for the first-run experience," explicitly listing AR/VR features. Options A, B, and D represent core functionality or small apps, which the card advises against using Dynamic Delivery for, as they are either essential or the complexity outweighs the benefits.
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