Unexpected parameter(s) after input apk (--key-pass): How to resolve the error and sign APKs successfully
How to Fix the Unexpected Parameter(s) After Input APK (--key-pass) Error in Android Studio
Android Studio is the official Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Android app development. It provides a powerful code editor, a flexible build system, an intelligent code completion, a fast emulator, and many other features that help you create high-quality Android apps.
One of the essential steps in Android app development is APK signing. APK signing is the process of digitally signing your app with a certificate that proves its authenticity and integrity. Signing your app ensures that it has not been tampered with or modified by anyone other than you, and that it can be installed and updated on Android devices.
unexpected parameter(s) after input apk (--key-pass)
However, sometimes you may encounter an error when trying to sign your app using Android Studio. One of the common errors is Unexpected parameter(s) after input APK (--key-pass). This error occurs when you use the apksigner tool to sign your app, but provide an invalid or unexpected parameter after specifying the input APK file.
This error can prevent you from signing your app successfully and distributing it to Google Play or other app stores. Therefore, it is important to understand what causes this error and how to fix it.
In this article, we will explain what are the possible causes and solutions for this error, and provide a step-by-step guide for fixing it using a specific example. We will also answer some frequently asked questions related to APK signing.
Possible Causes of the Error
The Unexpected parameter(s) after input APK (--key-pass) error can be caused by various factors, such as:
Using an incorrect or outdated version of apksigner tool. The apksigner tool is available in revision 24.0.3 and higher of the Android SDK Build Tools. It lets you sign APKs and confirm that their signature will be verified successfully on all versions of Android supported by that APK. If you use an older version of apksigner, you may encounter compatibility issues or syntax errors.
Using an incompatible or corrupted keystore file or password. A keystore file is a file that contains your private key and certificate that you use to sign your app - A keystore file is a file that contains your private key and certificate that you use to sign your app. A password is a string of characters that protects your keystore file from unauthorized access. If you use a keystore file or password that is not compatible with the apksigner tool, or if your keystore file or password is corrupted or damaged, you may encounter the error.
Using an incorrect syntax or order of parameters for apksigner command. The apksigner command has a specific syntax and order of parameters that you need to follow. The general syntax is: apksigner sign --ks <keystore> --ks-key-alias <key-alias> [options] <input-apk>
The order of parameters is: --ks <keystore> --ks-key-alias <key-alias> [--ks-pass <pass-type:pass>] [--key-pass <pass-type:pass>] [--out <output-apk>] [--v1-signing-enabled <truefalse>] [--v2-signing-enabled <truefalse>] [--v3-signing-enabled <truefalse>] [--v4-signing-enabled <truefalse>] [--min-sdk-version <version>] [--max-sdk-version <version>] [--debuggable-apk-permitted <truefalse>] [--no-patch-mode] <input-apk>
If you use an incorrect syntax or order of parameters, you may encounter the error.
Having an '=' character in the password. The apksigner tool uses the '=' character as a separator between the pass-type and the pass in the --ks-pass and --key-pass parameters. For example, --ks-pass pass:123456. If your password contains an '=' character, the apksigner tool may not be able to parse it correctly and may treat it as an unexpected parameter. For example, if your password is 123=456, the apksigner tool may interpret it as --key-pass 123 456, which is invalid.
Possible Solutions for the Error
The Unexpected parameter(s) after input APK (--key-pass) error can be avoided or resolved by following some general tips and best practices, such as:
Updating the Android SDK Build Tools to the latest version. You can update the Android SDK Build Tools using the SDK Manager in Android Studio. To do so, go to Tools > SDK Manager > SDK Tools and check the box for Android SDK Build Tools. Then, click Apply and OK to install the latest version.
Checking the validity and integrity of the keystore file and password. You can use the keytool tool to verify that your keystore file and password are valid and not corrupted. The keytool tool is available in the Java Development Kit (JDK) that you use for Android app development. To use the keytool tool, open a command prompt or terminal window and navigate to the directory where your keystore file is located. Then, run the following command: keytool -list -v -keystore <keystore>
You will be prompted to enter your keystore password. If your keystore file and password are valid, you will see information about your keystore entries, such as aliases, certificates, and signatures. If your keystore file or password is invalid or corrupted, you will see an error message.
Following the correct syntax and order of parameters for apksigner command. You can refer to the official documentation of the , which is a graphical user interface for the apksigner tool that simplifies the signing process.
Escaping or removing the '=' character from the password. If your password contains an '=' character, you can either escape it with a backslash (\) or remove it altogether. For example, if your password is 123=456, you can either escape it as 123\=456 or remove it as 123456. Then, use the modified password in the --ks-pass and --key-pass parameters. For example: apksigner sign --ks mykeystore.jks --ks-key-alias myalias --ks-pass pass:123\=456 --key-pass pass:123\=456 myapp.apk
or apksigner sign --ks mykeystore.jks --ks-key-alias myalias --ks-pass pass:123456 --key-pass pass:123456 myapp.apk
Step-by-Step Guide for Fixing the Error
To demonstrate how to fix the Unexpected parameter(s) after input APK (--key-pass) error, we will use a simple example of signing an APK using a new keystore file and password. We will assume that you have already created an APK file using Android Studio or another tool, and that you have installed the latest version of the Android SDK Build Tools. We will also assume that you are using Windows as your operating system, but the steps are similar for other platforms.
Here are the steps to follow:
Create a new keystore file with a simple password without '=' character. You can use the keytool tool to create a new keystore file with a self-signed certificate. To do so, open a command prompt or terminal window and navigate to the directory where you want to save your keystore file. Then, run the following command: keytool -genkey -v -keystore newkeystore.jks -alias newalias -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000
You will be prompted to enter some information for your certificate, such as your name, organization, and location. You will also be prompted to enter a password for your keystore file and your key. Make sure that your password does not contain an '=' character. For example, you can use newpass as your password.
Sign your APK using apksigner command with the new keystore file and password. You can use the apksigner tool to sign your APK with the new keystore file and password that you created in the previous step. To do so, open a command prompt or terminal window and navigate to the directory where your APK file and your keystore file are located. Then, run the following command: apksigner sign --ks newkeystore.jks --ks-key-alias newalias --ks-pass pass:newpass --key-pass pass:newpass myapp.apk
You should see a message saying that your APK has been signed successfully.
Verify the signature of your signed APK using apksigner command. You can use the apksigner tool to verify that your signed APK has a valid signature that will be accepted by all versions of Android supported by that APK. To do so, open a command prompt or terminal window and navigate to the directory where your signed APK file is located. Then, run the following command: apksigner verify --verbose myapp.apk
You should see a message saying that your APK has been verified successfully, along with some information about the signature scheme, signer certificate, and min/max SDK versions.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained what is the Unexpected parameter(s) after input APK (--key-pass) error in Android Studio, what are its possible causes and solutions, and how to fix it using a step-by-step guide. We hope that this article has helped you understand and resolve this error and sign your app successfully.
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