debug APK to release APK without recompiling

Question

I have been given an APK file from my mobile developers and I need to upload this to the store. It says, you need to compile it in release mode. Is there a way in which i can do that to the apk, get it to become in release mode and sign it with a key, without having to get the developers to actually re-compile?

If no, can I extract an apk file, put it in ant and recompile to release mode?

Answer 1

I don't believe you can do this without recompiling and resigning. You need to change the AndroidManifest and re-sign it using the same key as was used to upload it the first time if it was previously uploaded.