How to update app on google play

Question

im very new to the google play and mobile app world.

I would like to know the process of updating my app on the google play store as im not sure how. It is Android app.

I am using xamarin for the app. I have increased the version name to by .1 and if I do this, do I have to also increase the version number to 2 ? because it cannot take decimal points.

I have a simple understanding of It so im not sure if I have to create a new apk or update the existing one, and if so, how ?

and then on google play, do I just go and select the new apk, or updated apk ?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

The version number (or version code) it's an integer value used to determine whether one version is more recent than another. This is not shown to the end users. Every new version you make should have a higher number than the previous. You can simply increase the number by one each time a new version is released.

The version name is a string, and it's only meant to be shown to users. It can be whatever you want, like "1.0" or "Beta 1.2.3".

To update an app you just upload a new apk to Google Play, and the system uses its version number to find out what's the newest apk ank make it visible by default.

Answer 2

There is a very good, detailed, step-by-step process at http://developer.xamarin.com/guides/android/deployment,_testing,_and_metrics/publishing_an_application/ (which also explains the difference between version # and version name, among other things). Definitely worth a read!