Release an android app's new version that can be replaced by previous version

Question

I have an app that I developed it in eclipse in debug mode and many users have installed it. Now I want to do a few changes in it and release a new version in android studio in release mode. How can I do this, so that it can be replaces by previous version and users data not lost ?

Answer 1

For users to update from one version to another, the APK needs to be signed with the same keys and the package name of the application needs to remain the same.

If your debug builds are signed with a different key than your release builds, then you cannot provide an update to your users unless they uninstall the old version first.

If you uploaded the debug build to the Google Play Developer Console, then you are stuck using the debug key for future release unless you remove the old application from the Play Store and create a new one.