Can't Archive a Xamarin.Forms Application

Question

I'm trying to build a distribution-ready apk (following this guide ) for a project I've been working on recently using Xamarin.Forms and Visual Studio 2019. However, i can't get past the Archiving Stage because i keep getting below error as stated by Visual Studio itself:

Cannot create the archive file because the copy of mdbs files failed.
Could not find a part of the path ...

Its worth noting that i have not changed anything yet on the project properties and the solution is stored on a relatively short path of D:\Repository\QR Code Attendance . If i am to guess, this is an issue with PATH limited to 255 characters? If so, how would i be able to overcome it?

Just copying the apk from the \Debug Folder and installing it on a Android Phone doesn't work. The app just closes as soon as it starts.

Answer 1

The Archives are not in the solution folder. Your Archives folder is in C:/User/Administrator/App Data/Local/Xamarin/Mono for Android/Archives . You shoud change it to something shorter, like C:/Archives . This can be done in Tools -> Options -> Xamarin -> Android Settings -> Archives Location .