How to convert a website to an app in 7 steps

Time

15–60 minutes

You need

An Android phone + your URL

Cost to build

Free

Result

APK + AAB

1. Audit the site on a phoneOpen it in mobile Chrome: menus, forms, checkout and login should work one-handed. Readiness score.
2. Open the converter and paste the URLInstall Website to App, paste the final https:// address (no tracking tags, no redirect chains).
3. Name it and pick a package nameA short launcher name (about 12 characters), and a package name like com.yourbrand.app — permanent once published.
4. Add icon, colours and splashA square 512×512 icon with padding, a theme colour, and a splash screen.
5. Add native featuresBottom tabs, pull-to-refresh, offline screen, push — whatever fits your site.
6. Build and testInstall the APK and run the test list below on a real phone.
7. PublishUpload the AAB to Google Play Console, complete the listing and roll out. ASO guide.

Before you build: settings you can't change later

Most settings can change in a future version. Three can't, or shouldn't:

• Package name — Google Play identifies your app by it forever. A new package name is a new app with zero installs.
• Signing key — updates must be signed with the same key (or your Play upload key). Download and back it up the moment the converter gives it to you.
• Version code — a whole number that must go up with every update. Start at 1.

The 10-minute test on a real phone

Install the APK (Android will ask you to allow installs from your browser or file manager once) and check:

1. First launch on mobile data. Does the first screen appear quickly, or is there a long white flash?
2. Sign up and sign in. If your site offers “Continue with Google”, expect it to fail in the app — offer email login too.
3. Upload a photo from the camera and the gallery, if your site has upload fields.
4. Tap external links — Instagram, WhatsApp, a phone number. They should open their own apps.
5. Press back repeatedly. It should go back through pages, then leave the app. Never a dead end.
6. Turn on airplane mode. You should see a branded offline screen with a retry button, not a browser error.
7. Rotate the phone and change text size in Android settings. Nothing should overflow.

Publishing the AAB

In Google Play Console create the app, upload the AAB to a testing track, then complete the store listing, content rating, target audience and Data Safety form. New personal developer accounts must run a closed test with real testers for 14 days before they can publish to production. Use that time to fix what testers report.

After launch

Watch Play Console for crashes, ratings and the Android vitals report, and plan one app update a year at least — Google raises the required target Android version every August. Maintenance guide.