How to create a release build

In the Build variants panel, selecting release now correctly creates a release build. The workaround of manually running the Gradle :app:assembleRelease task is no longer required. To use the feature, follow these steps:

1. Swipe right or tap the menu button to display the left navigation rail.
2. Tap the Build variants button (which looks like the top of the Android robot). The Build variants panel is displayed. By default, debug will be selected.
3. Tap debug to display a menu, then select release.
4. At the bottom of the panel, tap Apply. Gradle will reconfigure and sync the project to match the selected build variant. When you build the app, Gradle will create the APK for the currently selected variant.

Click here to watch a short video demonstrating how to use the feature.