Building an Android App

Introduction

Unity is one of the most versatile platforms for creating interactive content, including mobile apps for Android. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of building an Android app using Unity.

Prerequisites:

• Unity Hub with the 2021.3.29f1 version of Unity installed.

• Android Build Support module installed via Unity Hub.

• An Android device for testing.

• Meta Quest Development Hub

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Setting up the Environment:

• Launch Unity Hub and open your project.

2. Configuring the Project:

• Go to Edit > Project Settings.
• Ensure the scene “SampleMain” is included and at index 0 (at the top)
• Make sure all your other scenes are added in the Build Settings.
• Under the Player section, select the Android icon to change to Android.

• Use the Luminous menu to set the VR settings to your platform of choice. Luminous > XR > Set Android To Oculus

Configure Player Settings

• Go to Edit > Project Settings > Player.
• Configure the Company Name, Product Name, and Package Name (in reverse domain style like com.companyname.appname).
• Set an appropriate icon, splash image, and other UI-related settings as needed.
• Under Other Settings, ensure the Minimum API Level is 23 or greater.
• The Android Target SDK is set to 32 or greater.
• In Graphics APIs, ensure OpenGLES3 is selected.

Sign the App

• If you are releasing a build onto the Meta Quest Store you will also need to sign your App. Scroll down to Publishing settings in the Player Settings Window.

• Open the Keystore Manager and create a new Keystore

Build Addressables

• Go to Window > Asset Management > Groups to open the Addressables window.

• Click on Build > New Build > Default Build Script

The first time you build Addressables for your project can take a while!

6. Building the App:

Now you are ready to begin building the App.

• Go to File > Build Settings.
• Click on Build (to generate an APK).
• Choose a directory to save your APK, and Unity will start the build process.

7. Testing on a Device:

• Connect your Android device to your computer via USB.
• Ensure USB Debugging is enabled on your device (found in Developer Options).
• Run the Meta Quest Developer Hub application
• Click on Device manager and drag your newly built APK over the window and drop it on the connected device.

Run the Application

• Inside your Headset Go to Applications > Unknown Sources
• Click on the Application you just uploaded to the device.

Building for the Meta Quest Store?

Make sure your Manifest file looks like this

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.unity3d.player"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools">
    <application>
        <activity android:name="com.unity3d.player.UnityPlayerActivity"
                  android:theme="@style/UnityThemeSelector">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="com.oculus.intent.category.VR" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
            <meta-data android:name="com.oculus.vr.focusaware" android:value="true" />
            <meta-data android:name="unityplayer.UnityActivity" android:value="true" />
        </activity>
        <meta-data android:name="com.htc.vr.content.NumDoFHmd" android:value="6DoF"/>
        <meta-data android:name="com.htc.vr.content.NumDoFController" android:value="6DoF"/>
        <meta-data android:name="com.htc.vr.content.NumController" android:value="2"/>
    </application>
    <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.vr.headtracking" android:version="1" android:required="true" />
</manifest>

Congratulations on building your Application 🎉

Troubleshooting & Tips:

• Always ensure that you have the latest Android SDK updates.

• If you encounter build errors, check Unity's console for specific error messages.

Conclusion:

Building an Android app in Unity is a streamlined process, but always pay attention to details like compatibility and performance. Regularly update your tools and test frequently to ensure your app delivers the best experience to users.