How to publish tablet only Android app with vector drawables

Question

I have created Android application which is targeted to tablet devices only. In AndroidManifest I have set following screen support:

<supports-screens
        android:largeScreens="true"
        android:normalScreens="false"
        android:requiresSmallestWidthDp="600"
        android:smallScreens="false"
        android:xlargeScreens="true" />

All graphics in my are vectors so the XML files are put inside the drawable directory directly. Only bitmaps are the launcher icons which looks like this:

res\mipmap-hdpi\ic_launcher.png
res\mipmap-xxhdpi\ic_launcher.png
res\mipmap-xhdpi\ic_launcher.png
res\mipmap-xxxhdpi\ic_launcher.png
res\mipmap-mdpi\ic_launcher.png

In developer console I'm getting a warning that my application is not designed for tablets properly "Use Assets Designed for Tablet Screens".

I have tried adding mipmap-large-mdpi\ic_launcher.png and mipmap-xlarge-mdpi\ic_launcher.png but it had no effect on the warning.

What can I do, to have my app properly designed for tablets?

Did you find out a solution for this? This seems like an oversight from Google. — Steffen Vangsgaard, May 08 '17 at 16:01
Have you tried with add all your vactor drawables inside folder like "drawable-sw600dp" ? — Manish Karena, Aug 23 '17 at 07:55
Create one fake not used in project png drawable and put into drawble folders mdpi, hdpi, xhdpi, xxhdpi. — Wrobel, Aug 23 '17 at 10:31

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 18 '17 at 23:09

The same app always works for phone and tablet. Phone and tablet is the same category. But Android TV, wearables are different categories. Google Developer console asks you to provide tablet screen images because tablet requires relatively large images. And these images are bitmaps. so you have to provide bitmap images for the tablet while you publish Apk.

Since VectorAssets look the same in every density (size) screens. But for the bitmaps (eg, ic_launcher.png, Action Bar & Tab Icon, Notification icons), it should be properly designed using Android Studio Asset Manager.

"Use Assets Designed for Tablet Screens" is explicitly stated problems. So, generate all bitmaps using Android Studio Asset Manager.

Eg, to generate (replace your launcher icons): right click on ic_launcher.png" package > new > Image Asset > Change the Asset type to image > and then complete ....

Below image for more clarification.

Note: You don't require below lines in AndroidManifest.xml. You can delete whole <supports-screens /> block.

<supports-screens
    android:largeScreens="true"
    android:normalScreens="false"
    android:requiresSmallestWidthDp="600"
    android:smallScreens="false"
    android:xlargeScreens="true" />

This is not necessary when using vector images, the whole point of them is so you do not need multiple images for multiple densities. — DrBreakalot, Aug 21 '17 at 07:32
@DrBreakalot, please read the line `Since VectorAssets look the same in every density (size) screens` — Uddhav P. Gautam, Aug 21 '17 at 07:34

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 18 '17 at 08:21

3

To get your app filtered for just Tablets running ICS in Google-Play you would do this in your AndroidManifest:

<supports-screens
    android:largeScreens="true"
    android:normalScreens="false"
    android:requiresSmallestWidthDp="600"
    android:smallScreens="false"
    android:xlargeScreens="true" />

<uses-sdk
    android:minSdkVersion="14"
    android:targetSdkVersion="14" />

To get HoneyComb Tablets as well you simply change your minSdk

<uses-sdk
    android:minSdkVersion="11"
    android:targetSdkVersion="14" />

answered Aug 18 '17 at 08:21

Avid

171
16

What is the reason for targeting 14? – Stefan Aug 18 '17 at 08:22
There might be chances where the assets are not supported in the latest version. But the 14 version has a perfect stable firmware. It can be used to check if there is any compatibility issues – Avid Aug 18 '17 at 08:25
Since some apps may only support minSdkVersion='21' for example, this is not a very good solution – Stefan Aug 18 '17 at 12:30
That's true. But need to check if it is a problem with the apk or with the play console right. So I suggested this! – Avid Aug 18 '17 at 12:55

score 2 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 21 '17 at 07:46

2

If you think it does not apply to you, the only solution is to appeal to Google. All other solutions are workarounds that are not necessary.

You can contact Google to appeal an issue with "Designed for tablets" at:
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/contact/tabletq

edited Aug 21 '17 at 07:46

Cody Gray - on strike

239,200
50
490
574

answered Aug 17 '17 at 10:18

DrBreakalot

502
4
14

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 22 '17 at 11:47

`android:largeScreens="true"`

to

`android:largeScreens="false"`

as referred from Declaring an App is Only for Tablets in Here with a Caution: If you use the element for the reverse scenario (when your application is not compatible with larger screens) and set the larger screen size attributes to "false", then external services such as Google Play do not apply filtering. Your application will still be available to larger screens, but when it runs, it will not resize to fit the screen. Instead, the system will emulate a handset screen size (about 320dp x 480dp; see Screen Compatibility Mode for more information). If you want to prevent your application from being downloaded on larger screens, use , as discussed in the previous section about Declaring an App is Only for Handsets.

best wishes to you, HOPE this work for You.

How to publish tablet only Android app with vector drawables

4 Answers4