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To publish an Android app in the official F-Droid repository, prepare a publicly accessible, buildable source release; add its YAML metadata to the fdroiddata repository; validate it; and submit a merge request for review. Acceptance of that merge request is not publication: F-Droid’s build server must still build the app and add it to the repository.
This guide covers inclusion in the shared official catalog. F-Droid also supports separate, self-managed repositories, which are a different distribution route.
Check whether the app is suitable for the official repository
Start with F-Droid’s Submitting to F-Droid Quick Start Guide and inclusion policy. Before writing metadata, confirm that the app’s current source is public, the project has an appropriate free and open-source software (FOSS) license, and its dependencies and build tools do not require proprietary components.
F-Droid specifically identifies Firebase and Google Mobile Services as examples it does not accept in the official repository. If an app can work without them, the project may be able to provide a separate flavor that removes them. If you are submitting someone else’s project, inform its author and obtain their non-objection.
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An open-source license alone does not guarantee approval. Reviewers can examine license notices, source files, bundled binaries, assets, dependencies, advertising, tracking, and reliance on services users cannot freely change. F-Droid may request changes, document AntiFeatures, decide how updates should be handled, and attempt a build in an isolated environment.
Prepare tagged releases and app-listing material
Give each official release a Git tag that corresponds to its version. The tag lets maintainers identify the source revision associated with a release rather than relying on an unmarked commit.
Add app-listing metadata in a supported upstream layout, ideally alongside the app project. F-Droid’s quick-start guide describes localized listing content such as a short and full description, icon, phone screenshots, and a changelog for each version. Its stated limits are a short description of fewer than 80 characters, without a trailing period, and a changelog of no more than 500 characters. If the listing material is missing, ask the app team to add it upstream; metadata controlled by the developer can then be maintained with the app.
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Create the fdroiddata YAML entry
Fork fdroiddata, create a submission branch, and add a file named metadata/<application-id>.yml, replacing the placeholder with the app’s exact Android application ID. Start with a similar entry or a template; F-Droid notes that fdroid import can generate a starting point.
The YAML entry identifies the app and tells F-Droid where its source lives and how to build a particular version. Include descriptive information, the public source location, and one or more build blocks tying a version name and version code to a source revision and build settings. The Build Metadata Reference specifies that a Git Repo value must be an unauthenticated public HTTPS URL and that a build block’s commit must be a full commit hash, not a branch or tag name.
Set build instructions for the project’s toolchain
The cited quick-start workflow primarily describes Gradle projects. For Gradle, configure the module or subdirectory and any required flavor or task to match the app. Other toolchains need their own explicit build recipe and an output path that lets fdroidserver find the resulting APK; do not assume that a Gradle configuration applies unchanged to every project.
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Configure update checks and decide how builds are signed
When the app’s version name and version code are stored in standard Gradle or manifest locations, F-Droid may detect releases without additional extraction settings. If the project stores version information elsewhere, configure the metadata’s update-check fields to fit its release scheme. The quick-start recommends automatic update checks unless there is a reason to manage updates manually.
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F-Droid documents both developer-signed binaries and F-Droid-signed builds. If the metadata is configured to use developer-signed upstream binaries, F-Droid verifies them against the build recipe; if verification does not match, that version is skipped. Decide on the signing approach early: Android signing-key constraints can make a later change disruptive for existing users.
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Validate the metadata and build
Use fdroidserver in an appropriate development environment, and run the checks documented in the quick-start guide against your app ID:
fdroid lint <appid>— find metadata issues.fdroid rewritemeta <appid>— rewrite the metadata into the expected format.fdroid build <appid>— try building the app using its metadata.
Replace <appid> with the actual application ID. Read the logs and fix errors before requesting review. You can also push the branch to your fork so its CI can run validation; CI results are useful checks, but they do not replace maintainers’ review or the official server build.
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Submit a merge request and respond to review
- Commit the metadata changes on your branch and push the branch to your fork of
fdroiddata. - Open a merge request against the
fdroiddatarepository. F-Droid’s developer FAQ describes this as the quickest route to official repository inclusion. - Monitor the submission thread and respond to packager questions or requests for changes. Review may cover licensing, bundled or non-free components, buildability, update handling, and other inclusion-policy issues.
Track the official build and publication separately
If the merge request is accepted, the metadata has been added to fdroiddata; the app is not necessarily available in the client yet. F-Droid’s official build server still needs to fetch the source and components, build the app, and publish it through its batch process.
The quick-start guide estimates roughly 24–48 hours from metadata merge to repository appearance in an uncomplicated case. This is an approximate, non-guaranteed estimate: build cycles are not scheduled, and apps are processed in batches. Check the app page or build log for the result and consult F-Droid’s monitor for current or recent failures. A website listing can also lag behind repository availability while pages are generated.
When a self-managed repository makes more sense
If you want to distribute APKs without seeking inclusion in the official F-Droid.org collection, you can operate a separate compatible repository. F-Droid’s repository setup guide outlines a basic flow: put APKs in a repository directory, run fdroid update --create-metadata, and serve the generated contents over the web.
This is not an alternative approval path for the official catalog. You host the repository and take responsibility for its release operations; the guide warns that its quick test configuration is not secure for production, so a public repository needs the stronger setup described in F-Droid’s security guidance.
Quick Recap
| Route | Review and inclusion | Build and hosting | Operational responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official F-Droid.org repository | F-Droid reviews the app and metadata; acceptance does not itself mean the app has been published. | F-Droid’s infrastructure builds and publishes after acceptance. | Maintain upstream releases and metadata, respond to review, and monitor the official build and publication. |
| Self-managed repository | Does not confer official repository inclusion or indicate that the app passed official review. | The publisher builds or supplies APKs, generates repository indexes, and hosts the repository. | The publisher operates and secures the distribution endpoint and manages repository updates. |
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