Improve App Performance with Optimized Resource Shrinking in Android Gradle Plugin 8.12

Google has released a game-changing feature in Android Gradle Plugin 8.12.0: optimized resource shrinking. This advancement can reduce app sizes by over 50% for apps with shared resources, making apps smaller, faster, and more efficient.

What is Resource Shrinking? #

Resource shrinking is an Android build optimization that removes unused resources from your app's APK or AAB (Android App Bundle). This includes:

• Unused images, layouts, and drawables
• Alternative resources for different screen densities and configurations
• Strings and other assets that aren't referenced by your code

Traditionally, resource shrinking has been a separate step from code optimization. But that's changing.

The Problem with Traditional Resource Shrinking #

Until now, resource shrinking had a significant limitation: AAPT2 (Android Asset Packaging Tool 2) generated unconditional keep rules that prevented R8 from fully optimizing both code and resources together.

This meant:

• Code that referenced unused resources couldn't be removed
• Resources that were only used by unused code remained in the app
• The optimization process wasn't as effective as it could be

Introducing Optimized Resource Shrinking #

The new optimized resource shrinking approach, introduced in Android Gradle Plugin 8.12.0, solves this problem by fully integrating resource shrinking with code optimization in the R8 pipeline.

How It Works #

Instead of treating resource and code optimization as separate steps, the new system:

1. Analyzes code and resources together in the R8 optimization pipeline
2. Eliminates unconditional keep rules generated by AAPT2
3. Identifies unused code and resources more precisely
4. Removes both simultaneously for maximum efficiency

This holistic approach enables more aggressive optimization without compromising app functionality.

Impressive Performance Results #

Google tested the new system on real-world apps, and the results are impressive:

Over 50% app size reduction for apps with shared resources

The Androidify sample app demonstrated significant improvements, showing how effective this optimization can be for production applications.

How to Enable Optimized Resource Shrinking #

Step 1: Enable Minification and Resource Shrinking #

First, ensure your release build has minification and resource shrinking enabled in your build.gradle file:

android {
  buildTypes {
    release {
      isMinifyEnabled = true
      isShrinkResources = true
    }
  }
}

Step 2: Enable Optimized Resource Shrinking #

Add this line to your gradle.properties file:

android.r8.optimizedResourceShrinking=true

That's it! Your app will now benefit from the optimized resource shrinking pipeline.

What This Means for Your App #

Smaller APK/AAB Sizes #

Less storage space required on user devices and faster downloads, especially important for users on limited data plans.

Improved Installation Speed #

Smaller app sizes mean faster installation times, reducing user drop-off during downloads.

Better Performance #

Less code and fewer resources to load means faster app startup and improved runtime performance.

Reduced Bandwidth Costs #

For developers distributing apps, smaller packages mean lower bandwidth costs and faster delivery.

When Does This Become Standard? #

While currently opt-in via the Gradle property, optimized resource shrinking will become the default behavior in Android Gradle Plugin 9.0.0.

This gives developers time to:

• Test the new optimization with their apps
• Identify any edge cases or issues
• Prepare for the transition before it becomes standard

Best Practices #

1. Test Thoroughly #

After enabling optimized resource shrinking, thoroughly test your app to ensure all necessary resources are retained and your app functions correctly.

2. Use ProGuard/R8 Rules Wisely #

If you have custom ProGuard or R8 rules that explicitly keep resources, review them to ensure they don't conflict with the new optimization.

3. Monitor APK/AAB Size #

Use Android Studio's APK Analyzer to examine your app before and after enabling the optimization to understand the impact.

4. Check Resource References #

Ensure resources are referenced directly in code rather than through string manipulation, which can make them appear unused to the optimizer.

5. Test on Multiple Configurations #

Test your app on different device configurations to ensure resources for all screen densities and sizes are handled correctly.

Compatibility and Requirements #

• Minimum Version: Android Gradle Plugin 8.12.0
• Build System: Compatible with both APK and AAB builds
• R8: Requires R8 code shrinker (enabled by default in modern Android projects)

Example Impact: Androidify Sample App #

Google demonstrated the optimization on the Androidify sample app, showing measurable size reductions. While specific numbers vary by app, the general pattern is:

Apps with many shared resources → Larger size reductions
Apps with minimal shared resources → Moderate size reductions

The key is that the optimization is intelligent—it only removes what's truly unused.

Migration Tips #

If you're currently using resource shrinking without the optimization:

1. Upgrade to AGP 8.12.0 or higher
2. Add the Gradle property to enable optimized shrinking
3. Build your release APK/AAB and test thoroughly
4. Compare app sizes before and after using APK Analyzer
5. Monitor crash reports during initial rollout to catch any issues

The Technical Advantage #

By integrating resource shrinking directly into the R8 pipeline, Google has eliminated a major bottleneck in app optimization. This unified approach allows for:

• Dead code elimination that considers resource usage
• Dead resource elimination that considers code references
• Circular dependency resolution between code and resources
• More accurate analysis of what's actually used

Looking Forward #

Optimized resource shrinking represents a significant advancement in Android app optimization. As it becomes the standard in AGP 9.0.0, developers can expect:

• Even smaller app sizes across the ecosystem
• Faster app performance as a baseline
• Better user experiences, especially on lower-end devices
• Reduced storage pressure on user devices

Try It Today #

With Android Gradle Plugin 8.12.0 available now, there's no reason not to test optimized resource shrinking. The potential for significant app size reduction makes it worth the effort.

For complete technical details and implementation guidance, read the full announcement by Johan Bay (Software Engineer) on the Android Developers Blog.

Have you tried optimized resource shrinking in your apps? Share your results with us on social media!