Google Play upload warningGoogle Play: “This App Bundle contains native code, and you’ve not uploaded debug symbols”

Why Play has no symbols, and the fix

1. 01

   The bundle was built without native debug symbols

   “If your project builds an Android App Bundle, you can automatically include the debug symbols file in it.” Google, Deobfuscate or symbolicate crash stack traces

   The Android Gradle plugin only packs the symbols into the bundle when you ask for them. Add the setting to the app module, bump the version code, and build a new bundle.

   // android/app/build.gradle.kts
   android {
       defaultConfig {
           ndk {
               debugSymbolLevel = "FULL"
           }
       }
   }
   
   // android/app/build.gradle (Groovy)
   // android { defaultConfig { ndk { debugSymbolLevel 'FULL' } } }

2. 02

   The symbols file is over the size limit

   “Use SYMBOL_TABLE to get function names in the Play Console's symbolicated stack traces.” Android Developers, Include native debug symbols

   FULL adds file names and line numbers and can get large. If the build or the upload complains about size, switch to SYMBOL_TABLE, which still gives function names.

   ndk {
       debugSymbolLevel = "SYMBOL_TABLE"
   }

3. 03

   You ship an APK, or the release is already out

   “Manually upload the native debug symbols file to the Google Play Console” Android Developers, Include native debug symbols

   An APK can’t carry the symbols, and Gradle only writes them when debugSymbolLevel is set. Set it and build again from the same commit and version code, or add symbols from the next release. Gradle writes native-debug-symbols.zip to build/app/outputs/native-debug-symbols/release/ in a Flutter project (app/build/outputs/… in a native Android project). In Play Console open App bundle explorer, pick the version, then Downloads, and upload it under Assets.

4. 04

   A dependency ships stripped libraries

   “If your dependencies contain native libraries, the debug information is likely stripped to reduce size.” Android Developers, Include native debug symbols

   If the warning stays after the change, run the build with --info and look for the line that says the native debug metadata was already stripped. That library came without symbols; only its vendor can provide them, and the warning for it is safe to leave.

   ./gradlew bundleRelease --info | grep -i "native debug metadata"

Checked against the vendor’s docs on November 8, 2026: Play Console Help: Deobfuscate or symbolicate crash stack traces; Android Developers: Include native debug symbols.

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Related: Google Play “signed with the wrong key” · Google Play version code already used · Google Play target API level · Google Play Billing Library version deprecated