How Long Does an Android App Update Take?

The five stages

Check. We read the code and build setup: the current target level, the Gradle and plugin versions, every library, native files and billing. The result is a list of what has to change, a fixed price and a delivery date.
Revive the build. If the project no longer compiles, we fix Gradle, repositories and dependencies first. On an old project this can be the largest stage. See common build errors.
Raise the target level. Update libraries and move to the current target API, one step at a time, building after each step.
Fix behaviour changes. Each Android version changes layouts, back handling, permissions, notifications and background work. These problems compile fine and only show up when the app runs. See the Elaaj case study for a real example.
Test and hand over. Test on Android 16, then deliver a release-ready APK or AAB and a list of what changed.

What makes it quicker

The app was maintained recently, so it is only one or two Android versions behind.
The project builds today in a recent Android Studio.
Libraries are current or easy to move, and there is no native code.
You can send the full source and answer questions quickly.

What makes it slower

The project has not been touched for several years, so it has to pass through several generations of Android, Gradle and library changes.
It depends on discontinued libraries that have to be replaced, not just updated.
It has native code (see 16 KB page size) or old billing code (see Billing Library 8).
The source is incomplete: missing modules, missing files, or a project that only ever lived on one developer's laptop.
Features need a backend or account to test, and no test login is available.

How to judge your own app in five minutes

Question	Good sign	Means more work
When was the last update published?	Within 1 to 2 years	3 years or more
Does the project open and build in a recent Android Studio?	Yes	No, or nobody has tried
What is `targetSdk` in `build.gradle`?	34 or 35	Below 30
Any `android.support` imports?	No (already AndroidX)	Yes
Any `.so` files in the APK?	No	Yes
In-app purchases?	No, or already on Billing 7 or 8	Yes, on an old version

If most answers are in the middle column, it is a short job. If most are in the right column, plan for a longer one and start now.

What you get before we start

After the free check you receive one fixed price and a delivery date. You are not guessing, and the date is based on your actual code, not an estimate from a description.

Start early. Waiting does not make the update shorter. Each year adds another generation of changes for an old project to catch up on, and Google raises the target level every year.

Frequently asked questions

Can you give me a number of days without seeing the app?

Not honestly. A recently maintained app is a short job and a very old one is not, so we give a date only after the free check.

Do I have to be available the whole time?

No. We work remotely on the source code and contact you only when a decision or a missing file is needed.

Can the app stay live on Google Play while you work?

Yes. We work on a copy of the source code. Your live app is not touched until you upload the new build yourself.

Keep reading

Want a delivery date for your app?

BrightRevamp updates older native Android apps (Java and Kotlin) to Google Play's current rules. Same app, same design, same features.

Email us about your app

Sources

Checked against the official documentation on 8 Oct 2026. Rules change, so confirm the dates in your Play Console.