How to Convert a Bolt.new Project to an Android App
Bolt.new doesn't build Android apps. Here's the real path to Google Play.
Founder, Natively
So you've prototyped something with Bolt.new and now you want it on the Google Play Store as an Android app. That's a completely reasonable next step — but there's a gap between where your project is today and where it needs to be. Bolt.new builds web applications. Android apps are a different animal entirely. Let me explain what's going on and what your options actually are.
Key Takeaways
- Bolt.new outputs web apps — React, Next.js, Vue, and other web frameworks that run in browsers, not on Android natively
- Web code doesn't become Android code — there's no converter or export that transforms a web project into a native APK
- Wrapping it in a WebView produces a poor-quality app that users will rate poorly on Google Play
- The real path is to build a native Android app from your idea using a framework like React Native
What Bolt.new Actually Builds
Bolt.new is an AI coding tool built by StackBlitz. You describe what you want, and it generates a full-stack web application entirely in the browser using WebContainers — a browser-based Node.js runtime. It's fast, it's impressive, and the output is a working web app.
Key word: web app. Bolt supports React, Next.js, Vue, Svelte, Astro, Remix, and other web frameworks. It deploys to web hosting providers like Netlify. The entire environment — from the dev server to the preview — runs in a browser context.
Web Apps vs. Android Apps
An Android app is compiled code — typically Kotlin, Java, or React Native — that runs directly on the device through Android's runtime. It gets packaged as an APK (for testing) or AAB (for the Play Store). A web app is HTML, CSS, and JavaScript rendered in a browser engine. These are fundamentally different execution models.
What Your Bolt.new Project Can't Do on Android
Because your Bolt.new project is web code, it can't access Android-native features: push notifications via Firebase Cloud Messaging, background services, the native camera and gallery APIs, biometric authentication, NFC, Bluetooth, native navigation patterns like the Android back button behavior, Material Design components, or widgets. None of these are available to web apps running in a browser or a WebView.
Why You Can't Just Convert It to an APK
I want to address this head-on because it's the most common misconception. There's no tool, plugin, or build step that converts a React or Next.js web project into a native Android app. They're built on entirely different foundations.
Different UI Frameworks
A Bolt.new React app renders HTML elements styled with CSS. An Android app renders native Views — TextViews, RecyclerViews, Material components — through the Android UI toolkit. Your <div> elements, CSS Grid layouts, and Tailwind classes have no equivalent in the Android rendering pipeline. They would all need to be rebuilt.
Different App Lifecycle
Android apps have a specific lifecycle — Activities, Fragments, Services, Broadcast Receivers. Web apps have none of this. A web app doesn't know how to respond to an Android back button press, handle being pushed to the background, or manage memory the way Android expects. These aren't features you can bolt on — they're fundamental to how Android apps work.
Missing Native Capabilities
Even the most polished web app can't do what a native Android app can. Firebase push notifications, foreground services, deep linking through App Links, home screen widgets, Wear OS integration, Android Auto — all of these require native code.
What About PWAs on Android?
Android is more PWA-friendly than iOS, but a Progressive Web App still runs in a browser sandbox. You get basic "add to home screen" support and limited push notifications, but you don't get Play Store distribution, native performance, full device APIs, or the trust signal that comes with being a "real app" on Google Play. For many users, if it's not on the Play Store, it doesn't exist.
What Happens When You Ship a Web App to Google Play
Let's say you ignore the advice and wrap your Bolt.new project in a WebView using Capacitor, Cordova, or a Trusted Web Activity (TWA). You manage to build an APK, sign it, and upload it to Google Play. Here's the reality of what happens next:
Two paths to the Play Store
Wrapped Web App vs. Native App
React / Next.js / Vite
WebView Wrapper
Capacitor / Cordova / TWA
Google Play Store
NativelyDescribe your app idea with AI
Real Native Code
React Native + Expo → APK / AAB
Google Play StoreWhy Wrapped Apps Fail on Google Play
The User Experience
- ✗Scrolling feels sluggish — missing native overscroll behavior
- ✗Back button either exits the app or behaves unpredictably
- ✗No Material Design — looks foreign on Android devices
- ✗Slow startup, white flash on load, visible web rendering
The Play Store Consequences
- ✗Low ratings — users immediately say "this is just a website"
- ✗Google's quality guidelines increasingly penalize thin apps
- ✗High uninstall rates tank your Play Store ranking
- ✗No way to compete with native apps in the same category
Google Is Cracking Down Too
Google Play may be more lenient than Apple's App Store, but that's changing. Google has been tightening quality requirements and removing low-quality apps in bulk. Even if your wrapped app passes initial review, poor user metrics (low retention, high uninstalls, bad ratings) will cause it to sink in search rankings or get flagged for removal.
The Android Back Button Problem
This one catches everyone off guard. Android users rely heavily on the system back button (or back gesture). In a WebView wrapper, pressing back navigates the browser history — which might take you to a page you didn't expect, or just close the app entirely. In a native app, back navigation follows the screen stack, which is what users expect. Getting this wrong is one of the fastest ways to earn a 1-star review.
Want Your Idea on Google Play?
Skip the web wrapper. Build a real native Android app with Natively. Describe your idea, get production-ready React Native code, and build an APK for testing or an AAB for the Play Store — all powered by AI.
The Right Way: Build a Native Android App
If you've got a Bolt.new project you want on Google Play, the answer is to build the Android app separately as a native app. Your Bolt.new work isn't wasted — you've validated your idea, designed the user flows, and possibly built a backend. Now you need a tool that outputs native mobile code instead of web code.
How Natively Works
Natively takes the same AI-driven approach as Bolt — describe what you want and it builds it. The crucial difference: Natively generates React Native + Expo apps that compile to actual native Android (and iOS) code. The output is a genuine native app, not a web app in a container.
From Bolt.new Idea to Google Play
- 1Treat your Bolt.new project as your prototype
You've already figured out the screens, features, and user flows. That's your blueprint for the native version.
- 2Describe your app in Natively
Reference your Bolt.new project's features, layout, and behavior. The more detail you give the AI, the closer the result matches your vision.
- 3AI generates your native app
Natively creates a React Native + Expo project with native Android components, proper navigation with back button support, and full device API access.
- 4Build an APK and test on your phone
Natively lets you build an APK directly in the browser — no Android Studio needed. Install it on your Android device and test the real native experience.
- 5Build an AAB and publish to Google Play
When you're ready, build an Android App Bundle (AAB) and upload it to the Google Play Console. You own 100% of the code — no lock-in.
What Carries Over From Bolt.new
You're not starting from zero. Here's what you keep:
Your Product Thinking
The screens you designed, the features you prioritized, the user flow you mapped out — that's all directly transferable. Describe it to Natively's AI and it becomes the foundation of your native app.
Your Backend and API
Same Backend, Different Frontend
If your Bolt.new project connects to a backend — Supabase, Firebase, a custom REST API — your native Android app can connect to the exact same one. Natively supports Supabase integration out of the box and works with any API. One backend powering both your web and mobile apps, no migration required.
Not sure about the difference between native and web apps? Our native apps vs web apps vs PWAs guide breaks it down in detail.
Running Both Web and Android Side by Side
You don't have to pick one. Keep your Bolt.new web app running for desktop and web users. Ship your Natively app on Google Play for Android users. Same product, each platform gets the experience it deserves. Many successful products work this way — think about how you use both the Gmail website and the Gmail Android app.
Using a different tool? We also cover Lovable, v0, and Replit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I directly convert my Bolt.new project into an Android APK?
No. Bolt.new generates web applications using frameworks like React and Next.js. Android apps require native code — Kotlin, Java, or React Native. There's no conversion path between web framework code and native Android code.
Does Bolt.new support building Android apps?
No. Bolt.new is a web application builder. Its WebContainer environment supports web frameworks (React, Next.js, Vue, Svelte, etc.) and deploys to web hosting providers. It does not support React Native, Kotlin, or any Android development framework.
Can I use a Trusted Web Activity (TWA) to list my web app on Google Play?
Technically yes — a TWA is essentially Chrome running your website in fullscreen. But users will have the same experience as visiting your website, and Google Play is increasingly penalizing low-quality apps. The reviews will reflect that it's not a real app, and your rankings will suffer.
Do I need Android Studio to build a native app with Natively?
No. Natively handles the entire build process in the cloud. You can build an APK for testing or an AAB for Google Play without installing Android Studio, the Android SDK, or any local toolchain. Everything happens in the browser.
What is React Native, and is it real native code?
React Native is a framework by Meta that compiles to real native Android (and iOS) components. It's not a web view — it renders actual native UI elements. Apps like Instagram, Shopify, Discord, and Coinbase use React Native in production. Natively uses React Native + Expo as its output framework.
How much does it cost to publish on Google Play?
Google charges a one-time $25 fee for a developer account. After that, you can publish as many apps as you want. Natively itself starts at $5/month, which is a fraction of the cost of hiring an Android developer ($50,000–$300,000+ for a typical project).