Assume you have a file called buggy_app.apk on your Desktop.
Basic usage to align an APK:
zipalign -v -p 4 input.apk output-aligned.apk
To verify alignment:
zipalign -c -v 4 output-aligned.apk
Here is the hard truth: Google does not offer a standalone Windows installer for Zipalign. zipalign download windows
Zipalign is part of the Android SDK (Software Development Kit) Build Tools. If you Google "zipalign download windows exe," you will find sketchy third-party websites offering cracked or virus-ridden downloads. Do not use them.
You have two safe methods to get Zipalign on Windows:
Before we dive into the download process, a word of caution. Googling "zipalign download windows" brings up dozens of dubious websites offering a standalone zipalign.exe file. Do not download these. Assume you have a file called buggy_app
Here is why:
The Golden Rule: Always download Zipalign as part of the official Android Command Line Tools or Android Studio.
Some developers package zipalign.exe with minimal SDK files. While convenient, these are not official and should be used with caution. Always verify file hashes and scan for viruses. To verify alignment:
zipalign -c -v 4 output-aligned
Open Command Prompt and run:
zipalign -v
You should see usage instructions.