In-depth, step-by-step guide to building a Cordova release APK in Windows.

cordova-release.md

1. Open CMD as administartor
2. Go to your JDK's bin folder:

C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_121\bin

3. Run:

keytool -genkey -v -keystore C:\myKeystoreName.keystore -alias myName -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000

4. Add a build.json file to your Cordova folder (where the platforms and www folders reside). It should look like this:

{
    "android": {
        "release": {
            "keystore": "C:\\myKeystoreName.keystore",
            "storePassword": "password_youve_set",
            "alias": "myName",
            "password" : "alias_password_youve_set",
            "keystoreType": ""
        }
    }
}

5. Open CMD
6. Go to your Cordova folder (where build.json is located)
7. Run:

cordova build android --release --buildConfig build.json

8. Go to:

yourCordovaFolder\platforms\android\build\outputs\apk

9. There should be a file, named android-release.apk. That's your file.

Conclusion

The .keystore file is a container of certificates, private keys, etc. In this case, it stores a self-signed certificate, which is:

an identity certificate that is signed by the same entity whose identity it certifies

You'll use it in all your future builds of the app, so save it somewhere safe.