diff --git a/apps/app/app.config.js b/apps/app/app.config.js
index 7ea75798..e449299e 100644
--- a/apps/app/app.config.js
+++ b/apps/app/app.config.js
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
+const isTestBuild = process.env.ROCKSKY_VARIANT === "test";
+
 module.exports = {
-  name: "Rocksky",
+  name: isTestBuild ? "Rocksky Test" : "Rocksky",
   slug: "rocksky",
   version: "2.0.0",
   orientation: "portrait",
   icon: "./assets/images/icon.png",
-  scheme: "rocksky",
+  scheme: isTestBuild ? "rocksky-test" : "rocksky",
   userInterfaceStyle: "dark",
   backgroundColor: "#130825",
   newArchEnabled: true,
@@ -22,7 +24,7 @@ module.exports = {
       backgroundImage: "./assets/images/icon-background.png",
       backgroundColor: "#130825",
     },
-    package: "app.rocksky",
+    package: isTestBuild ? "app.rocksky.test" : "app.rocksky",
     versionCode: 3,
   },
   web: {
@@ -31,6 +33,7 @@ module.exports = {
     favicon: "./assets/images/favicon.png",
   },
   plugins: [
+    "./plugins/withAndroidIdentity",
     "./plugins/withRustEngine",
     "./plugins/withReleaseOptimization",
     [
diff --git a/apps/app/docs/android-test-release.md b/apps/app/docs/android-test-release.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d11cb7c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/app/docs/android-test-release.md
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Rocksky Test release
+
+Use `ROCKSKY_VARIANT=test` to generate the separate application ID
+`app.rocksky.test`, display name **Rocksky Test**, and `rocksky-test` URL scheme.
+Omitting the variable retains the production identity `app.rocksky`.
+
+```sh
+bash scripts/build-android-test-release.sh
+cd android
+adb install -r app/build/outputs/apk/release/app-release.apk
+adb shell am start -n app.rocksky.test/.MainActivity
+```
+
+The existing Rust Gradle task always invokes `cargo ndk ... build --release
+--locked` for both supported engine ABIs. Do not replace it with a debug Cargo
+build. The APK includes its JavaScript bundle and works without Metro.
+The identity plugin invalidates stale React Native autolinking metadata when
+switching package names, so the generated entry point uses the right BuildConfig.
+
+This local release uses the project's existing local signing configuration,
+not the Play Store signing key. The separate package can coexist with production;
+it has separate login, notification access, and application data.
+
+To return generated Android files to the production identity, rerun prebuild
+without `ROCKSKY_VARIANT`. Never install the test APK over the production package.
diff --git a/apps/app/package.json b/apps/app/package.json
index 2f8a5a20..ffd2f8ab 100644
--- a/apps/app/package.json
+++ b/apps/app/package.json
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
     "format": "biome format src",
     "typecheck": "tsc --noEmit",
     "test:analytics": "node --experimental-strip-types --test scripts/analytics.test.mjs",
+    "build:android:test:release": "bash scripts/build-android-test-release.sh",
     "adb:reverse": "adb reverse tcp:8081 tcp:8081",
     "eas-build-pre-install": "bash scripts/eas-pre-install.sh",
     "eas-build-post-install": "node scripts/eas-post-install.cjs",
diff --git a/apps/app/plugins/withAndroidIdentity.js b/apps/app/plugins/withAndroidIdentity.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..84cdd1be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/app/plugins/withAndroidIdentity.js
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+const { withDangerousMod } = require("@expo/config-plugins");
+const fs = require("node:fs/promises");
+const path = require("node:path");
+
+// React Native's autolinking cache watches lockfiles, not Expo's package name.
+// Invalidate only that generated file when changing production/test identity.
+module.exports = (config) =>
+  withDangerousMod(config, [
+    "android",
+    async (config) => {
+      const cache = path.join(
+        config.modRequest.platformProjectRoot,
+        "build/generated/autolinking/autolinking.json",
+      );
+      try {
+        const json = JSON.parse(await fs.readFile(cache, "utf8"));
+        if (json.project?.android?.packageName !== config.android.package) {
+          await fs.unlink(cache);
+        }
+      } catch (error) {
+        if (error.code !== "ENOENT") throw error;
+      }
+      return config;
+    },
+  ]);
diff --git a/apps/app/scripts/build-android-test-release.sh b/apps/app/scripts/build-android-test-release.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..627c0f2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/app/scripts/build-android-test-release.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+app_dir="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+cd "$app_dir"
+export ROCKSKY_VARIANT=test
+node node_modules/expo/bin/cli prebuild --platform android --no-install
+cd android
+# buildRustEngine remains a preBuild dependency and uses --release --locked.
+./gradlew :app:assembleRelease -PreactNativeArchitectures="${ROCKSKY_TEST_ABIS:-arm64-v8a}" "$@"
+echo "Rocksky Test APK: $app_dir/android/app/build/outputs/apk/release/app-release.apk"