# Keystore was tampered with, or password was incorrect

> Getting the error “Keystore was tampered with, or password was incorrect”? Here is how to fix it. The path, password, or key alias does not match.

**Keystore was tampered with, or password was incorrect.** Release builds are signed with your upload keystore, and Gradle couldn’t open it: wrong path, wrong password or wrong key alias.

- Android build. The upload keystore can’t be read.
- Interactive page: https://capwr.app/free-tools/build-error-explainer/keystore-was-tampered-with-or-password-incorrect
- Build error explainer: https://capwr.app/free-tools/build-error-explainer
- Last updated: 2026-10-03

## What this error means

Release builds are signed with your upload keystore, and Gradle couldn’t open it: wrong path, wrong password or wrong key alias.

## Why it happens

The release signing config points at an upload keystore Gradle could not open. The path is wrong, or the store password, key alias, or key password does not match.

## The message tools print

```
com.android.ide.common.signing.KeytoolException: Failed to read key upload from store "/home/runner/work/harbor/harbor/android/app/release.keystore": Keystore was tampered with, or password was incorrect
```

## How to fix it

1. Check the keystore path, store password, key alias and key password of the release signing config.
2. If they come from CI secrets, make sure the secret decodes to the same keystore file.
3. Never create a new keystore for an app already on Google Play — Play only accepts the original upload key.

## Check a log that shows this

Paste the failing step into the [build error explainer](https://capwr.app/free-tools/build-error-explainer). It matches this message, and any others in the same log, in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

## Other Android build errors

- [Android SDK location not found](https://capwr.app/free-tools/build-error-explainer/android-sdk-location-not-found)
- [Android Gradle plugin requires Java 17 to run](https://capwr.app/free-tools/build-error-explainer/android-gradle-plugin-requires-java)
- [:capacitor-android project could not be found](https://capwr.app/free-tools/build-error-explainer/capacitor-android-project-could-not-be-found)
- [Android resource linking failed](https://capwr.app/free-tools/build-error-explainer/android-resource-linking-failed)
- [Duplicate class found in modules](https://capwr.app/free-tools/build-error-explainer/duplicate-class-found-in-modules)
- [Could not resolve all files for configuration](https://capwr.app/free-tools/build-error-explainer/could-not-resolve-gradle-configuration)

## Let the Android build run in CI

CapWrapp builds the release on GitHub Actions with the JDK and Android SDK the project needs, and signs it with the upload keystore it stores for you.

[Get started free](https://capwr.app/login).

## About CapWrapp

CapWrapp turns a web app on GitHub — built with Lovable, Bolt, Base44, Cursor or by hand — into iPhone and Android apps. It adds Capacitor if the repo needs it, signs the builds, and ships them to TestFlight and Google Play from GitHub Actions, with no Mac or Xcode on your side. [Get started free](https://capwr.app/login) · [Lovable to App Store guide](https://capwr.app/guides/lovable-to-app-store)