Quick answer: Godot 4 Android AAB export failing with keystore access denied on Windows? File permissions on .keystore restrict to Administrator - chmod or set explicit user permissions.

Build via CI as a non-admin Windows user; keystore in user folder; export fails.

Set explicit permissions

Right-click .keystore > Properties > Security > Edit > Users +Read. Or set via icacls.

Or move keystore to user folder

Avoid system-protected paths (Program Files, ProgramData). User-owned folder is unrestricted.

Verify with keytool

keytool -list -keystore release.keystore

If keytool can read, Godot should too. Failure = permission issue.

“Windows file permissions are stricter than they look. Build systems trip on them.”

Standardize the keystore location in your CI README. Path conventions prevent the permission-mismatch class of bug.

Related reading