in android/app/build.gradle, comment build line and uncomment release one.
release {
// Caution! In production, you need to generate your own keystore file.
// see https://facebook.github.io/react-native/docs/signed-apk-android.
// signingConfig signingConfigs.debug
signingConfig signingConfigs.release
minifyEnabled enableProguardInReleaseBuilds
proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile("proguard-android.txt"), "proguard-rules.pro"
}