How to use the ProGuard in Android Studio?

Question

This is my first project in Android Studio, and the code of my apps are not obfuscated. Im using this configuration in build.gradle file:

Answer 1

The other answers here are great references on using proguard. However, I haven't seen an issue discussed that I ran into that was a mind bender. After you generate a signed release .apk, it's put in the /release folder in your app but my app had an apk that wasn't in the /release folder. Hence, I spent hours decompiling the wrong apk wondering why my proguard changes were having no affect. Hope this helps someone!