[Flutter FAQs] Android Build Warning? Let's Decode That SDK Version Message

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Uh Oh! Android Build Warning? Let’s Decode That SDK Version Message

Ever been happily building your Android app, only to be greeted by a cryptic warning message? You’re not alone! One common speed bump is the “SDK XML version” warning, often popping up when things aren’t quite aligned in your project setup. Let’s break down what this warning means and how you can usually fix it, without needing a computer science degree!

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Running Gradle task 'assembleXXXRelease'...                     
Warning: SDK processing. This version only understands SDK XML versions up to 3 but an SDK XML file of version 4 was encountered. This can happen if you use versions of Android Studio and the command-line tools that were released at different times.
Running Gradle task 'assembleXXXRelease'...  
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Help investigate and resolve the SDK XML version warning?

What’s This Warning All About?

Imagine you and a friend are assembling the same piece of furniture, but you have version 4 of the instructions, and your friend has version 3. You might both finish, but you might encounter confusing steps or use slightly different parts because your manuals don’t match.

The “SDK XML version” warning is similar. It usually means different parts of your Android development toolkit (like Android Studio itself, the command-line tools you might use, or even settings within your project files) are expecting different versions of the Android Software Development Kit (SDK). The SDK is like the master set of tools and instructions for building Android apps. When one tool expects version 4 rules and another expects version 3, you get this warning.

Why Does This Happen?

This little mismatch can happen for a few reasons:

  1. Tool Updates: Maybe you updated Android Studio but not the separate command-line tools, or vice-versa.

  2. Project Settings: Sometimes, the configuration files within your project (specifically a file called build.gradle) might have mismatched version numbers specified.

The key culprits in your build.gradle file are usually:

  • compileSdkVersion: Tells Gradle which Android SDK version to compile your app with.
  • targetSdkVersion: Tells Android which version your app was designed and tested for.

If these numbers are inconsistent, or if one points to a version your tools don’t fully understand yet, the warning might appear.

Taming the Warning: The Usual Fix

Fixing this often involves making sure your project settings are consistent and up-to-date (but not too cutting-edge, unless you know what you’re doing!).

  1. Peek into build.gradle: Open the build.gradle file located inside the android/app folder of your project.

  2. Check compileSdkVersion: Look for the line starting with compileSdkVersion. Make sure it’s set to a recent, stable Android SDK version number (like 34, which corresponds to Android 14). Avoid using versions that might be beta or preview unless intended.

  3. Check targetSdkVersion: Find the targetSdkVersion line. It’s generally best practice for this number to match your compileSdkVersion.

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-       targetSdkVersion 33
+       targetSdkVersion 35

  1. Clean Up: After making changes, it’s a good idea to clean your project. If you’re using Flutter, run flutter clean in your terminal. Then, navigate into the android directory (cd android) and run ./gradlew clean, then go back (cd ..).

  2. Try Building Again: Run your build command again.

Keep Calm and Build On

While build warnings can seem intimidating, the “SDK XML version” issue is usually just a sign that your tools or project settings need a quick tune-up. By ensuring your SDK versions are consistent in your build.gradle file, you can often resolve this warning and get back to building your amazing app. Happy coding!