Resolving Incompatible Java and Gradle Error in Android Studio Ladybug

Problem: Java 21 and Gradle 8.0 Compatibility Issue

After upgrading to Android Studio Ladybug, projects may fail to sync with this error:

Your build is currently configured to use incompatible Java 21.0.3 and
Gradle 8.0. Cannot sync the project.

We recommend upgrading to Gradle version 8.9.

The minimum compatible Gradle version is 8.5.

The maximum compatible Gradle JVM version is 19.

Possible solutions:
 - Upgrade to Gradle 8.9 and re-sync
 - Upgrade to Gradle 8.5 and re-sync

The core issue stems from an incompatibility between Java 21 and Gradle 8.0, where:

• Gradle 8.0 supports a maximum Java version of 19
• Android Studio Ladybug defaults to Java 21
• Your project uses Gradle 8.0 or earlier

Immediate Impact

Project sync and build processes will fail until either Gradle is upgraded or Java is downgraded.

Solution Overview: Downgrade to Java 17

The fastest solution without upgrading Gradle is to switch to a compatible Java version. Follow these steps to install and configure Java 17:

Step 1: Download JDK 17

1. Open Android Studio Ladybug
2. Navigate to File → Project Structure
3. Under SDK Location, click the JDK version dropdown
4. Select Add JDK...

Vendor Selection

Ensure you select JetBrains as the vendor for maximum compatibility with Android Studio tools.

Step 2: Install JetBrains Runtime 17

1. In the download dialog:
   • Vendor: JetBrains
   • Version: Select the latest JDK 17 option (e.g., 17.0.12)
2. Choose an installation location (remember this path)
   • Default macOS path: ~/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jbr-17.0.12/Contents/Home
   • Windows path: C:\Program Files\JetBrains\jbr-17.0.12
3. Click Download and wait for installation

Step 3: Configure Project JDK

1. After installation, back in Project Structure → SDK Location
2. Select the new Java 17 JDK from the dropdown
3. Click Apply then OK

Verification

Confirm successful configuration by checking:

File → Project Structure → SDK Location
Current JDK should show version "17.0.x"

Step 4: Resync and Rebuild

1. Click Sync Project with Gradle Files (elephant icon)
2. Build your project (Build → Make Project)

For Flutter Projects: Additional Configuration

If working with Flutter, add this terminal command after setting Java 17 in Android Studio:

flutter config --jdk-dir [PATH_TO_JDK_17]

Example for macOS:

flutter config --jdk-dir ~/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jbr-17.0.12/Contents/Home

Verify configuration with:

flutter doctor -v

Check that the Android toolchain section shows Java 17:

• Java binary at: [PATH_TO_JDK_17]/bin/java
• Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 17.0.12+...)

Common Post-Installation Issue

If you encounter:

module jdk.compiler does not export com.sun.tools.javac.main to unnamed module

Perform a full machine restart. This clears lingering Java compiler conflicts.

When to Consider Gradle Upgrade

While downgrading Java solves the immediate issue, upgrading Gradle offers long-term benefits:

// gradle-wrapper.properties
distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-8.9-bin.zip

Benefits include:

• Official support for Java 21
• Improved build performance
• Security updates and bug fixes
• Compatibility with future Android Studio versions

Temporary Workaround Limitation

The Java downgrade solution becomes obsolete when:

• Project dependencies require Java 21 features
• New Android Gradle Plugin versions drop Java 17 support

Final Validation Steps

After applying the solution:

1. Rebuild project successfully
2. Verify runtime behavior
3. Check for unexpected deprecation warnings
4. Confirm all third-party plugins function correctly

TIP

For team projects, share the fixed gradle-wrapper.properties and JDK configuration instructions to ensure consistent environments.

By following this Java 17 downgrade process, you maintain current Gradle versions while ensuring project compatibility in Android Studio Ladybug.