[3.35.1] Android build fails when minSdk is set below 24 in build.gradle.kts

Steps to reproduce

Create a new Flutter project with Flutter 3.35
Navigate to android/app/build.gradle.kts
Set minSdk to 21
Build the Android app

Expected results

Build success

Actual results

Build fails with syntax error due to minSdk = 21 is replaced with minSdkVersion flutter.minSdkVersion

Code sample

[Paste your code here]

Screenshots or Video

Screenshots / Video demonstration

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Logs

[Paste your logs here]

Flutter Doctor output

Doctor output

[✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.35.1, on macOS 15.6 24G84 darwin-arm64, locale en-VN) [278ms]
    • Flutter version 3.35.1 on channel stable at /Users/khoa.nguyen/fvm/versions/3.35.1
    • Upstream repository https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
    • Framework revision 20f8274939 (9 hours ago), 2025-08-14 10:53:09 -0700
    • Engine revision 1e9a811bf8
    • Dart version 3.9.0
    • DevTools version 2.48.0
    • Feature flags: enable-web, enable-linux-desktop, enable-macos-desktop, enable-windows-desktop, enable-android, enable-ios, cli-animations,
      enable-lldb-debugging

[!] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices (Android SDK version 36.0.0) [1,160ms]
    • Android SDK at /Users/khoa.nguyen/Library/Android/sdk
    • Emulator version 35.5.10.0 (build_id 13402964) (CL:N/A)
    • Platform android-36, build-tools 36.0.0
    • Java binary at: /opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@17/bin/java
      This JDK is specified in your Flutter configuration.
      To change the current JDK, run: `flutter config --jdk-dir="path/to/jdk"`.
    • Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment Homebrew (build 17.0.15+0)
    ! Some Android licenses not accepted. To resolve this, run: flutter doctor --android-licenses

[✓] Xcode - develop for iOS and macOS (Xcode 16.4) [668ms]
    • Xcode at /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer
    • Build 16F6
    • CocoaPods version 1.16.2

[✓] Chrome - develop for the web [8ms]
    • Chrome at /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google Chrome

[✓] Android Studio (version 2024.3) [7ms]
    • Android Studio at /Users/khoa.nguyen/Applications/Android Studio.app/Contents
    • Flutter plugin can be installed from:
      🔨 https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/9212-flutter
    • Dart plugin can be installed from:
      🔨 https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/6351-dart
    • Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 21.0.6+-13368085-b895.109)

[✓] VS Code (version 1.103.0) [6ms]
    • VS Code at /Applications/Visual Studio Code.app/Contents
    • Flutter extension version 3.116.0

[✓] Connected device (4 available) [5.9s]
    • sdk gphone64 arm64 (mobile) • emulator-5554                        • android-arm64  • Android 16 (API 36) (emulator)
    • iPhone 16 Pro Max (mobile)  • 1FB5DCF2-7F04-4919-8C57-0E963C451C35 • ios            • com.apple.CoreSimulator.SimRuntime.iOS-18-5 (simulator)
    • macOS (desktop)             • macos                                • darwin-arm64   • macOS 15.6 24G84 darwin-arm64
    • Chrome (web)                • chrome                               • web-javascript • Google Chrome 139.0.7258.67

[✓] Network resources [396ms]
    • All expected network resources are available.

! Doctor found issues in 1 category.

@tirth-patel-nc

Hi @tirth-patel-nc!

I think there is a legitimate issue here. The report was about the migration script breaking your build.gradle.kts if it previously contained minSdk < 24, because it uses incorrect syntax when replacing the variable.

It currently replaces

minSdk = 21

with

minSdkVersion flutter.minSdkVersion

which is not valid kts syntax.

@alex-medinsh

sorry for the oversight! @alex-medinsh appreciate the correction. I did notice this replacement in earlier triage but must have overlooked it in this case.

Thanks for the report. Seeing the same behaviour with latest SDK versions. Doesn't happen on 3.32.8, hence marking it as a regression. Bisected it to #170882.

Bisect Log

tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter % flutter upgrade
Building flutter tool...
Resolving dependencies... (2.4s)
Downloading packages... 
Got dependencies.
Flutter is already up to date on channel stable
Flutter 3.35.1 • channel stable • https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
Framework • revision 20f8274939 (17 hours ago) • 2025-08-14 10:53:09 -0700
Engine • hash 6cd51c08a88e7bbe848a762c20ad3ecb8b063c0e (revision 1e9a811bf8) (35 hours ago) • 2025-08-13 23:35:25.000Z
Tools • Dart 3.9.0 • DevTools 2.48.0
tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter % git bisect bad
You need to start by "git bisect start"

Do you want me to do it for you [Y/n]? Y
status: waiting for both good and bad commits
status: waiting for good commit(s), bad commit known
tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter % git bisect good edada7c
Bisecting: a merge base must be tested
[e2dea95082e3a13d3084cacb6660d389449bab08] Fix warnings in FGP  (#166727)
tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter % git bisect good        
Bisecting: 736 revisions left to test after this (roughly 10 steps)
[c6fe412e9a06b634eb0d8942a04d9321a96103eb] Re-enable SelectableRegion web tests (#169541)
tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter % git bisect good 
Bisecting: 368 revisions left to test after this (roughly 9 steps)
[6983043d3bda5d3022d3e6fc9b2fef9860fc9d3d] Roll Packages from 7f41e758714a to 02770da46831 (5 revisions) (#171006)
tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter % git bisect good 
Bisecting: 184 revisions left to test after this (roughly 8 steps)
[750b87f551714d72a628ec8f4720d96de6f177bb] [ Widget Previews ] Add support for Pub Workspaces (#171538)
tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter % git bisect bad  
Bisecting: 91 revisions left to test after this (roughly 7 steps)
[8b2f80e04f359bc12f7d257d026e80a490286a49] Run expression_evaluation_web_amd_test.dart on Mac/Windows (#171277)
tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter % git bisect good 
Bisecting: 45 revisions left to test after this (roughly 6 steps)
[b524df28bdf2658b3c68c8be6074d23b079d4863] Report feature flags enabled if the flutter tool crashes on a bot. (#171304)
tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter % git bisect good 
Bisecting: 22 revisions left to test after this (roughly 5 steps)
[4937e469d6d136ac66c08d221d07abd481b73a0c] [ Tool ] Update validator of NO_PROXY to explicitly match detected hosts (#171385)
tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter % git bisect good 
Bisecting: 11 revisions left to test after this (roughly 4 steps)
[96d6ce0e65849a9cd814bbcdfb21d26436e52c25] Set width and height when creating <img> platform view for NetworkImage (#171474)
tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter % git bisect bad  
Bisecting: 5 revisions left to test after this (roughly 3 steps)
[59ba3087e40d7896c919658c2b7653bfc3b47170] Deprecate: Mark AppBarTheme & AppBarThemeData color parameter as deprecated in favor of backgroundColor (#170624)
tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter % git bisect bad
Bisecting: 2 revisions left to test after this (roughly 1 step)
[17848992dc09517fc8975b54d5d831802730665a] Roll Packages from 3dc682deffb4 to 205c50f07ec7 (3 revisions) (#171526)
tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter % git bisect bad
Bisecting: 0 revisions left to test after this (roughly 0 steps)
[1dfb59d2811ce784bfa8a11231509bd835fdb4a7] Android min sdk 24 part 1 (#170882)
tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter % git bisect bad
1dfb59d2811ce784bfa8a11231509bd835fdb4a7 is the first bad commit
commit 1dfb59d2811ce784bfa8a11231509bd835fdb4a7
Author: Reid Baker <[email protected]>
Date:   Wed Jul 2 14:30:22 2025 +0000

    Android min sdk 24 part 1 (#170882)
    
    - **bump template version, update migration code to handle api 21-23 and
    expand it to cover multiple min api level definitions**
    - **bump add to app project to minimum api level 24**
    - **PathUtilsTest converted to using config, removed test code that
    branched on versions older than 24**
    - **Update additional build.gradle files to have minsdk 24 and
    documenation**
    
    Related to #170807
    
    G3 cls
    - espresso https://critique.corp.google.com/cl/776592881
    - integration tests cl/778034198
    - removal of pre api 23 samples tests cl/777652802
    
    
    ## Pre-launch Checklist
    
    - [x] I read the [Contributor Guide] and followed the process outlined
    there for submitting PRs.
    - [x] I read the [Tree Hygiene] wiki page, which explains my
    responsibilities.
    - [x] I read and followed the [Flutter Style Guide], including [Features
    we expect every widget to implement].
    - [x] I signed the [CLA].
    - [x] I listed at least one issue that this PR fixes in the description
    above.
    - [x] I updated/added relevant documentation (doc comments with `///`).
    - [x] I added new tests to check the change I am making, or this PR is
    [test-exempt].
    - [x] I followed the [breaking change policy] and added [Data Driven
    Fixes] where supported.
    - [x] All existing and new tests are passing.
    
    ---------
    
    Co-authored-by: Gray Mackall <[email protected]>

 .../bin/tasks/gradle_desugar_classes_test.dart     |   9 +-
 dev/devicelab/lib/framework/apk_utils.dart         |  12 ---
 .../android/component1/build.gradle                |   2 +-
 .../app/build.gradle                               |   2 +-
 .../android_custom_host_app/SampleApp/build.gradle |   2 +-
 .../android_host_app_v2_embedding/app/build.gradle |   2 +-
 .../flutter/shell/platform/android/build.gradle    |   4 +-
 .../shell/platform/android/io/flutter/Build.java   |   2 +-
 .../io/flutter/view/AccessibilityBridge.java       |   3 +-
 .../embedding/android/FlutterActivityTest.java     |   3 +-
 .../flutter/embedding/android/FlutterViewTest.java |  30 +++---
 .../embedding/engine/loader/FlutterLoaderTest.java |  19 ----
 .../localization/LocalizationPluginTest.java       | 103 ---------------------
 .../platform/SingleViewPresentationTest.java       |   5 +-
 .../test/io/flutter/util/PathUtilsTest.java        |  16 +---
 .../io/flutter/view/AccessibilityBridgeTest.java   |  14 +--
 .../platform/android/test_runner/build.gradle      |   4 +-
 packages/flutter_tools/.gitignore                  |   3 +
 packages/flutter_tools/gradle/README.md            |  12 ++-
 .../src/main/kotlin/DependencyVersionChecker.kt    |   5 +-
 .../gradle/src/main/kotlin/FlutterExtension.kt     |   2 +-
 .../test/kotlin/DependencyVersionCheckerTest.kt    |  15 +--
 packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/android/README.md   |   8 +-
 .../lib/src/android/gradle_utils.dart              |   7 +-
 .../android/android_project_migration_test.dart    |  42 +++++++--
 .../test_data/deferred_components_config.dart      |   2 +-
 26 files changed, 118 insertions(+), 210 deletions(-)
tirthpatel@Tirths-MacBook-Pro flutter %

stable : 3.35.1
master : 3.33.0-1.0.pre-1430
beta   : 3.36.0-0.1.pre

Build Logs

Launching lib/main.dart on sdk gphone64 arm64 in debug mode...
Upgrading build.gradle.kts
e: file:///Users/tirthpatel/test_app/android/app/build.gradle.kts:27:30: Expecting an element
e: file:///Users/tirthpatel/test_app/android/app/build.gradle.kts:27:9: Function invocation 'minSdkVersion(...)' expected
e: file:///Users/tirthpatel/test_app/android/app/build.gradle.kts:27:9: None of the following functions can be called with the arguments supplied:
public abstract fun minSdkVersion(minSdkVersion: Int): Unit defined in com.android.build.api.dsl.ApplicationDefaultConfig
public abstract fun minSdkVersion(minSdkVersion: String?): Unit defined in com.android.build.api.dsl.ApplicationDefaultConfig
e: file:///Users/tirthpatel/test_app/android/app/build.gradle.kts:27:9: Variable expected

FAILURE: Build failed with an exception.

* Where:
Build file '/Users/tirthpatel/test_app/android/app/build.gradle.kts' line: 27

* What went wrong:
Script compilation errors:

  Line 27:         minSdkVersion flutter.minSdkVersion
                                        ^ Expecting an element

  Line 27:         minSdkVersion flutter.minSdkVersion
                   ^ Function invocation 'minSdkVersion(...)' expected

  Line 27:         minSdkVersion flutter.minSdkVersion
                   ^ None of the following functions can be called with the arguments supplied:
                       public abstract fun minSdkVersion(minSdkVersion: Int): Unit defined in com.android.build.api.dsl.ApplicationDefaultConfig
                       public abstract fun minSdkVersion(minSdkVersion: String?): Unit defined in com.android.build.api.dsl.ApplicationDefaultConfig

  Line 27:         minSdkVersion flutter.minSdkVersion
                   ^ Variable expected

4 errors

* Try:
> Run with --stacktrace option to get the stack trace.
> Run with --info or --debug option to get more log output.
> Run with --scan to get full insights.
> Get more help at https://help.gradle.org.

BUILD FAILED in 1s
Error: Gradle task assembleDebug failed with exit code 1

Exited (1).

Screen.Recording.2025-08-15.at.3.51.37.PM.mov

fix: Android build fails when minSdk is set below 24 in build.gradle.…

[CP-stable]fix: Android build fails when minSdk is set below 24 in bu…

fix: Android build fails when minSdk is set below 24 in build.gradle.…

This thread has been automatically locked since there has not been any recent activity after it was closed. If you are still experiencing a similar issue, please open a new bug, including the output of flutter doctor -v and a minimal reproduction of the issue.

fix: Android build fails when minSdk is set below 24 in build.gradle.…

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[3.35.1] Android build fails when minSdk is set below 24 in build.gradle.kts #173823

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[3.35.1] Android build fails when minSdk is set below 24 in build.gradle.kts #173823

Description

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tirth-patel-nc commented on Aug 15, 2025

alex-medinsh commented on Aug 15, 2025

tirth-patel-nc commented on Aug 15, 2025

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github-actions commented on Sep 3, 2025

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