Android N - Cannot run on lower API though minSDK set to 14

Question

I am trying to run the APK on API 22 device after updating compileSdkVersion to N but unable to do so.

compileSdkVersion \'android-N\'
buildTool         


        

Answer 1

I found a solution that work but before that a little bit of history. What I did was trying to have different variants of my app and each variant would have its own compileSdkVersion

Those are snippets from my build.gradle

First attempt (compileSdkVersion is variant specific): Let you install the app on API level >= ANDROID-N only

    //compileSdkVersion 'android-N'
    buildToolsVersion '24.0.0 rc1'

    productFlavors {
        dev {
            compileSdkVersion 23
            targetSdkVersion 23
        }
        experimental {
            compileSdkVersion 'android-N'
            minSdkVersion 'N'
            targetSdkVersion 'N'
        }
    }

Second attempt (compileSdkVersion still variant specific but I removed experimental variant): Let you install the app on API Level < ANDROID-N only

    //compileSdkVersion 'android-N'
    buildToolsVersion '24.0.0 rc1'

    productFlavors {
        dev {
            compileSdkVersion 23
            targetSdkVersion 23
        }
        /*
        experimental {
            compileSdkVersion 'android-N'
            minSdkVersion 'N'
            targetSdkVersion 'N'
        }
        */
    }

Third attempt (compileSdkVersion still variant specific but experimental is defined before dev)

//compileSdkVersion 'android-N'
buildToolsVersion '24.0.0 rc1'

productFlavors {
    experimental {
        compileSdkVersion 'android-N'
        minSdkVersion 'N'
        targetSdkVersion 'N'
    }
    dev {
        compileSdkVersion 23
        targetSdkVersion 23
    }
}

At my big surprise this one worked ! I don't know why but it does. All you have to do is define your Android-N only variant before any other variant, click Build Variants in Android Studio and select the one you want to compile.

I am going to file an issue in the Android-N bug tracker and update this answer when I get more info.