Android Studio gradle doesn't compile the specified version

Question

I've been developing this small project for some days now but suddenly today, Android Studio started to give me this error

Error:Execution failed for task ':app:processDebugManifest'.
> Manifest merger failed : uses-sdk:minSdkVersion 14 cannot be smaller than version 14 declared in library com.android.support:support-v4:21.0.0-rc1

I understood that it is because it's trying to compile the library of Android-L. The version I want it to compile is the old version but it won't. It keeps giving me the above error no matter which version I enter. Here is the dependencies.

dependencies {
    compile fileTree(dir: 'libs', include: ['*.jar'])
    compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:20.+'
    compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:20.+'
}

UPDATE

I just installed Android Studio Beta and changed my dependencies to the one Eugen suggested below. But syncing the project gives the same error no matter which version of appcompat, support version I specify. It gives this error every single time I sync

uses-sdk:minSdkVersion 14 cannot be smaller than version L declared in library com.android.support:support-v4:21.0.0-rc1

My updated dependencies

dependencies {
    compile fileTree(dir: 'libs', include: ['*.jar'])
    compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:19.+'
    compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:19.+'
}

UPDATE 2

I don't think I understand the dependencies system of Android Studio correctly. I just removed both the appcompat and support from the dependencies and it still gives me the same error. Do I have to remove the initially included libraries from somewhere?

build.gradle

*note - I added those two libraries back in again and tried syncing, just in case. But no chenges.

apply plugin: 'android'

android {
    compileSdkVersion 19
    buildToolsVersion "19.1.0"

    defaultConfig {
        applicationId "taz.starz.footynews"
        minSdkVersion 14
        targetSdkVersion 19
        versionCode 1
        versionName "1.0"
    }
    buildTypes {
        release {
            runProguard false
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
        }
    }
}

dependencies {
    compile fileTree(dir: 'libs', include: ['*.jar'])
    compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:19.+'
    compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:19.+'
    compile project(':ParallaxScroll')
    compile files('src/main/libs/Header2ActionBar-0.2.1.jar')
    compile 'com.arasthel:gnavdrawer-library:+'
    compile 'com.koushikdutta.ion:ion:1.2.4'
}

Top level build.gradle

// Top-level build file where you can add configuration options common to all sub-projects/modules.
buildscript {
    repositories {
        mavenCentral()
    }
    dependencies {
        classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:0.12.+'
    }
}

allprojects {
    repositories {
        mavenCentral()
    }
}

Answer 1

UPDATE: Found the real fix for my case. Make sure none of your dependencies are silently including support-v4 r21 by doing this in your build.gradle:

compile("com.blahblah:blah:123") {
    exclude group: 'com.android.support', module:'support-v4'
}

You can add the exclude to all libraries, then remove one-by-one until you figure out which one was pulling in support-v4 and giving you the error. And leave exclude on that one.

---

There is a new bug filed here: https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=72430

Assuming you are using the Support Repository, the workaround is to comment or remove the line

<version>21.0.0-rc1</version>

in the local Maven repo listing file at <android-sdk>/extras/android/m2repository/com/android/support-v4/maven-metadata.xml

Answer 2

With the last updates, using this:

compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:20.+'

or

compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:+'

you are using the support lib in L-preview.

These support libs are declaring minSdkVersion L.

You have to force the minSdkVersion to be 'L' (check the doc)

This is because these APIs are not final. It is a way to prevent installing the apps on a final API 21 device or publishing it on the store using support lib 21-r1.

Using

compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:19.1.0'

you are using the "old" support library 19.1.0.

Answer 3

I had the same issue as one of my dependencies had specified 'support-v7:+' as a dependency. I was able to track this down using gradle dependencies

Gradle provides a way to force resolution to a specific version. I ended up having this in my build.grade:

compile('com.android.support:appcompat-v7:19.1.0') {
    // really use 19.1.0 even if something else resolves higher
    force = true 
}

Answer 4

compile('com.android.support:support-v4:19.1.0'){
    force = true
}

This worked for me

Answer 5

That is correct. The new support library is not compatible (yet) with old Android versions.

Change your gradle to:

dependencies {
    compile fileTree(dir: 'libs', include: ['*.jar'])
    compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:19.1.+'
    compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:19.1.+'
}

I hope your still have something like this:

android {
  compileSdkVersion 19
  buildToolsVersion '19.1.0'

  defaultConfig {
    minSdkVersion 14
    targetSdkVersion 19
 }
}

Answer 6

I was getting the error:

Execution failed for task ':app:processDebugManifest'.

Manifest merger failed : uses-sdk:minSdkVersion 1 cannot be smaller than version 4 declared in library C:\Users\Igor\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\samples\android-21_1\legacy\ApiDemos\app\build\intermediates\exploded-aar\com.android.support\support-v4\21.0.3\AndroidManifest.xml Suggestion: use tools:overrideLibrary="android.support.v4" to force usage

Then I resolved it by putting the following in my defaultConfig gradle block:

minSdkVersion 15
targetSdkVersion 21

Answer 7

In Android SDK Manager install "Android Support Repository" from "extra" group. It helps me. When I added "exclude group: 'com.android.support', module:'support-v4'" build was completed, but some other errors was occured