CODEWITHSUNDEEP
androidandroid-studiogradleandroid-support-libraryandroid-appcompat
Lingviston
Lingviston

Reputation: 5671

Cannot resolve symbol 'AppCompatActivity'

I've just tried to use Android Studio. I've created blank project and tried to create Activity which extends AppCompatActivity. Unfortunalty Android Studio "says" that it

Cannot resolve symbol 'AppCompatActivity'

I have compile "com.android.support:appcompat-v7:22.0.+" in dependency list of my "app" module and rebuilt project several times. However I can only use ActionBarActivity. What am I doing wrong?

Upvotes: 243

Views: 387307

Answers (30)

Ivan Bartsov
Ivan Bartsov

Reputation: 21036

TL;DR:

File -> Invalidate Caches -> Invalidate and Restart

A little addition to other answers here, for anyone having the same error while using the right lib version and the right class.

When I upgraded to

appcompat-v7:22.1.0

In which ActionBarActivity is deprecated and empty and AppCompatActivty is the way to go, due to some glitch in Android Studio, It didn't quite pick up on version change.

i.e. Even though Gradle ran without errors, the IDE itself kept saying Cannot resolve symbol 'AppCompatActivity' (and it also wasn't available through the Ctrl+N search)

I looked into the .idea/libraries folder and noticed there's no appropriate metafile for the new version of the lib.

So, using the old-reliable File->Invalidate Caches/Restart did the trick. Always try this when you feel something is magically wrong with Android Studio. And then Disable offline mode and sync.

Upvotes: 382

Ranjithkumar
Ranjithkumar

Reputation: 18356

Upgrade your gradle version to solve this issue

Goto your project level build.gradle

If you are using an old gradle version, upgrade to latest

 classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:4.0.2'

gradle-wrapper.properties

change distributionUrl to latest version

distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-6.1.1-bin.zip

Upvotes: 0

Anand
Anand

Reputation: 927

In addition to other answers, adding below dependencyResolutionManagement in settings.gradle solved the problem.

dependencyResolutionManagement {
    repositoriesMode.set(RepositoriesMode.FAIL_ON_PROJECT_REPOS)
    repositories {
        google()
        mavenCentral()
    }
}

Note: I was migrating the old android project to AndroidX. After following all mandatory steps ended at this issue Cannot resolve symbol 'AppCompatActivity'. After trying all the other solutions mentioned here issue was not resolved. When checked with settings.gradle and adding the above code solved the issue.

Upvotes: 0

Rorro
Rorro

Reputation: 1267

I solved it adding:

import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;

in the "import" zone of the main .java file. It worked for me.

Hope it helps!

Upvotes: 2

Muhammad Etisam Zafar
Muhammad Etisam Zafar

Reputation: 452

When you add AndroidX support in Gradle.properties file e.g.

android.useAndroidX=true
android.enableJetifier=true

If you are using Gradle version greater than 3.2, the conventional Appcompat dependancy e.g.

implementation 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:27.1.1

wont work. Replace this dependancy with: 

implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.1.0'

Moreover, change the AppCompatActivity import in your class file from this:

import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;

to this:

import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;

Done

Upvotes: 15

Gabriele Mariotti
Gabriele Mariotti

Reputation: 363449

Today (22 April) you can use the new AppCompatActivity released with the support libraries v 22.1.0.

Just change your dependency :

compile "com.android.support:appcompat-v7:22.1.0"

Here you can find more info about this new class.

Upvotes: 73

SendETHToThisAddress
SendETHToThisAddress

Reputation: 3704

This happens because of one the following reasons:

  1. You do not have the SDK API installed (this was my problem)
  2. Your project/Android Studio doesn’t know where the needed files are
  3. Your project references an outdated compile version that does not support AppCompatActivity
  4. There is a typo

Possible solutions:

  1. Check your .gradle file to make sure you’re not referencing an outdated version. AppCompatActivity was added in version 25.1.0 and belongs to Maven artifact com.android.support:appcompat-v7:28.0.0-alpha1, so do not use any version earlier than this. In your build.gradle (Module: app) file you should have the dependency listed:

    dependencies { compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:25.1.0' }

    You may be using a different version, but just make sure you have listed the dependency.

  2. Open the SDK manager and download every API 7 or newer. If you were missing the needed API it will fix that issue, and downloading all the newer API’s can save you some hassle later on as well.

  3. Check for typos in your import statement. Make sure it doesn’t say “AppCompactActivity” instead of “AppCompatActivity”.
  4. Resync your project (File >Sync project with Gradle files)
  5. Rebuild your project (Build >rebuild)
  6. Clean your project (Build >clean project)
  7. Close and restart Android Studio
  8. Update Android Studio
  9. Regenerate your libraries folder – In Android Studio, view your files in project view. Find the folder YourProjectName >.idea >libraries. Rename the folder to “libraries_delete_me”. Close and reopen Android Studio. Open your project again and the libraries folder should be regenerated with all of the files; you can now delete the “libraries_delete_me” folder.

Upvotes: 1

Abdul Mateen
Abdul Mateen

Reputation: 1997

It is too simple.here are the steps you need to follow

1-Exit Android studio.

2-Go to your project directory.

3-Something like this in my case( F>Android->YourProjectName->.idea).

4)-delete libraries folder present in .idea folder.

5)-restart your android studio. and your issue is resolved.

Upvotes: 37

Lovish-Pandey
Lovish-Pandey

Reputation: 135

The error came when i added firebase to the project with all dependencies updated to latest version on API 28 although my google services were using 4.1.0 version.

I removed the error, when i updated it to 4.2.0.

Upvotes: 0

Louis Ferraiolo
Louis Ferraiolo

Reputation: 429

After trying literally every solution, I realised that the project I had been working on was previously using the latest Android Studio which was 3.2 at the time and the current pc I was using was running 2.2 after updating android studio this seemed to fix the issue completely for me.

Solution: Android Studio -> Check For Updates and then install latest build

Upvotes: 0

Srihari Karanth
Srihari Karanth

Reputation: 2167

If all else has failed, make sure you have added the import statement. I had removed it as it was showing error and forgot to add it back and was trying everything else to fix:

import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;

Upvotes: 0

Khemraj Sharma
Khemraj Sharma

Reputation: 58934

Easist Way

  • Open app level build.gradle and remove appcompact-v7 dependency & Sync.
  • Add dependency again & Sync.

Error gone!

Before

before

After

after

Upvotes: 2

shashank chandak
shashank chandak

Reputation: 544

Lets get going step by step: first clean project by using

Build->Clean

if this doesn't helps then use your second step

File>Invalidate Caches/Restart...

But the real problem begins when all the above options doesn't works so use your ultimate solution is to close project and go to project location directory and delete

.idea

You can open your project now again.

Upvotes: 3

DBX12
DBX12

Reputation: 2041

If the soft methods via gradle file / "Invalidate caches" and the other IDE tools do not work, use the hard way:

  1. Exit Android Studio
  2. Navigate in your project to the .idea folder
  3. Just Rename the libraries folder
  4. Restart Android Studio. It should now recreate the libraries folder and work again.

This worked for me on

Android Studio 3.1.2
Build #AI-173.4720617, built on April 13, 2018
JRE: 1.8.0_152-release-1024-b01 amd64
JVM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o
Linux 4.13.0-38-generic

Shahbaz Ali confirmed, it works also on

Android Studio 3.1.3
Build #AI-173.4819257, built on June 4, 2018
JRE: 1.8.0_152-release-1024-b01 amd64
JVM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o
Linux 4.13.0-38-generic

moujib confirmed, it works on Android Studio 3.2.1

Upvotes: 170

Sathish kumar T.M
Sathish kumar T.M

Reputation: 227

Cannot resolve symbol AppCompatActivity Issue.

Do the Simple Step to resolve the problem.

i) Exit the Android studio.

ii) Go to your project directory.

iii) Find the .idea folder in your project directory.

iv) Delete .idea folder.

v) Restart your android studio.

vi) The Issue Will be resolved.

Upvotes: 15

Victoria Klimova
Victoria Klimova

Reputation: 2825

This is the lifesaver code I found somewhere(sorry don't remember the origin). Add it to build.gradle (Module:app). You can replace the version to the relevant.

configurations.all {

    resolutionStrategy.eachDependency { DependencyResolveDetails details -
        def requested = details.requested

 if (requested.group == 'com.android.support') {

            if (!requested.name.startsWith("multidex")) {
                details.useVersion '27.1.1'
            }
        } else if (requested.group == "com.google.android.gms") {
            details.useVersion '15.0.0'
        } else if (requested.group == "com.google.firebase") {
            details.useVersion '15.0.0'
        }
    }
}

Upvotes: 0

Nguyen Minh Hien
Nguyen Minh Hien

Reputation: 483

If Invalidating caches not helps, just close the project then re-open it. Steps:

  • File > Close Project
  • Remove the project out of the starting project list
  • Close Android Studio
  • Open Android Studio
  • Open existed Project with this project

Upvotes: 1

Raghav Sharma
Raghav Sharma

Reputation: 800

Thats really insane, i tried everything, synced with Gradle files, invalidated and restarted android studio. Still the problem persisted. Last resort was deleting .idea/libraries folder and it worked as charm.

Upvotes: 7

manojm
manojm

Reputation: 41

I updated my Gradle 2.3.3 to 4.4 and got an error on AppCompatActivity and also Cardview. I tried with clean project and rebuild project. It won't work, then I go to Project Folder -> .idea -> create backup of libraries folder and remove it -> then Rebuild Project that solved my issue.

Upvotes: 3

Zain
Zain

Reputation: 40810

none of below solved my issue

  • Restart Android
  • File >> Synch Project with Gradle Files
  • Build >> Clean Project
  • Build >> Rebuild Project
  • File >> Invalidate Caches / Restart

Instead, I solved it by updating the version of appcompat & design dependencies to the recent version To do so: go to build.grade (Module:app) >> dependencies section and then hit ALT + ENTER on both appcompat & design dependencies then select the shown version in my case it's 24.2.1 as shown in the picture enter image description here

Upvotes: 4

Nadeem Bhat
Nadeem Bhat

Reputation: 1052

By trying soft ways it wont works, use the hard way: Exit Current Android Studio Screen and goto your project to the .idea folder Rename the libraries->lib_pre folder.

Restart Android Studio.It will now recreate the libraries folder and work again Smoothly. Android Studio 3.1.3

Upvotes: 0

mehmoodnisar125
mehmoodnisar125

Reputation: 1529

i just update my android studio from 2.3.2 to 3.1.2 version. and this error occurs.

i clean project, rebuild project, invalidate cache/restart but nothing works.

i resolve this error by updating appcompat library from

compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:23.4.0'

to

compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:25.1.1'

in app build.gradle file.

Upvotes: 1

user7174483
user7174483

Reputation: 73

For me worked no one of the solutions. But I found out that all the libraries of the support libraries were missing at my external libraries. And in other projects the AppCompatActivity was resolved without problems.

For me it worked to create a new project and copy all the stuff of the old src folder into the new project.

I don't know exact why, but if nothing works, it could be the last possibility. Just if someone has the same trouble as me.

Upvotes: 0

Nadeem Bhat
Nadeem Bhat

Reputation: 1052

You Have to just Do some change in your Gradle App File by adding some dependency

compile "com.android.support:appcompat-v7:XX:YY:ZZ"

while XX:YY:ZZ is the version code that you are using in your gradle file, otherwise if you set this version lower or higher than that you are using , then your app will face some problems like it will crash sometimes

Upvotes: 1

Seabass77
Seabass77

Reputation: 187

So my collegue pushed their local.properties which broke everything. I copied my sdk path from another app and did:

File -> Sync Project with Gradle Files

Upvotes: 6

user2306383
user2306383

Reputation:

Add this dependency in project build .gradle.

Follow the example below.

dependencies {

    compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:22.1.0'
}

Upvotes: 2

Siddhartha Chikatamalla
Siddhartha Chikatamalla

Reputation: 1068

I got it fixed by Going to build.gradle file and in dependencies the appcompat one, something like compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:XX.X.X'

Changed it to compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:XX.X.+'

Then click on Sync. All the red squiggly lines should go if everything else in your code is correct.

Upvotes: 28

Nihas Nizar
Nihas Nizar

Reputation: 617

For me the issue resolved when i updated the appcompact v7 to latest..

compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:25.3.0'

Hope it helps...:)

Upvotes: 6

jk7
jk7

Reputation: 2100

I got the Cannot resolve symbol error for AppCompatActivity and many other classes & methods after updating Android Studio from 2.2.3 to 2.3, updating Android Gradle plugin to 2.3.0, and updating Gradle to 3.3.

File -> Invalidate Caches / Restart did not resolve the issue.

Preferences -> Build, Execution, Deployment -> Gradle showed Use local gradle distribution selected with Gradle home: /Applications/Android Studio.app/Contents/gradle/gradle-2.14.1 and a warning displayed saying the gradle location was incorrect.

Resolved issue by selecting Use default gradle wrapper (recommended).
Probably just pointing to the new local distribution location would also work.

Upvotes: 13

Kamal
Kamal

Reputation: 245

This can might be in the version difference in the app level gradle check it once and then re-build

Upvotes: 0

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