How do I use tools:overrideLibrary in a build.gradle file?

330
votes

I'm using the leanback libraries, which require Android 17 or later. However my app supports a minSDK of 16, so I get a build error from gradle saying

Error:Execution failed for task ':Tasks:processPhoneDebugManifest'.
> Manifest merger failed : uses-sdk:minSdkVersion 16 cannot be smaller than version 17 declared in library /Users/mike/Projects/android-for-dummies-v3/Tasks/build/intermediates/exploded-aar/com.android.support/leanback-v17/21.0.2/AndroidManifest.xml
    Suggestion: use tools:overrideLibrary="android.support.v17.leanback" to force usage

When I look at the build tools documentation, I see how to add the overrideLibrary marker to my manifest, but the problem is that I'm declaring my minSdk in my gradle file instead of in my manifest.

How do I use overrideLibrary when the minSdk is declared in build.gradle instead of in AndroidManifest.xml?

9
androidgradleandroid-tv
Dont do this. Instead update minsdkversion in the build.gradle - Dr Deo
There are legitimate reasons to do this, such as conditionally use a library by testing API level before using it. - Guillaume Perrot
For those who don't know what overrideLibrary does, "When the lower-priority manifest has a minSdkVersion value that's higher, an error occurs unless you apply the overrideLibrary merge rule." source. Effective, this overrideLibrary simply removes the warning, it does not change anything else. - Ben Butterworth

9 Answers

637
votes

Open Android Studio -> Open Manifest File

add <uses-sdk tools:overrideLibrary="android.support.v17.leanback"/> don't forget to include xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools" too, before the <application> tag

enter image description here

200
votes

it doesn't matter that you declare your minSdk in build.gradle. You have to copy overrideLibrary in your AndroidManifest.xml, as documented here.

<manifest 
    ... >
<uses-sdk tools:overrideLibrary="com.example.lib1, com.example.lib2"/>
    ...
</manifest>

The system automatically ignores the sdkVersion declared in AndroidManifest.xml.

I hope this solve your problem.

15
votes
<manifest xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools" ... >
  <uses-sdk tools:overrideLibrary="nl.innovalor.ocr, nl.innovalor.corelib" />

I was facing the issue of conflict between different min sdk versions. So this solution worked for me.

3
votes

just changed only android:minSdkVersion="16" and it's work perfect C:\MyApp\platforms\android\CordovaLib\AndroidManifest.xml

1
votes

I just changed minSdkVersion="7" in C:\MyApp\platforms\android\CordovaLib\AndroidManifest.xml and it worked.

Steps:

  1. Path: C:\MyApp\platforms\android\CordovaLib\AndroidManifest.xml
  2. Value: <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="7"/>

  3. Ran command in new cmd prompt:

    C:\MyApp>phonegap build android --debug [phonegap] executing 'cordova build android --debug'... [phonegap] completed 'cordova build android --debug'

0
votes

As library requires minSdkVersion 17 then you can change the same in build.gradle(Module:Application) file:

defaultConfig {
        minSdkVersion 17 
        targetSdkVersion 25
}

and after that building the project should not throw any build error.

0
votes

use this code in manifest.xml

<uses-sdk
android:minSdkVersion="16"
android:maxSdkVersion="17"
tools:overrideLibrary="x"/>
0
votes

As soulution for all libraries we can match sdk version of them so no unexpected event may happen

subprojects { 
afterEvaluate {project -> 
    if (project.hasProperty("android")) { 
        android { 
            compileSdkVersion 28 
            buildToolsVersion '28.0.3'
            defaultConfig {
                //It's kinda tricking android studio but anyway it works
                minSdkVersion 17
            }
        } 
    } 
    if (project.hasProperty("dependencies")) {
        dependencies {
            implementation 'com.android.support:support-core-utils:28.0.0'
            implementation 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:28.0.0'
            implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-base:16.1.0'
        }
    }
} 
}

Remove libraries that you do not use in your project (gms) and make sure that sdk version matches your app level gradle data

0
votes

Use overrideLibrary when the minSdk is declared in build.gradle instead of in AndroidManifest.xml

If you are using Android Studio:

add <uses-sdk tools:overrideLibrary="android.support.v17.leanback"/> to your manifest, don't forget to include xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools" too.