Flutter : How to change Android minSdkVersion in Flutter Project?

📱🚀 Flutter : How to change Android minSdkVersion in Flutter Project? 📦📲

Are you a Flutter developer facing the daunting task of changing the minSdkVersion for your Android project? Don't worry, you're not alone! 🤝

We've got your back and will guide you through the process step by step, so you can get back to coding 🎉 Let's dive right in! 💪

The Problem 🚫❗

When attempting to run your Flutter project on an Android device 📱, you may encounter the following error message:

Manifest merger failed : uses-sdk:minSdkVersion X cannot be smaller than version Y declared in library [library_name] /path/to/file/AndroidManifest.xml

This error occurs because your Flutter project includes a library (such as flutter_blue in the example given) that requires a minimum SDK version higher than what your project is currently set to.

The Solution 💡✔️

To resolve this issue, you have a few options:

1. Increase your project's minSdkVersion 📈: You can raise the minimum SDK version in your Flutter project's android/app/build.gradle file. Look for the minSdkVersion value and change it to a higher number, such as 19 or higher, depending on the library's requirements. For example:

   defaultConfig { minSdkVersion 19 // ... }

2. Use a compatible library version 📚: If you don't want to increase your project's minimum SDK version, you can search for a library version that is compatible with your current minimum SDK version. Check the library's documentation or GitHub repository for available versions.

3. Override the library usage 🔄: In some cases, you can force the usage of the library by adding tools:overrideLibrary to your AndroidManifest.xml file. However, be cautious as this may lead to runtime failures. Use this option as a last resort.

How to Change Android minSdkVersion in Flutter Project 🔧✏️

1. Open your Flutter project in your preferred code editor (e.g., Visual Studio Code).

2. Navigate to the android/app/build.gradle file.

3. Look for the defaultConfig section in the file.

4. Within the defaultConfig, locate the minSdkVersion property.

5. Change the value of minSdkVersion to the desired minimum SDK version or one that complies with the library's requirements.

6. Save the file.

7. Run your Flutter project again, and the error should no longer appear.

That's it! You have successfully changed the Android minSdkVersion in your Flutter project. 🎉

If you're looking for more information about this topic or facing any other Flutter-related hurdles, don't hesitate to ask the Flutter community or consult the official Flutter documentation. 📚👩‍💻

Conclusion 🎊⚡️

In this blog post, we addressed the problem of changing the Android minSdkVersion in a Flutter project. We provided easy and straightforward solutions to tackle this issue. Remember to keep your project's and library's requirements in mind when making changes.

Now that you have the knowledge and the power, go ahead and rock your Flutter development journey! 💪🚀

Feel free to share your thoughts, questions, or any other Flutter topics you'd like us to cover in the comments section below. We'd love to hear from you! 👇😊

Happy Fluttering! 🥳👩‍💻

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