[Fixed] Execution failed for task ':app:processDebugResources' even with latest build tools – Android

The Problem:

While building an Android project using Gradle, I encountered the error message "Execution failed for task ‘:app:processDebugResources’ " even after updating to the latest build tools version 23.0.3. What could be causing this error and how can I resolve it?

The Solutions:

Solution 1: Set Compile SDK Version

In your module’s `build.gradle` file, verify that the `compileSdkVersion` is set to 23. Here’s an example:

android {
    compileSdkVersion 23
    // ...
}

This ensures that the Android compiler and build tools are compatible with the version of Android you are targeting.

Solution 2: Ensure Consistency in Gradle Versions

To resolve the issue, ensure that the compileSdkVersion and buildToolsVersion values in both the library and app-level build.gradle files are identical. This ensures that both modules are compiled and built using the same versions, eliminating compatibility problems.

library build.gradle

android {
    compileSdkVersion 25
    buildToolsVersion "25.0.0"
    ...
    ...
}

app build.gradle

android {
    compileSdkVersion 25
    buildToolsVersion "25.0.0"
    ...
    ...
}

Solution 3: Common causes and their fixes

The main reasons for the error "Execution failed for task ‘:app:processDebugResources’" are – long file path, duplicated resources, incorrect file naming, & improper gradle file configuration. You can resolve it by:

1. File Path: Shorten the file path to below 240 characters and move the project folder closer to the disk’s root.

2. Duplicated Resources: Ensure there are no duplicate resources or namespaces, like multiple resources using the same name attribute.

3. File Naming: All file names and extensions should be in lowercase, for example, my_image.png instead of myimage.PNG.

4. Gradle File Configuration: Verify that your gradle file is properly configured, including the buildToolsVersion and other dependencies.

5. Clean and Rebuild: Try cleaning the project and rebuilding it by deleting the ‘build’ folder.

If the issue persists, consider updating your Android Studio and build tools to the latest available versions and check for compatibility with the version of your project and its dependencies.

Solution 4: Change compileSdkVersion and buildToolsVersion to same latest version

Sometimes, the error "Execution failed for task ‘:app:processDebugResources’" is caused by a mismatch between the compileSdkVersion and buildToolsVersion in the build.gradle file. To fix this, you need to update both of these values to the same latest version.

For example, if you are using compileSdkVersion 27, you should also use buildToolsVersion ‘27.0.3’. This will ensure that the AAPT tool is compatible with the version of the Android SDK that you are using.

Here’s an updated build.gradle file that should fix the issue:

android {
  compileSdkVersion 27
  buildToolsVersion '27.0.3'
  ...
}

Once you have made this change, try building your project again. The error should now be gone.

Solution 5: Fix the SDK Versions

To resolve this issue, ensure that the following components are all running on the same SDK version:

• Compile SDK Version
• Build Tools Version
• Android Support Library Version

As shown in the attached image, check the versions of these components and make sure they are consistent. This should help eliminate the error “Execution failed for task ‘:app:processDebugResources'” and allow you to proceed with your project.