Gradle Project Sync Failed Error Resolution in Android Studio

Are you getting the Gradle Project Sync Failed Error? It could be owing to the fact that your downloaded gradles are broken. The easiest way to resolve this situation is by downloading the latest gradles and replacing the older version folder with it.

Here’s the error message that you might be getting:

gradle project sync failed error in android studio

Before proceeding with the resolution of Gradle Project Sync Failed Error, I would like to first explain what Gradle in Android Studio really means.

What is Gradle?

Gradle is nothing but a build system that takes all your source files and converts them into APK (Android Application Package) format.  The latter is the file format the Android Operating System uses to distribute and install mobile apps. So we need a gradle to use necessary tools to make that happen. Good news is that all those tools come inbuilt and you don’t have to worry about what Gradle is actually performing in the background.

gradle is cradle meme

Steps to Resolve the Gradle Project Sync Failed Error – Method 1

Step 1: Go to the following location:

https://services.gradle.org/distributions

Step 2: Download the latest gradle zip file. It might be located at the very top:

latest gradle zip file to download

Step 3: When the zip file gets downloaded open it.

open downloaded gradle zip

Step 4: Then extract the content to the following folder (where your previous gradle version is located):

C:\Program Files\Android\Android Studio\gradle

Mine’s located in the aforementioned area.

You can do a simple drag and drop for this process.

drag and drop latest gradle folder

Step 5: Just delete the previous gradle when your extraction completes.

delete previous gradle version

Step 6: Restart Android Studio.

That’s it.

Problem Still Persists? Method 2 – Install missing files

If the problem persists there might be some SDK files that could be missing. You can look for the exact error message in the bottommost message window:

I am going to show you one such case.

failed to find target android 26 error

Here, as you can see, Android Studio is failing to find the target that has android-26 in it. Good news is that it automatically gives a link to install the missing platforms.

To resolve this situation just follow the following simple steps:

Step 7: Click on Install missing platform(s) and sync project link.

Doing so will download some missing files:

download missing files

Step 8: A license agreement dialog box opens. Just click on Accept and then on Next.

The Component Installer will then start downloading the missing files.

Just sit back and relax while the download happens.

downloading finish button

Step 9: When download finishes click on Finish:

Some might get an error like this too:

install build tools error message

The procedure to get rid of the error remains the same. Just click on the Install Build Tools 26.0.2 and sync project link, and repeat the whole process from Step 7 to 9.

Any such errors generally get depicted in the bottommost area. You can resolve them by simply clicking on the link and then downloading the respective missing components.

Alright following the above method will resolve the issue for sure.

Let’s see if it did the trick for me.

gradle build finished all errors gone

Woohoo!

The error message is gone.

I can die in peace now.

Check out our other cool Android related tutorials as well.

Scottshak

Poet. Author. Blogger. Screenwriter. Director. Editor. Software Engineer. Author of "Songs of a Ruin" and proud owner of four websites and two production houses. Also, one of the geekiest Test Automation Engineers based in Ahmedabad.

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