Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-31

How to Fix: Android Studio - Failed to apply plugin [id 'com.android.application']

Android Studio plugin error resolution steps.

Quick Answer: Check Android Studio version, update Gradle and plugins, and clean project directory.

The error 'Failed to apply plugin [id 'com.android.application']' in Android Studio typically occurs when there's a mismatch between the Gradle version used by the project and the one available in the Android Studio. To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

⚠️ Common Causes

  • Outdated Gradle version in the project.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Method 1: Updating Gradle Version in Project

  1. Step 1: Open the build.gradle file of your project and check the Gradle version.
  2. Step 2: Update the Gradle version to the latest one available in the Android Studio.

Method 2: Cleaning and Rebuilding Project

  1. Step 1: Close Android Studio and navigate to the project directory in your terminal/command prompt.
  2. Step 2: Run the command `gradlew :app:clean` to clean the project.
  3. Step 3: Run the command `gradlew :app:assembleDebug` to rebuild the project.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'Failed to apply plugin [id 'com.android.application']' error in Android Studio and successfully build your project.

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