Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-04

How to Fix: Session 'app': Error Launching activity

Fix Session 'app': Error Launching activity by checking AndroidManifest.xml and MainActivity class.

Quick Answer: Verify AndroidManifest.xml and correct any typos or errors in the MainActivity class.

The 'Session 'app': Error Launching activity' issue is a common problem that affects Android Studio users after updating to version 2.0. This error occurs when the app's main activity cannot be launched, preventing the application from starting on an emulator.

This issue primarily affects developers who have updated their Android Studio to version 2.0 and are trying to run apps on their emulators.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary cause of this error is related to the Android Studio version update. The update may have introduced changes in the Gradle build process that affect the app's launch activity.
  • Another possible reason for this error could be a mismatch between the Android version specified in the manifest file and the actual version installed on the emulator.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Fixing the issue by updating the Android Studio version to a previous stable version

  1. Step 1: Open the Android Studio settings by navigating to File > Settings.
  2. Step 2: In the settings window, click on 'Build, Execution, Deployment' and then select the 'Gradle' option from the left-hand menu.
  3. Step 3: Update the Gradle build version to a previous stable version (e.g., 2.3.1) by clicking on the 'Update' button next to the current version.
  4. Step 4: Restart Android Studio after updating the Gradle build version.

Fixing the issue by adjusting the app's manifest file

  1. Step 1: Open the project in Android Studio and navigate to the 'app' directory.
  2. Step 2: In the 'app' directory, open the 'AndroidManifest.xml' file and verify that the Android version specified matches the actual version installed on the emulator.
  3. Step 3: If necessary, update the Android version specified in the manifest file to match the installed version.
  4. Step 4: Restart Android Studio after updating the manifest file.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'Session 'app': Error Launching activity' issue and get your app running on the emulator. Remember to update your Gradle build version or adjust your app's manifest file as needed to resolve this common problem.

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