Cause: buildOutput.apkData must not be null

My android application using Kotlin is throwing this exception when I try to Run 'app' in the emulator o in my cellphone. When I build my project it runs well, with no errors.

I am using:

• SDK 28 (Android 9.0 (Pie))
• Gradle 5.1.1
• Gradle Plugin 3.5.0-alpha03
• Kotlin 1.3.10
• Java 1.8.0_151
• OSX 10.13.2

    org.gradle.internal.exceptions.LocationAwareException: buildOutput.apkData must not be null
    	at org.gradle.initialization.exception.DefaultExceptionAnalyser.transform(DefaultExceptionAnalyser.java:99)
    	at org.gradle.initialization.exception.DefaultExceptionAnalyser.collectFailures(DefaultExceptionAnalyser.java:65)
    	at org.gradle.initialization.exception.MultipleBuildFailuresExceptionAnalyser.transform(MultipleBuildFailuresExceptionAnalyser.java:39)
    	at org.gradle.initialization.exception.StackTraceSanitizingExceptionAnalyser.transform(StackTraceSanitizingExceptionAnalyser.java:29)
    	at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.finishBuild(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:194)
    	at org.gradle.initialization.DefaultGradleLauncher.finishBuild(DefaultGradleLauncher.java:141)
    	...
    Caused by: java.lang.IllegalStateException: buildOutput.apkData must not be null
    	at com.android.build.gradle.internal.ide.EarlySyncBuildOutput$Companion$load$2.invoke(EarlySyncBuildOutput.kt:103)
    	at com.android.build.gradle.internal.ide.EarlySyncBuildOutput$Companion$load$2.invoke(EarlySyncBuildOutput.kt:67)
    	at kotlin.sequences.TransformingSequence$iterator$1.next(Sequences.kt:174)
    	at kotlin.sequences.SequencesKt___SequencesKt.toCollection(_Sequences.kt:691)
    	at kotlin.sequences.SequencesKt___SequencesKt.toMutableList(_Sequences.kt:721)
    	at kotlin.sequences.SequencesKt___SequencesKt.toList(_Sequences.kt:712)
    	...

Click Build -> Clean Project

Then Build -> Make Project

Tested on gradle 3.5.0-alpha3, -alpha5 and 3.4.0 (project gradle)

classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:3.5.0-alpha03'

> For Android Studio 3.5 & 3.6 Update (APK signed issue)

Step 1: I have resolved this issue by modifying the Destination Folder location.

Before

c:\user\folder\project\app

After

c:\user\folder\project\apk

> For Android Studio 3.4 Update.

Step 1: After update Android Studio 3.4 you need to add all the dependency that used in your module or library in your app-level build.gradle.

Step 2: Clean Project(Build > Clean Project)

Step 3: Rebuild Project(Build > Rebuild Project)

Now, Your Project will compile Perfectly.

> FOR Android Studio 3.5 | 3.6

debug builds finish without any error. Creating a signed .apk leads to the same error

buildOutput.apkData must not be null

the Simple solution that I found is. During the signing of the apk after entering the signing credentials when you navigate to the next screen then it will ask for the destination folder just change the default path.

Let's assume the current destination path is

> c:\user\folder\project\app

change it to

> c:\user\folder\project\

then it will generate the signed apk successfully.

I was getting this error also, when trying to "Generate Signed APK" for my release version. I tried all of the above methods, unfortunately none worked for me.

What worked, was generating first the debug signed version of the app, and then generating again the release one.

I do not know what exactly changed or what the original problem was, but it worked. I hope it will help you too, because this error is quite annoying...

Cleaning the project didn't help me but manually deleting all the auto-generated build folders in all modules helped.

Updating to Android Studio 3.4.?, i get the message

> Cause: buildOutput.apkData must not be null

looking for an answer i found the procedure:

Build -> Clean Project

but it doesn´t worked, i know that this procedure will delete the content into the /build directory but for my experience it doesn´t work in all cases, so i tried the "raw" way, deleting the directory:

/app/build/ 

then i rebuild the project and it worked.

I tried above multiple solutions but nothing has happened then I found this this and worked for me

    deleting debug/output.json and release/output.json solved my problem

Now I am able to generate apk

All the solutions didn't work with me

Android Studio V 3.5

Android gradle plugin V 3.4.2

Gradle Version V 5.1.1

1. Clean the project
2. Restart Android Studio + Invalidate Caches
3. Delete the build, debug, and releases folder
4. Make project
5. Generate signed APK

Reference

I've tried many things to solve the issue, but nothing helped. I get this error when trying to generate a signed apk.

Downgrading to older versions of Android Studio helped (3.4.2) worked, however this is not the solution.

The 'Clean Project' function in AS does not clean the place where your generated apk is created and there is one file that may be blocking the whole procedure: output.json

Try removing output.json from .../app/projectname/release/output.json

I was using Android Studio 3.5 beta 2 and I was having the exact same error but only on my release build. After trying every other solution I found, the only way I was able to compile again was to go back to Android Studio 3.4.

It works for me:

1. delete build folder from your project manually.

2. in terminal of android studio type this command

if windows user

gradlew clean build

if linux user

./gradlew clean build

This issue is happens usually when you are running multiple android studio window with different projects.

The solution is

• choose project than delete .gradle and build folders

• than clean and rebuild the project.

please ref screen shot attached

Just change the Apk release/debug location.

EX:

/home/sanaebadi/Desktop

after change :

/home/sanaebadi/apk

the only solution that works for me is using in my root gradle

classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:3.3.0'

what i've tried :

• clear all build folder manually
• invalidate cache but none of these is work

PS: i'm using android studio 3.5 btw

Update :

just like @Vishrut Mavani, changing the destination folder of your release version is work

The solution for me was to delete all files and folders from the apk output folder. I had this problem when creating a signed apk for a "production" flavor and the output.json in the "feature" output folder causes the problem -> Android Studio 3.6 Canary 7 showed me the correct error message. It is also working now for AS 3.5 stable with Gradle Plugin 3.5.0.

All the solutions didn't work with me
In my case from AndroidStudio 3.4+ update to 3.5.
And finally I solve it by modify 'Destination Folder' to "app/build/outputs/apk"
detail pic

Manually delete all the exiting build variant folder as well build folder in project folder worked for me.

Usually this issue happen on updating android Studio V3.4 to V3.5. Try to delete debug/output.json and release/output.json files.

Then Try these steps:

Step 1: Clean Project(Build > Clean Project)

Step 2: Rebuild Project(Build > Rebuild Project)

I have android studio 3.5.1 . For me below steps are worked

1. File -> Invalidate Caches/Restart
2. After android studio restarted click on Build -> Clean project
3. Then Build -> Rebuild Project

The solution :-

1- Build -> Clean Project didn't help

2-Build -> Make Project didn't help

3- restart android studio didn't help

4- Manually remove Build folder from app and project didn't help

the only solution for me was to remove all old builds from destination folder

In my case build and launch project with different build configs was successful. But generating signed apk throws error Cause: buildOutput.apkData must not be null on the other hand apk was generated and Build Output toggle view prints BUILD SUCCESSFUL. Manual installation ends with message App not installed. My fault was using compileSdkVersion 'android-P' and after changing to compileSdkVersion 28 all goes well.

I've tried all solutions and non of them helped! finally after many trying, I figured it out, just follow the tips:

1. copy your signature keystrok (that you use to release) inside yourProject/app/
2. gradle.properties (modify values related to your own key):

   MYAPP_RELEASE_STORE_FILE=KEYSTROK_NAME
   MYAPP_RELEASE_KEY_ALIAS=KEY_ALIAS
   MYAPP_RELEASE_STORE_PASSWORD=R_PASS
   MYAPP_RELEASE_KEY_PASSWORD=K_PASS
   android.enableR8=true
   

3. app level build.gradle (inside android):

   signingConfigs{
       release{
           if (project.hasProperty('MYAPP_RELEASE_STORE_FILE')) {
               storeFile file(MYAPP_RELEASE_STORE_FILE)
               storePassword MYAPP_RELEASE_STORE_PASSWORD
               keyAlias MYAPP_RELEASE_KEY_ALIAS
               keyPassword MYAPP_RELEASE_KEY_PASSWORD
           }
       }
   }
   
   configurations {
       cleanedAnnotations
       compile.exclude group: 'org.jetbrains' , module:'annotations'
   }
   
   

4. app level build.gradle (inside buildTypes):

   release {
       manifestPlaceholders = [analytics_deactivated: "false"]
       minifyEnabled true
       signingConfig signingConfigs.release
       useProguard true
       proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
   }
   

5. finally this command:

mac: ./gradlew clean assemble_YOUR_FAVOR_Release

win: gradlew clean assemble_YOUR_FAVOR_Release

where _YOUR_FAVOR_ is your optional favor, if you are not using any favor, just simply use assembleRelease instead of assemble_YOUR_FAVOR_Release

This issue happens after update my Android studio v3.4 to v3.5 Now, it is working fine

I fixed this issue by deleting debug/output.json and release/output.json files

Android Studio 3.5 compilesdkVersion 28

apk generating working

I was also annoyed by the same bug. But changing my Signed apk destination from c/users/project/app to c/users/project worked for me.

1- Delete all generated app bundles (.aab) and APKs for all variants.

2- Delete the build folder

3- clean project

Generate Signed APK for debug, and then you can generate signed APK for release.

Seems cleaning the project may resolve the issue, but for me it worked like this.

> File->sync project with gradle files.

AS 4.0.1 (installed via snap)

Ubuntu 18.04 lts

configuring builds via build variant.

Combinations of invalidate cache / build / clean etc didnt help on their own, the only thing that helped was to switch build the active build variant back to armDebug and clean / rebuild after that.

Once I switched back to the desired variant I could build correctly.

enter code hereIf your using different build variants, Select the specific folder to generate signin apk file. When you are trying to generate signin apk flow, you can change the path. For me, this worked.