How do I use tools:overrideLibrary in a build.gradle file?

I'm using the leanback libraries, which require Android 17 or later. However my app supports a minSDK of 16, so I get a build error from gradle saying

Error:Execution failed for task ':Tasks:processPhoneDebugManifest'.
> Manifest merger failed : uses-sdk:minSdkVersion 16 cannot be smaller than version 17 declared in library /Users/mike/Projects/android-for-dummies-v3/Tasks/build/intermediates/exploded-aar/com.android.support/leanback-v17/21.0.2/AndroidManifest.xml
  	Suggestion: use tools:overrideLibrary="android.support.v17.leanback" to force usage

When I look at the build tools documentation, I see how to add the overrideLibrary marker to my manifest, but the problem is that I'm declaring my minSdk in my gradle file instead of in my manifest.

How do I use overrideLibrary when the minSdk is declared in build.gradle instead of in AndroidManifest.xml?

Open Android Studio -> Open Manifest File

add <uses-sdk tools:overrideLibrary="android.support.v17.leanback"/> don't forget to include xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools" too, before the <application> tag

it doesn't matter that you declare your minSdk in build.gradle. You have to copy overrideLibrary in your AndroidManifest.xml, as documented here.

<manifest 
    ... >
<uses-sdk tools:overrideLibrary="com.example.lib1, com.example.lib2"/>
    ...
</manifest>

The system automatically ignores the sdkVersion declared in AndroidManifest.xml.

I hope this solve your problem.

<manifest xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools" ... >
  <uses-sdk tools:overrideLibrary="nl.innovalor.ocr, nl.innovalor.corelib" />

I was facing the issue of conflict between different min sdk versions. So this solution worked for me.

just changed only android:minSdkVersion="16" and it's work perfect C:\MyApp\platforms\android\CordovaLib\AndroidManifest.xml

Use overrideLibrary when the minSdk is declared in build.gradle instead of in AndroidManifest.xml

If you are using Android Studio:

add <uses-sdk tools:overrideLibrary="android.support.v17.leanback"/> to your manifest, don't forget to include xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools" too.

I just changed minSdkVersion="7" in C:\MyApp\platforms\android\CordovaLib\AndroidManifest.xml and it worked.

Steps:

1. Path: C:\MyApp\platforms\android\CordovaLib\AndroidManifest.xml

2. Value: <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="7"/>

3. Ran command in new cmd prompt:

   C:\MyApp>phonegap build android --debug [phonegap] executing 'cordova build android --debug'... [phonegap] completed 'cordova build android --debug'

use this code in manifest.xml

<uses-sdk
android:minSdkVersion="16"
android:maxSdkVersion="17"
tools:overrideLibrary="x"/>

As soulution for all libraries we can match sdk version of them so no unexpected event may happen

subprojects { 
afterEvaluate {project -> 
    if (project.hasProperty("android")) { 
        android { 
            compileSdkVersion 28 
            buildToolsVersion '28.0.3'
            defaultConfig {
                //It's kinda tricking android studio but anyway it works
                minSdkVersion 17
            }
        } 
    } 
    if (project.hasProperty("dependencies")) {
        dependencies {
            implementation 'com.android.support:support-core-utils:28.0.0'
            implementation 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:28.0.0'
            implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-base:16.1.0'
        }
    }
} 
}

Remove libraries that you do not use in your project (gms) and make sure that sdk version matches your app level gradle data

As library requires minSdkVersion 17 then you can change the same in build.gradle(Module:Application) file:

defaultConfig {
        minSdkVersion 17 
        targetSdkVersion 25
}

and after that building the project should not throw any build error.