React Native error: "Could not determine java version from '9.0.1'."

I'm working on MacOS and just starting with react-native.

One of the first steps to get started is to run: react-native run-android or react-native run-ios. But I'm getting this error:

react-native run-android

Result:

Scanning folders for symlinks in /Users/ric/myprojs/albums/node_modules (6ms)
Starting JS server...
Building and installing the app on the device (cd android && ./gradlew installDebug)...

FAILURE: Build failed with an exception.

* What went wrong:
Could not determine java version from '9.0.1'.

* Try:
Run with --stacktrace option to get the stack trace. Run with --info or --debug option to get more log output.
Could not install the app on the device, read the error above for details.
Make sure you have an Android emulator running or a device connected and have
set up your Android development environment:
https://facebook.github.io/react-native/docs/android-setup.html

This is what I get when I run java --version:

java --version

Result:

java 9.0.1
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 9.0.1+11)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 9.0.1+11, mixed mode)
mbp:albums ric$ java --version
java 9.0.1
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 9.0.1+11)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 9.0.1+11, mixed mode)

Edit

My javac version:

javac --version

Result:

javac 9.0.1

Any idea on how to fix this?

In your PROJECT_PATH/android/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties file, update your distributionUrl to the following:

distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-5.0-all.zip

See related gradle distributions documentation

Really the fastest way to get around this error is to use JDK 8. Except when you really need to use JDK9.

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.html

Don't forget to change your enviroment variable JAVA_HOME to the new JDK version!

Make sure that you have JDK8 installed and then set JAVA_HOME into JDK8

for example:

export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_151.jdk/Contents/Home

or use .bash_* files to set this variable

vi ~/.bash_profile

Then add the following lines:

export ANDROID_HOME=$HOME/Library/Android/sdk
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/tools
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/tools/bin
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools
export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v 1.8)

Now source the file to make the above changes effective in the current shell:

source ~/.bash_profile 

On MacOS, I ran the following commands:

brew cask uninstall java
brew tap caskroom/versions
brew cask install java8 "or just brew cask install java to install latest version"

I was getting this error, but for a more recent version of Java - 10.0.2.

To fix my error, I followed the steps mentioned by @Blacktoviche in this Github issue: https://github.com/facebook/react-native/issues/17688

When I opened the android folder inside my project via Android Studio, I was prompted with Android Gradle plugin update recommended. At the time, I was following a slightly outdated tutorial that told me to click Don't remind me again for this project.

However, as @Blacktoviche recommended in the github issue linked above, sometimes it's necessary to update the Gradle plugin. After updating, I also had to click Install Build Tools 27... and sync project (I don't remember the exact version).

After I followed these steps, I was able to successfully run my react native app on the Android Studio emulator.

Hope this helps someone!

---- December 2018 --- keep attention --- React Native does not work with Java versions higher than 8, so you need to uninstall your 9.0.1 version. To do so, execute the following commands:

cd /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/
ls -l

Identify the folder containing your Java Version, then remove it

sudo rm -rf jdk.x.x_xxx.jdk

After that you can download and install java 8 from oracle again. Refer to jdk8 download page

On Ubuntu, you should run these command lines in the terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt install oracle-java8-installer
sudo apt install oracle-java8-set-default

If you are using windows; Make sure you add your jdk path to the Environment path variable. Then open your android folder from your react native project into android studio. It will update necessary things for you automatically.

I usually get this error when I forget to build the project using Android Studio. A simple sync and upgrading Gradle will do the work.

I solve this by downgrading my JDK to 8.