[android-studio] How can I fix "Design editor is unavailable until a successful build" error?

I started to learn Android Studio from yesterday. I try to echo out simple "Hello World":

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
    android:id="@+id/activity_main"
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:paddingLeft="16dp"
    android:paddingRight="16dp"
    android:paddingTop="16dp"
    android:paddingBottom="16dp"
    tools:context=".MainActivity">

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Hello World!" />

</RelativeLayout>

but when I clicked "design" view, this error is showing?

Design editor is unavailable until a successful build

How Can I fix this error. I just downloaded Android Studio yesterday.

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I just noticed that my xml code is causing error. that is why this may be not working. Thank you so much

This question is related to android-studio

The answer is


Do this

Build -> Rebuild Project


Install missing plataform and sync project [press to install automatically]


Quit the Android Studio ( not close the project Quit the Android Studio) then open the project and go to Android Studio > Build > Clean Project

Then Android Studio > File > Sync Project with Gradles Files as the pic below

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If your problem still exists then click the Install build tool as the pic below and then Android Studio > File > Sync Project with Gradles Files

enter image description here


In my case, the Windows Firewall was blocking Android Studio (i.e. java.exe from Android Studio's jre/bin folder) from connecting to sites and downloading data. After Windows asked me if I wanted to allow the app through the firewall, I had to do a manual sync File -> Sync project with gradle files. After that, things were still disfunctional, a manual download of an SDK version 28 was necessary from Tools -> SDK Manager.


just click file in your android studio then click Sync Project with Gradle Files..

if it won't work, click Build click Clean Project.

it always work for me


I had tried to change SDK Version:

Check below image: In that I changed 27 from Android P

Image


Simply restart the Android Studio. In my case, I was offline before starting the Android Studio, but online when I did restart.


Edit you xml file in Notepad++ and build it again. It's work for me


Go to File > Sync Project with Gradles Files.


None of the above worked for me. what worked for me is to go to File -> Invalidate Caches / Restart


If you are in corporate setting where there is a proxy server, double check your proxy settings.

  1. Go File -> Settings
  2. Search for Proxy.
  3. Fill out as appropreate.
  4. Test connection.

If you think you fat-fingered the password, there is a Clear passwords button you can click to where you can re-enter your creds. HTH


I got this problem after i added a line in my build.gradle file.

compile 'com.balysv:material-ripple:1.0.2'

Solution: I changed this line to

implementation 'com.balysv:material-ripple:1.0.2'

and then pressed sync again.

Tada! all was working again.


I have the latest Android Studio 3.6.1 and yet couldn't build a simple 'Hello World' app as documented here "https://codelabs.developers.google.com/codelabs/android-training-hello-world/index.html?index=..%2F..%2Fandroid-training#3". I applied various steps discussed above including the 2 most viable options which should have really solved this issue,

  1. 'File->Sync Project with Gradle Files' and
  2. 'File->Invalidate Caches/Restart' but to no avail.

Even though, I suspect standard answer should be one of these 2 options only for most, but for me the resolution came only after I went inside the 'File->Project Structure' and checked my SDK versions configured! Android Studio and Gradle were using different JDK versions and locations.

  • Android Studio: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_241
  • Gradle: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-13.0.2

I had previously defined my JAVA_HOME environment variable by downloading latest JAVA SDK on my own from ORACLE website. Where Gradle was using the %JAVA_HOME% JAVA SDK version and Android Studio the built in SDK which came along with Android Studio.

Once I switched both to versions JDK 1.8.* (Any version as long as it is JDK 1.8. for that matter*) then simple 'File->Synch...' option worked perfectly fine for me!

Good luck the solution is in between one of these 2 options only if you are stuck, just ensure you validate JDK versions being referred to!


In my case, it was because it didn't like that I left the minSDK and targeSdk in the manifest. Go figure.


there are different solutions to this problem but I at the first u have to check to (build.gradle) maybe it empty. this especially if u downloaded code, not u created
and u will find just this line "// Top-level build file where you can add configuration options common to all sub-projects/modules." in this case, u need to open a new project and make copy-paste.then check the SDK and other settings.finally u have to sync


I faced same issue even after rebuilding my project multiple times successfully. I closed the project and re-opened, issue resolved.


  1. First, find your build.gradle in your all modules in project, include app/build.gradle. Find the compileSdkVersion inside android tag, in this case, compile sdk version is 30:

In this case, SDK version is 30

  1. Next, open SDK Manager > SDK Platforms, check correct version then install selected platforms. After installed, go to menu File > Sync project with Gradle files....

Install the API version which module requires

This issue often appear when project has many modules, each module use different compile SDK version, so app may be able to build but IDE have some issue while processing your resources.


Go online before starting android studio. Then go file->New project Follow onscreen steps. Then wait It will download the necessary files over internet. And that should fix it.