Android Studio 3.0 Execution failed for task: unable to merge dex

Question

android studio was getting build error while build execution with following:

Error:Execution failed for task \':app:transformDexArchiveWithExternalLi

Answer 1

Same problem. I have enabled multidex: defaultConfig { applicationId "xxx.xxx.xxxx" minSdkVersion 24 targetSdkVersion 26 multiDexEnabled true

I have cleared cache, ran gradle clean, rebuild, make, tried to make sure no conflicts in imported libraries (Removed all transitive dependencies) and made all updates. Still:

Error:Execution failed for task ':app:transformDexArchiveWithExternalLibsDexMergerForDebug'. java.lang.RuntimeException: com.android.builder.dexing.DexArchiveMergerException: Unable to merge dex

Turns out the build did not like: implementation 'org.slf4j:slf4j-android:1.7.21'

Answer 2

This is what works for me. clean prepare and run.

cordova clean android;
ionic cordova prepare andriod;
ionic cordova run andriod;

hope it helps.

Answer 3

Try to add this in gradle

    android {
      defaultConfig {
        multiDexEnabled true
        }
   }

Answer 4

Same thing happened to me, figured out that I was in the middle of updating to AS 3.0.1 and after I did the update, cleaned and rebuilt the app, everything was fixed.

Answer 5

This error happens when you add an external library which may not be compatible with your compileSdkVersion .

Be careful when you are adding an external library.

I spent 2 days on this problem and finally it got solved following these steps.

• Make sure all your support libraries are same as compileSdkVersion of your build.gradle(Module:app) in my case it is 26.

• In your defaultConfig category type multiDexEnabled true. This is the important part.

• Go to File | Settings | Build, Execution, Deployment | Instant Run and try to Enable/Disable Instant Run to hot swap... and click okay

• Sync Your project.

• Lastly, Go to Build | click on Rebuild Project.

• Note: Rebuild Project first cleans and then builds the project.

Answer 6

Also be sure your app is subclassing MultiDexApplication

import android.support.multidex.MultiDexApplication

class App : MultiDexApplication()

or if not subclassing Application class, add to AndroidManifest.xml

<application
  android:name="android.support.multidex.MultiDexApplication"