React Native android build failed. SDK location not found

📝 Blog Post: React Native Android Build Failed - SDK Location Not Found

👋 Hey there, fellow React Native developer! 😄 Are you encountering a frustrating issue when trying to build your Android app? Don't worry, we've got you covered! 🚀 In this blog post, we'll dive into a common problem many React Native developers face: the dreaded "SDK location not found" error. But fear not, because we'll provide you with easy solutions to get your Android build up and running in no time. Let's jump right in! 💪

🤔 Understanding the Problem

So, you're starting to run your Android app, and suddenly you come across this error message:

What went wrong:
A problem occurred evaluating project ':app'.
> SDK location not found. Define location with sdk.dir in the local.properties file or with an ANDROID_HOME environment variable.

This error usually occurs when React Native cannot locate the Android SDK (Software Development Kit).

🔍 Root Cause Analysis

There can be a few reasons why this error is thrown. Let's explore the most common ones:

1. Missing local.properties file: The local.properties file specifies the location of the Android SDK. If this file is missing or contains incorrect information, the error will occur.

2. Incorrect ANDROID_HOME environment variable: The ANDROID_HOME environment variable points to the Android SDK location. If this variable is not set or is set to an invalid location, the error will be triggered.

💡 Easy Solutions

Now, let's get to the fun part - fixing the issue! 💡 Here are two simple solutions you can try:

Solution 1: Adding the local.properties file

1. Open your React Native project in your favorite code editor.

2. Navigate to the project's root directory and create a file named local.properties.

3. Open the local.properties file and add the following line (replace {YOUR_SDK_PATH} with the path to your Android SDK, for example):

   sdk.dir=/Users/yourusername/Library/Android/sdk

4. Save the file, and try running your Android build again. The error should no longer appear.

Solution 2: Setting the ANDROID_HOME environment variable

1. Open your terminal or command prompt.

2. Set the ANDROID_HOME environment variable by running the following command (replace {YOUR_SDK_PATH} with the path to your Android SDK):

   export ANDROID_HOME=/Users/yourusername/Library/Android/sdk

   💡 Note: The above command is for macOS or Linux. For Windows, you can use set instead of export and replace / with \.

3. After setting the environment variable, try running your Android build again. The error should be gone.

🙌 Engage with the Community

If you found this blog post helpful, we would love to hear from you! Have you encountered any other challenges with React Native? Feel free to share your experiences, tips, or questions in the comments section below. Let's learn and grow together! 🌱

👉 Don't forget to share this post with your fellow React Native developers who might be struggling with the same issue. Sharing is caring, after all! ❤️

That's a wrap! We hope this guide has helped you overcome the "SDK location not found" error in your React Native Android build. Keep coding and happy app building! 🎉