Android Studio not deploying changes to app

Question

Sometimes this scenario occurs when developing. I would make a change in my source code, hit save all and then run but the change wouldn't be apparently not reflected in the app -(I'm using a device for testing). I can even uninstall the app on my device, and hit run again and the newly installed app still hasn't reflected the change in the source code. When this happens I have to edit the source, hit run and maybe then a new version with the changes I expected will be on the device.

I also tried the solution here, but it doesn't seem to work often.

Android Studio - Deploys my app without new changes

Alidis

please check this and this answer. – Andromada

Have you found a workaround to this problem? I've facing this before, and Clear, Rebuild, or just restart Android Studio has worked. But today, NOTHING seems to solve this. I'm uninstalling Studio and going to install it again and see if something changes. I don't believe that this is a Instant Run problem. I have a suspect that it start to happen after a manual installation that I did today using adb from terminal. Things I've tried: - clean, rebuild, invalidate caches and restart Studio - force stop, clean data and uninstall app from device - restart computer and device – Hillaryhillbilly

Having same issue in 2021... – Pollster

Answer 1

I've got the same problem. This thread popped up first when I've searched for it. Solved it (hoping so) by not using the Instant Run feature. Might not be the best solution but it works for now.

Just go to "File -> Settings -> Build, Execution, Deployement -> Instant Run" and just disable it. With this Android Studio builds from scratch each time but it's better than not building it right.

Mini rant: Almost each version of Android Studio comes with an annoying bug. They're about to release the version 2 but its beta is still buggy. I hope they stabilize the IDE in the near future.

Vosges

I'm using Android Studio 2.1 and I still have the same issue. The only solution was to disabled the instant run :( – Coping

Have this problem even with "Instant Run" disabled, quite annoying!!! AS 2.1.2. 'Clean' helps ... – Harold

If anyone else is also looking for it, on OS X you can find it under File -> Preferences -> Build, Execution, Deployment – Quaker

I think Disabling Instant run is not a good solution. It has so many benefits and just one bug. – Augustaaugustan

I'm using the Android Studio 3.2 Canary 13 with Instant Run disabled and this issue still persist. – Macula

Update your answer plz, couldnt locate Instant Run . 2020 3.1.canary 7 version – Pauli

Just in case. Instant run is replaced now in Android Studio . in Android Studio 4 refer to this answer for disabling it. https://mcmap.net/q/103652/-how-to-disable-instant-run-in-android-studio-4-0 – Sarcenet

Answer 2

EDIT2 (2020-03-09)

If you are using gradle 6.0 in your gradle-wrapper.properties, you may also encounter a similar situation because there is this bug in 6.0 version. Try 6.0.1 instead.

---

Yesterday (2018-03-27) Android Studio published an official update from 3.0.1 to 3.1, and it looks like a lot of people (including me) start running into this issue again.

Credit to #5 comment here, below is how it solved:

In Android Studio, go to Run > Edit Configuration.

Under Before launch:, if you cannot find Gradle-aware Make, just like below:

Add Gradle-aware Make and leaving Task empty.

Warning: I don't know what these action means, and whether it will cause any side-effects. Appreciate if someone can give more explanation on it!

EDIT

Thanks to @ChristopherSmit referenced, this page mentions that Gradle-aware make means "Compile the project and run Gradle".
At first I guess this may make Runs take longer time even if no code has been changed; but after testing, the second time is still much faster if no code has been changed.
Given that fact that this is a default option if you create a new project using AS 3.1, I think this configuration is pretty safe.

Convolve

You will find the explanation of this here: developer.android.com/studio/run/rundebugconfig.html. In the table below "Define before-launch operations" – Jujube

Thank you! I have wasted more than 24 hours fixing my code and wondering why that code change is not working. I had no idea that there was something like this also. – Disgrace

NOT WORKING: Error while generating dependencies split APK com.android.ide.common.process.ProcessException: Failed to execute aapt – Imparipinnate

@Imparipinnate Actually I found a "larger post" here. Seems disabling instant run will solve. – Convolve

@SiraLam "run" works fine with disabled instant run, the problem is "wtf is going on here" with instant run in studio 3.1. I need instant run, and you too :))) – Imparipinnate

@Imparipinnate just curious, why do you love instant run so much? For the speed or something else? I personally never enable it. – Convolve

@SiraLam speed of course. when I have multiple modules in project and the project is really big after 3 yrs - yes, code change speed for displaying results immediately is important for me :) – Imparipinnate

Well this issue persist in AS 4.1.1 as well – Urissa

Answer 3

I had the same Problem, using Android Studio 2.0.0, solved it by rebuilding my Project.

Build > Rebuild Project

or by Clean and Rerun

Run > Clean and Rerun

Dilatory

Do i need to do it every time whenever i make some changes in my XML files? As i can see that whenever i make changes in animation XML file. It doesn't deploy new changes until i Clean and rebuild app again – Dextrorotation

that's the problem - to have to do it with every change.. google come on, fix this shit- make "run" to save, build and deploy. – Apiarian

Seems like "Rebuild project" is also (occasionally?) suffering from a bug: Instead of building and installing my app's current version it installed a version from 30 min ago?! Before, when googling brought me to this thread, I was stuck at a version from 5 min ago. Looks like the Android Studio developers built in a time machine… – Uprear

2018 - A.S. 3.2.0 and we still have to deal with this – Revisionism

Latest Android Studio and still this BUG is there. Can't refresh the updated kotlin code on my device...yeah! – Bole

I am running seriously into this problem just after updating from AS 3.0 to 3.1. I have to rebuild the project every time.... – Convolve

Same issue after updating AS from 3.0 to 3.1. – Segno

Me too... But I found that The new project doesn't has this issue... I don't know where is being set wrong... – Fifi

2020 - AS 4.1.1 and still not able to overcome completely from this. – Urissa

2021 - Arctic Fox 2020.3.1 Patch 3 and still having this problem on one project only. Have to press 'Build Project' every time, the changes won't apply otherwise. – Gman

this was the only suggestion that worked – Sal

Facing this issue in electric eel for one particular project. any fix? – Sourpuss

Answer 4

This was a real stumper until I realized that my changes must not be propagated to all relevant files ...

If you're having trouble with layouts, as I was, you may find that you need to update the layout in the res > layout-v17 folder. I had made changes via the Design View in the layout folder and those changes seemed to be propagated automatically to layout-v17, initially. However, later changes WEREN'T.

Check your res > layout-v17 folder and see if the .xml files in that folder reflect the changes you are seeing in your res > layout folder. You will probably find that they don't. Fix this and re-deploy. Like me, you should see the new code mods.

Hope this helps.

Nugget

+1 OMGY You are a lifesaver. Upon checking my layouts realized I had two layouts over there: 1: activity_main.xml and activity_main.xml (v21) My changes were reflecting in just one. – Aaronson

Answer 5

In Android Studio 3.6.3 you can enable auto restart if the instant run fails.

Just go to File | Settings | Build, Execution, Deployment | Deployment and check the checkboxes.

Laundryman

Only this solution did job for me. Android Studio Flamingo | 2022.2.1 Patch 2, Ubuntu – Stewardson

Answer 6

Aug 2023
It is a very common issue and the solution is very easy...

1. Run ⇢ ▶ Run... ⇢ Edit Configurations...

2. Check "Always install with package manager"

3. Click Apply button

Actinoid

didn't wokr for me on Android Studio Giraffe | 2022.3.1 Patch 1 – Aeniah

Answer 7

Android Studio Bumblebee | 2021.1.1 Patch 1 Build #AI-211.7628.21.2111.8139111, built on February 1, 2022

"Edit Configurations" Check "Always install with package manager (disables deploy optimization on Android 11 and later)

Collect

On my Mac, this works well – Jinnyjinrikisha

Answer 8

For now I solved the issue by closing the app and run again. It worked like a charm. Not sure yet if it is a coincidence, but i guess it worths give it a try.

I really wonder if it works some other people too. Lets give it a try and let me know.

Crummy

For a react-native app, the solution was to quit and relaunch the react packager – Storfer

Answer 9

See the screenshot below. The underline is Instant Run. Working better in Android Studio 4.1.1

The undercircle is Apply Changes.

---

The Android Studio 4 even renders a view without running the app. Change anything and see the results. Very useful for custom view developers.

Lita

Answer 10

For me instant run was a nightmare, 2-5 minute build times, and maddeningly often, recent changes were not included in builds. I highly recommend disabling instant run and adding this line to gradle.properties:

android.enableBuildCache=true

First build often takes some time for large projects (1-2mins), but after it's cached subsequent builds are usually lightnight fast (<10secs).

Got this tip from reddit user /u/QuestionsEverythang which has saved me SO much hassling around with instant run!

Daredeviltry

Answer 11

I had the same issue , I tried everything like clean and rebuild , gradle-sync , even uninstalling and installing the app but noting worked. The other devices were working fine but in my mobile the problem was still going on. Then I realised that I accidentally a duplicate layout file layout-v26 and was doing change in that file that why the design was not updating . So I just deleted the duplicate layout from the Project>app>main>res>layout-v26 and the problem was solved . So please make sure that you have not created any of these files without realising.

Holter

Thanks for the solution. I tried everything and nothing had worked. – Championship

Answer 12

Even if you didn't update anything,
this can suddenly start:
Code changes don't reflect on the app / don't take effect.
One of the step that worked for me is:

"File -> Invalidate Caches / Restart ..."

made it.

This can bee the result of machine/studio intermittently rebooting/closing (because of hardware issues / electricity down).

Koester

Answer 13

Was also seeing this issue intermittently in Android Studio 4.2.2, none of the suggestions here worked. But I found a workaround that seems to work for me: turn on the option "Always install with package manager (disables deploy optimizations on Android 11 and later)" which is located under Run -> Edit Configurations.

Shanleigh

Answer 14

I was facing this issue for a particular one project in Android Studio Electric eel. I had to clean and rebuild project again and again for minor changes. I fixed this issue following way

Click app -> Edit Configuration

After that a window will appear like below

Now scroll down and you will see following screen

Click + and add Gradle aware make and a popup will appear and will ask to enter task. Leave it empty and add it.after that select gradle aware make and close this window. Now live changes will work . Enjoy

Sourpuss

Answer 15

I Like Instant Run Feature and I don't like to disable it just because of this bug. Not a solution but as a better workaround I'd prefer to:

1. Press "Recent Apps"
2. Simply close my app from the list
3. Run the app again

This takes less time than Clean or Rebuild.

UPDATE

Rerun the app also works:

Augustaaugustan

I'm using AS 4.1, and only this workaround worked for me. but very annoying that I have to do it on every single build – A1

Answer 16

Make sure you do not have an alternative layout. If you do, you might be changing one and deploying another.

Lexine

Answer 17

For me, uninstalling, reinstalling the app doesn't work. The same for disabling instant run.

By going to device settings >> Apps >> myApp >> Clear caches & clear data, the new changes deployed to the app.

Logistic

Yeah, I'm rebuilding the APK and I've even changed the version. Invalidated caches/restart. Nothing I do ever creates the correct APK. Instead it's a very old version of the APK. The only way I could get the app on the device was to connect via USB and run the app from studio and it finally put the correct version on. But the APK never builds properly. – Aurilia

Answer 18

Here AS Artic Fox 2020.3.1 patch 3

Problems: Not deploying changes in app different SQLite errors like "no such table" (after coding a new table) 2 days trying to solve this and I found following:

(testing and launching in a phisical device)

Build - Clean Build - Rebuild project

no changes or effects on new deployment

what I did

file - invalidate cache and restart physical device: long press app icon + force stop, storage clear cache, free storage restart the phone

lauch old app from physical device

as soon I did this my phone recognized the new changes and new deployment that was weird but worked for me

Tweak

Still having the issue on Arctic Fox 2020.3.1 patch 3. I have to press Build > Rebuild project after every code changes, otherwise the new changes won't apply. This is happening on one specific project only. Still looking for an issue. – Gman

try this: c:/Users/me/AppData/Local/Google/AndroidStudioPreview2021.1/caches then delete all caches also allow kotlin plugging upgrade if AS suggest you it – Tweak

Still on Android Studio Bumblebee | 2021.1.1 Patch 1 – Storz

Answer 19

I was using BumbleBee and none of these solutions worked for me. Here are two things i tried, one of them resolved my issue:

1. From Bumble Bee, I updated Android studio to Chipmunk | 2021.2.1. (Try this one first)
2. I am using Macbook pro 2015. The Mac OS had a bug that when you create a new folder or a file from terminal or somewhere outside, it won't show you the newly created file, unless you close and open that directory again. Then I updated Mac OS to the latest version (12.2.1). I doubt that probably this bug was somehow keeping the Android studio from deploying latest changes.

Hopefully the First one might work for you.

Gman

Answer 20

Try

react-native bundle --platform android --dev false --entry-file index.js --bundle-output android/app/src/main/assets/index.android.bundle --assets-dest android/app/src/main/res/

Source: React native run-android do not updating modified code

Rumba

Answer 21

Refactoring a name of an activity.java simply solve the same issue for me.

Curlpaper

Answer 22

Final settings in "edit configuration" which helped to get rid of rebuilding project each time.

Android Studio: Dolphin | 2021.3.1 Patch 1

Amphibology

i am on Android Studio Giraffe | 2022.3.1 Patch 1 and after hours of headache i finally got this to work using the gradle aware solution – Aeniah

Answer 23

Same problem started occurring after I have upgraded the buildVersion from 23. Tried removing AVDs and recreating, Synching up with Gradle Files. Nothing helped. Complete reinstallation of Andriod Studio has fixed the problem. This may not be the solution but this only worked for me.

Obara

Answer 24

Also me solved it by not using the Instant Run feature. Might not be the best solution but it works for now. I'm using Android Studio 2.0 beta 2...

Mimas

please elaborate more on your answers so other users can benefit...add step by step, etc... – Exile

Someone else has already posted this as an answer. Instead of re-posting, consider upvoting the existing answer once you have enough rep. – Aculeate

Answer 25

The thing that worked for me was to add some bad xml to one of my layout xml files, try to build and get an error, then revert the change and debug again. Not pretty, but pretty fast.

Another thing that seems to work most of the time: unplug and reconnect your development phone/device. This seems to force a reinstall, at least on my Linux machine.

Accountable

Answer 26

I have the same issue, I unchecked instant Run and also i tried "clean and run option" but its not working. I tried to gradle sync it, but still i had the issue. Its gets resolved only if i rebuild it completely by deleting build folder.

Dewey

Answer 27

You can understand whether the code is deployed or not by putting a debug breakpoint to the new line that you added. If there is a cross on the breakpoint, this means it is not deployed. You need to clean and rebuild the project.

Woodpecker