Android Gradle plugin requires Java 11 to run. You are currently using Java 1.8

Issue

I'm trying to use a physical Android device to test/debug my React Native project.

I connected the device to my Windows 11 machine via USB and turned on Developer mode on the device but when I tried to run my project, I got an error stating the following:

Android Gradle plugin requires Java 11 to run. You are currently using Java 1.8.

I downloaded and installed Java version 11 from this URL: https://jdk.java.net/java-se-ri/11

I then tried to set the version through: Android Studio > File > Settings > Build, Execution, Deployment > Gradle > Gradle JDK

I also went into Environment Variables on my Windows 11 machine and pointed JAVA_HOME to the folder where Java version 11 is.

But no matter what I do, it doesn't work. If I run ./gradlew --version under Android folder, I see the following:

Any suggestions how to handle this and set the correct version of Java for Gradle in my React Native project?

P.S. Even if I try to use the Android simulator on my dev machine, I now get the same error i.e. asking for Java 11. So, at this point, I'm completely unable to run any -- even a brand new -- React Native project on an Android device or the simulator.

Solution

An easier solution might be to set the org.gradle.java.home variable in gradle.properties file. To do that:

1. Locate the gradle.properties file in your project directory, create one if it's not present.
2. Add the variable like this

org.gradle.java.home = path/to/java11

Remember, no quotation marks in the path. And, point it towards the Java Installation directory, and not the bin folder.

Answered By - JustInCoding