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androidandroid-espressoaws-device-farm

AWS Device Farm error: INSTALL_FAILED_OLDER_SDK, but I have backwards compatibility

So I'm receiving the following error when device farm devices with Android 7.0 (and lower) try to install my application:

Failed to install com.carto.advanced.kotlin.test - 
INSTALL_FAILED_OLDER_SDK: Failed parse during installPackageLI: 
/data/app/vmdl777879102.tmp/base.apk (at Binary XML file line #5): 
Requires newer sdk version #25 (current version is #24)

While it is technically correct, I am targeting sdk 25, I also have backwards compatibility installed and this should not be a problem.

compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:25.2.0'

Here's the relevant section of my build.gradle:

compileSdkVersion 25
buildToolsVersion "25.0.2"
defaultConfig {
    applicationId "com.carto.advanced.kotlin"
    minSdkVersion 18
    targetSdkVersion 25
    versionCode 4
    versionName "0.3.0"
    testInstrumentationRunner "android.support.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
    manifestPlaceholders = [HOCKEYAPP_APP_ID: "xxxx"]
}

It installs and runs on everything >=18 just fine, I've tested it on several devices. What's going on here?

It's worth mentioning that I'm using espresso version 2.2.2 and UIAutomator version-v18:2.0.0

compile 'com.android.support.test.uiautomator:uiautomator-v18:2.0.0'
androidTestCompile('com.android.support.test.espresso:espresso-core:2.2.2', {
        exclude group: 'com.android.support', module: 'support-annotations'
    })

Image from error page:

Image from error page

Image from result page: enter image description here

Solution

  • The problem is not resolved, but answering my own question, as the question is no longer relevant – it's not related to AWS Device Farm.

    By analyzing the test's .apk, I found out that Android Studio does some weird magic where it override's the tests minSdkVersion.

    From Android's documentation: You can add your own manifest file if necessary, such as to specify a different value for minSdkVersion or register run listeners just for your tests.

    So I created a separate manifest for my test (and it does use it), but build.gradle still overrides minSdkVersion to be the targetSdkVersion.

    Will update my answer when it's solved.