Manifest merger failed in android xml file

Question

I suddenly received the following error message. It is already added to the receiver, service, and activity wherever it is needed. I still get the same error and get stuck there badly

<receiver#com.google.android.gms.measurement.AppMeasurementInstallReferrerReceiver>. App targeting Android 12 and higher are required to specify an explicit value for android:exported when the corresponding component has an intent filter defined. See https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/activity-element#exported for details.

Here is my manifest file

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" package="com.test.app" xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />

--> --> -->

  </activity>

  <activity android:name="com.facebook.react.devsupport.DevSettingsActivity" android:exported="true"  />
 <!-- Branch init -->
    <meta-data
        android:name="io.branch.sdk.TestMode"
        android:value="true" />
        <!-- Branch install referrer tracking (optional) -->
    <receiver
        android:name="io.branch.referral.InstallListener"
        android:exported="true">
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="com.android.vending.INSTALL_REFERRER" />
        </intent-filter>
    </receiver>
      <!-- Add this SplashActivity -->
    <activity
    android:exported="true" 
      android:name=".SplashActivity"
      android:theme="@style/SplashTheme"
      android:label="@string/app_name">
      <intent-filter>
          <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
          <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
      </intent-filter>
    </activity>
      <meta-data
        android:name="io.branch.sdk.BranchKey"
        android:value="key_live_bmGyWtkyPEiSrNxgdZ8hagcpzDihXAce" />
    <meta-data
        android:name="io.branch.sdk.BranchKey.test"
        android:value="key_test_aaIB3ukyJCnNsRAfi92SCcdfstmcYAkD" />
    <meta-data  android:name="com.google.firebase.messaging.default_notification_icon" android:resource="@mipmap/ic_notification" />

     <meta-data
 android:name="com.google.android.geo.API_KEY"
 android:value="AfevrvrtvtrtalGoZo5n3YDI"/>

Any help would be highly appreciated!!

Answer 1

This could happen because one or more of your dependencies is missing the android:exported tag in any of those elements. I actually experienced this issue a couple of days ago and had to upgrade a couple of them.

What you can do to find out is:

• Target any Android version < 12; one that does not require the tag.
• Build your app.
• Inspect your AndroidManifest with Android studio.
• Press a button at the bottom left that reads something about "merged manifests".
• This will show you the merged android manifest for your entire project, including dependencies'.
• Inspect it and figure out which dependency does not conform to Android 12+ requirements.
• Upgrade or patch any of them.