Android Studio 3.0 Canary 2: attribute 'android:versionCode' not found - android-studio

Question

I've updated Android Studio to the latest canary build and now I can't run my app.
Every time when I try to build the project I get the following error:
Error:F:\...\**app_name**\app\build\intermediates\instant-run-support\debug\slice_0\AndroidManifest.xml:2 attribute 'android:versionCode' not found
I tried to manually open the file and the attribute is clearly there:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
package="****"
android:versionCode="1"
android:versionName="1.0"
split="lib_slice_0_apk">
</manifest>
I've tried to clean the project, invalidate cache, restart android studio but nothing helped.
This is my build.gradle (app) file:
apply plugin: 'com.android.application'
apply plugin: 'kotlin-android'
android {
compileSdkVersion 25
buildToolsVersion "25.0.3"
defaultConfig {
applicationId "****"
minSdkVersion 16
targetSdkVersion 25
versionCode 1
versionName "1.0"
testInstrumentationRunner "android.support.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
}
buildTypes {
release {
minifyEnabled false
proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
}
}
}
dependencies {
compile fileTree(include: ['*.jar'], dir: 'libs')
androidTestCompile('com.android.support.test.espresso:espresso-core:2.2.2', {
exclude group: 'com.android.support', module: 'support-annotations'
})
compile "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib-jre7:$kotlin_version"
compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:25.3.1'
testCompile 'junit:junit:4.12'
compile 'com.android.support.constraint:constraint-layout:1.0.2'
compile 'com.android.support:design:25.3.1'
compile 'com.android.support:cardview-v7:25.3.1'
compile 'com.squareup.picasso:picasso:2.5.2'
}

Answer 1

This issue is strictly related to Instant Run. Workaround: disable it inside File -> Settings/Preferences. This will at least allow you to run your app in the Canary version of AS.

Answer 2

This bug is solved since Android Studio 3.0 Canary 6, just update android studio and all SDK components and restart Android Studio.
Tested on:
Build #AI-171.4163606, built on July 7, 2017
JRE: 1.8.0_152-release-884-b01 amd64
JVM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o
Windows 10 10.0

Answer 3

Simply invalidating the caches did the job for me.
File > Invalidate Caches & Restart
No need to disable Instant Run or manually delete any build folders.

Answer 4

What worked for me is a combination of what robin and SamboyCoding said.
Clean Project from build menu
Rebuild Project from build menu
Then I could launch the app for testing without problems.

Answer 5

What worked for me was going into my project folder, and deleting the "build" folder, to force gradle to recompile everything. I also deleted the "gradle" folder, but had to recreate it manually because AS didn't, but I don't think it was this that fixed it.

Answer 6

I had the same. I tried either rebuild the project or change build gradle a bit(e.g change a versionName) and sync, then mostly the issue is temporarily gone.

Answer 7

The fastest workaround that works for me in Android Studio 3.0 Canary 2 is to add the versionCode and versionName attributes, and when the error occurs, I just change it to any other value (e.g. 1.0 to 1.1 and back). Then the app starts fine.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
package="com.XXX"
android:versionCode="1"
android:versionName="1.0">

Answer 8

As for 6/9/2017 Android Studio 3.0 Canary 3 the bug still exists. After trying all mentioned ways to fix this, the one that works is to:
Clean Project
Build Project
Disable/Re-enable Instant Run feature
or
Reload Android Studio.
In case of the error - suggesting to send report to Google via Help > Report Instant Run Issue.., also create a bug report in Groups. Don't forget to link this StackOverlow page - may be this way Google will fix this annoying bug fast.

Answer 9

I got the same problem. So I tried the stable version 2.3.1 of android studio. Then there come a question if I want to use the Android studios SDK, I select this.
Try to run the app, a Gradle error come up, which request minimum Android Studio 3.0.
I start Android Studio 3.0 C2 again, the question regarding the SDK come up again, but then the app compiles and the versionCode error was gone.

Answer 10

Clean and rebuild the project
and restart android studio.
It will work.

Answer 11

After cleaning and rebulding I disabled instant run and re-enabled it and the error is gone.

Answer 12

Update Android studio to Canary 3. They solved the problem

Answer 13

Every time I get this following error:
Error:D:\StudioProjects\yoda\app\build\intermediates\instant-run-support\debug\slice_0\AndroidManifest.xml:2 attribute 'android:versionCode' not found
I'd like to delete D:\StudioProjects\yoda\app\build folder, then select Build\Rebuild Project, and everything will become all right.

Answer 14

For me it was enough to delete .gradle folder in the root folder of the project

Answer 15

open the manifest file & close it.
if still not working: rebuild, open manifest file & close it, -> RUN