Develop Reference

Visual Studio 2017 Tools -> Android disabled

When I try to run a new blank Android app I get an error:
"The Android SDK Directory could not be found...".
I searched in google for a solution and I found out that I need to go to Tools -> Android -> Android SDK Manager, and then I realized the buttons are disabled.
I did some checks:
in Tools -> Options -> Android Setting for Android SDK Location and it's empty. Furthermore, the folder Programs Files(x86)\Android\android-sdk contain only 1 folder named extras
I did a VS repair, twice, and nothing changed.
As I understand the problem, I don't have SDK and somehow VS can't install it properly.
Is there any manual way to install it or any other solution?
Edit: I've tried to uninstall Visual Studio and install again. It couldn't install everything successfully, here is the log:
Package 'JavaJDKV2,version=1.8.6,chip=x64' failed to install.
Search URL
https://aka.ms/VSSetupErrorReports?q=PackageId=JavaJDKV2;PackageAction=Install;ReturnCode=-1
Details
Command executed: "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\VisualStudio\Packages\JavaJDKV2,version=1.8.6,chip=x64\jdk-8u181-windows-x64.exe" /quiet
Return code: -1
Return code details: Unknown error (0xffffffff)
Log
C:\Users******\AppData\Local\Temp\dd_setup_20180828172213_290_JavaJDKV2.log
Impacted workloads
Mobile development with .NET (Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NetCrossPlat,version=15.8.27906.1)
Impacted components
Android SDK setup (API level 27) (Component.Android.SDK27,version=15.8.27906.1)
Google Android Emulator (API Level 27) (Component.Google.Android.Emulator.API27,version=15.8.27906.1)
Java SE Development Kit (8.0.1120.15) (Component.JavaJDK,version=15.6.27406.0)

I fixed it and here is what worked for me:
I downloaded the Android Command line tools
I put the downloaded folder in C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk
I opened CMD and directed to that folder.
I've checked the command sdkmanager --list, see sdkmanager page for more information
And I downloaded via the sdkmanager commands the SDKs I needed
Also, VS2017's SDK manager started to work as well after I downloaded what I needed from the command line.

download the latest version of "sdk-tools-windows-4333796.zip" in https://developer.android.com/studio this web site and update your visual studio to latest version
this will surely work because even in my case it was same error for 3days then i did these changes and now it works fine

Install Android studio - https://developer.android.com/studio
Open Android studio -> configure -> copy Android SDK location
Open Visual studio -> Tools -> Options -> Xamarin -> paste your SDK location
Done!

How can i add Android Device under V4.4 to visual studio 2017 emulator Xamarin

Hi i need to run my app on android 4.0.3 device and i downloaded them from vs sdk manager
but when i want to create a new device 4.0.3 version , in the Os list is not displayed.
how can i create a device other than default device ?

How can I add Android Device under V4.4 to visual studio 2017 emulator Xamarin
As #FabriBertani said, you could try use Genymotion instead. But when I use Genymotion on my side, I could only create the emulator that version is higher than 4.1.1:
i want to create a new device 4.0.3 version
So if you need to create an android 4.0.3 version simulator, I still recommended you to use the Android Studio, the Official IDE for Android. It will be quite simple to create such a simulator.
When you install Android Studio, you could you could use the already installed Android SDK, because there's no need for you to download it again. I have written an answer about it and I write it here again:
Install Android Studio, the Official IDE for Android.
Create a blank project and open it.
change Android SDK Path.
a. Go to File -> Project Structure
b. Change the SDK location to your Visual Studio SDK Location
I. Default Xamarin Android SDK Location is C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk, you could find it in VS : Tools -> Options -> Xamarin -> Android Settings
II. There is a problem when you change the SDK Location: cannot contain whitespace. You could open CMD as Administrator and type: mklink /J C:\Program-Files-(x86) "C:\Program Files (x86)", like this.
III. Then you could change the SDK Location, effect.
Effect:
In Android Studio, click Tools -> AVD Manager -> Create Virtual Device -> choose a device definition -> click Next:

Error: Could not automatically detect an ADB binary. Some emulator functionality will not work until a custom path to ADB is added in the extended…

I'm getting an error message in Android Studio with adb:
Could not automatically detect an ADB binary. Some emulator functionality will not work until a custom path to ADB is added in the extended settings page.
Screenshot showing the error message
Note that I have adb as part of the development tools and have set variable path, have tested in cmd and it's functional.
What am I missing here?
Do I have to set some path to adb in Android Studio as well?
I'm using Android Studio 2.3.3.

that error happens because your anti-virus moved the adb.exe to the vault and block it, so you need to give that file an exception that it is not a virus, if that didn't fix it you may need to uninstall the SDK tools and reinstall it again to work.
open the SDK manager in the Android Studio (a button somewhere in the top menu, android logo with a down arrow), switch to the SDK tools tab and select/install the Android SDK Platform-tools.
Alternatively, you can try the standalone SDK Manager: Open the SDK manager and you should see a "Launch Standalone SDK manager" link somewhere at the bottom of the settings window. Click and open the standalone SDK manager, then install/update the
"Tools > Android SDK platform tools".
If the above does not solve the problem, try reinstalling the tools: open the "Standalone SDK manager" and uninstall the Android SDK platform-tools, delete the [your SDK directory]/platform-tools directory completely and install it again using the SDK manager.

In my case Macbook M1, I just tried following steps:
Android Studio: Menu -> Tools -> SDK Manager select SDK Tools Tab and Uncheck -> Android SDK Platform-Tools
Close Android Studio, close simulator
Start Android Studio and Now Select/Check -> Android SDK Platform-Tools
Open Simulator and build the Application ( Working fine )

This is mostly because of Windows antivirus. To solve it follow these steps:
Click the Start button.
Type “Windows Security”.
Click on “Virus and threat protection”.
Click on “Manage settings” under “Virus & threat protection settings”.
Scroll down if needed, and then click on “Add or remove exclusions”.
Press the + button, choose "process" and add each of these processes.
1.Gradle cache :
%USERPROFILE%.gradle
2.Android Studio projects :
%USERPROFILE%\AndroidStudioProjects
3.Android SDK :
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Android\SDK
For example this is how you add the first one.Just choose "Process" and copy and paste this and then "Add".
After adding all three of them to the exclusion, just run your app again and it will be fine.

Open Android Studio
Go to: Menu -> Tools -> SDK Manager
Click on SDK Tools Tab,
Now Check on - "Android SDK Platform-Tools"
Click on OK to install.
Now you should see "Virtual Device" under Device Connector (just next to build icon)
Run your App and it should start in Native M1 Android Emulator.

i also got this error, re-installing the sdk-platform-tools isn't a quick solution,...finally fix it by switching off the emulator manually then switching it back on from android studio avd manager

thank you #FARAZ, worked for me on my M1 as well!
i'm using VSCode and after unselected/selecting the Android SDK Platform-Tools I was able to go into the Emulator on VSCode and it prompted me to install some Xcode stuff on the android emulator and then it worked!

On my MacBook Pro M1 I had to either install a new emulator or wipe data/cold boot every time. I’m sure there’s a better solution but this is a quick fix

for me go to the avd manager and do cold boot and run the app. it works for me.

Can't find SDK Manager.exe in Android SDK folder

I need to install some packages in Android SDK Manager, but in my SDK folder there isn't the .exe file (There is only the AVD Manager and the folders).
How can I find it? My SDK works normally with Android Studio, without problems, it's strange that SDK Manager.exe isn't there.

I had to install an older version
https://dl.google.com/android/installer_r24.4.1-windows.exe
and update it. Going from there worked

To open the SDK Manager from Android Studio, click Tools > Android > SDK Manager or click SDK Manager in the toolbar. If you're not using Android Studio, you can download tools using the sdkmanager command-line tool.
Check this link: https://developer.android.com/studio/intro/update.html#sdk-manager

I found C:\NVPACK\android-sdk-windows\tools\android.bat
When I ran it, it brought up SDK Manager.
Which was nice, because I couldn't find SDK Manager in the C:\NVPACK\android-sdk-windows\lib folder like I was told it would be there.

You can find Android SDK Manager.exe file in the following folder:
C:\Users[account]\AppData\Local\Android\sdk (sdk1 in my case)
You can tap on that and you will get the Android SDK Manager screen.

Go to android_sdk/tools/bin/ open cmd and type sdkmanager and hit enter you can use command prompt for it

You can find sdk manager under command-line tools, which you will have to download by clicking the configure drop-down link under the android studio start-up wizard.
C:\Users[account]\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\cmdline-tools\latest\bin

C:\Users[account]\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\cmdline-tools\latest\bin
I had trouble running from here because I didn't have the right permission. I was trying to update my SDK. I got it running from another folder on my system with the command line command:
"C:/Program Files (x86)/Android/android-sdk/cmdline-tools/7.0/bin/sdkmanager.bat" --update --sdk_root="C:/Program Files (x86)/Android/android-sdk/cmdline-tools"
On Visual Studio 2022 you can look under Tools/Android/Android SDK Manager

Specify location for android api for AVD Manager

Today, I decided to try Android Studio. When opening AVD Manager from the Tools > Android > AVD Manager menu on Android Studio, the list shows that the AVD named DroidBox fails because of "Unknown target android-16". I created that Virtual Device back when I used Eclipse for Android programming.
I have android-16 downloaded on my system (I know the path to the dir, and it has worked before), but apparently the location isn't being seen.
How can I tell AVD Manager where to find the directory?

you can set the path for same sdk that you were using with Eclipse. Just follow these steps:
File-> Project Structure->Android SDK location.
Under Android SDK location, browse for you sdk that you are using with eclipse. Yoy may need to re-start Android Studio to take effect! i m using A.S 0.8.6!

Even I had faced the same problem. Tools -> AVD Manager -> Create Virtual Device just adds the Virtual device. Underlying SDK (=~ Android OS selected while creating the Virtual device) should be separately installed.SDK can be installed from Tools -> SDK Manager.

Android Studio looks for different directories than Eclipse. From Android Studio, run the SDK Manager and verify that marks API 16 as installed. If not just install it and that should work