Fixing “Missing Dart Plugin” in Android Studio

If you’re developing Flutter apps in Android Studio and encounter the “Missing Dart Plugin” error, you’re not alone. This issue commonly occurs when either the Dart plugin is not installed, not properly configured, or conflicts with your current Flutter setup. Fortunately, resolving this problem is usually simple and doesn’t require advanced technical skills.

Here’s a complete step-by-step guide to fix the “Missing Dart Plugin” error in Android Studio:

1. Check Plugin Installation

Go to Preferences (or Settings on Windows/Linux) → Plugins. In the search bar, look for Dart. If it’s not installed:

• Click on Marketplace
• Search for Dart
• Click Install
• Restart Android Studio

Also ensure the Flutter plugin is installed, as both Dart and Flutter work hand in hand for mobile development.

2. Sync Flutter SDK with Android Studio

If the Dart plugin is already installed but the error still appears:

• Go to Preferences → Languages & Frameworks → Flutter
• Check the Flutter SDK path. If it’s incorrect or empty, update it to the correct path
• Click Apply then OK

Sometimes, simply resyncing your project or restarting Android Studio after these changes can clear the error.

3. Invalidate Caches and Restart

Corrupted caches may also trigger plugin errors.

• Go to File → Invalidate Caches / Restart
• Click Invalidate and Restart

This will clean up temporary data and refresh plugin configurations.

4. Reinstall Dart Plugin

If the problem persists:

• Go back to the Plugins section
• Uninstall the Dart plugin
• Restart Android Studio
• Then reinstall the Dart plugin again

This clean reinstallation can fix misconfigured or outdated plugin data.

5. Check for IDE Updates

Make sure Android Studio is up-to-date:

• Go to Help → Check for Updates
• Install the latest version if available

Plugin issues often stem from compatibility problems between older IDE versions and newer plugins.

6. Try Another Version of Android Studio (Optional)

If none of the above solutions work, you can try using another release of Android Studio like the Canary or Beta builds. Download here:
https://developer.android.com/studio

Using alternative builds may offer better plugin support for new Flutter and Dart features.

By following the steps above, your “Missing Dart Plugin” issue should be resolved, allowing you to get back to building Flutter apps smoothly.