How to Change Gradle Version in Kotlin Projects

Managing the Gradle version in your Kotlin project is essential for ensuring compatibility with plugins, dependencies, and Android Studio itself. Whether you want to upgrade to the latest version for new features or downgrade for stability, adjusting the Gradle version is a straightforward process if done carefully.

Steps to Change Gradle Version in Kotlin:

Open the Gradle Wrapper Properties File
Navigate to:

/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties

Modify the distribution URL:

distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-8.4-bin.zip

Replace 8.4 with your desired Gradle version.

Update Gradle Plugin in build.gradle
In the project-level build.gradle.kts (Kotlin DSL), update:

plugins {
    id("com.android.application") version "8.4.0"
}

Ensure compatibility between Gradle and the Android Gradle Plugin (AGP).
You can check the compatibility matrix on the Android Developers site.

Sync and Rebuild the Project
After changes, click “Sync Now” in Android Studio. Rebuild the project to check if everything works.

Troubleshooting Tips:

• Clear cache: File > Invalidate Caches / Restart
• Delete .gradle folder and rebuild
• Check gradle.properties for conflicting configurations

Important Note: Always verify plugin compatibility when switching versions to avoid build failures.