The error message Execution failed for task ':app:kapt'
often occurs during Kotlin or Android builds, especially when using annotation processors like Dagger, Room, or Hilt. This error can stem from several causes, including outdated dependencies, kapt misconfiguration, or even incorrect Gradle setup. Here’s a step-by-step guide to troubleshoot and fix the issue:

Common Causes:
- Incompatible or missing annotation processor dependencies
- Java/Kotlin version mismatch
- Incorrect Gradle plugin versions
- Misconfigured kapt options
- Syntax or runtime issues in generated code
How to Fix It:
Update Dependencies
Ensure all annotation processors and Kotlin libraries are updated. For example:
implementation "androidx.room:room-runtime:2.6.1" kapt "androidx.room:room-compiler:2.6.1"
Check Java and Kotlin Compatibility
Make sure you’re using a supported Java version for your Kotlin version (e.g., Kotlin 1.9.x works best with Java 11+).
Enable Incremental Annotation Processing
Add the following to your gradle.properties
:
kapt.incremental.apt=true
Clean and Rebuild the Project
Sometimes, stale files cause kapt to fail. Run:
./gradlew clean build
Use the --stacktrace
Option
Run the build with --stacktrace
or --info
to get detailed logs:
./gradlew build --stacktrace
Inspect Error Details
Look deeper into logs to find which specific kapt-generated file or dependency is failing.
For more help with kapt-related problems, you can also check the official Kotlin kapt documentation.