Upgrading your app build to Gradle 9
Short answer: Gradle 9 needs Java 17 or later to run, and the current release, Gradle 9.8.0 from September 29, 2026, runs on JVM 17 through 27. Your code can still target older Java through toolchains. Upgrade with ./gradlew :wrapper --gradle-version=9.8.0 after fixing deprecation warnings and updating plugins. The changes that break builds most often: the Kotlin DSL now uses Kotlin 2.2, Groovy moved to 4.0, and old APIs such as Project.exec and conventions are gone. Android projects need AGP 8.4.0 or later, and the Kotlin Gradle plugin needs 2.0.0 or later.
Version pairings for Android and Kotlin
From Gradle’s upgrade guide and compatibility matrix and Google’s AGP release notes, read 1 October 2026.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Java to run Gradle 9 | JVM 17 or later; 9.8.0 supports up to Java 27 |
| Android Gradle plugin | At least 8.4.0 on Gradle 9; AGP 9.0 needs Gradle 9.1.0, AGP 9.4 needs Gradle 9.6.0 |
| Kotlin Gradle plugin | At least 2.0.0; Gradle 9.8 is tested up to Kotlin 2.4.20-RC2 |
| Kotlin DSL scripts | Kotlin 2.2 language version |
| Groovy DSL scripts | Groovy 4.0 |
| Gradle wrapper, Tooling API | Still start on JVM 8, but the build itself needs JVM 17 |
Before you upgrade
Gradle’s guide recommends running
gradle help --scan and opening the deprecations view, or gradle help --warning-mode=all in the console, then fixing what it reports on 8.14. Update every plugin next, since major releases remove public APIs and the latest plugin versions are the most likely to be ready. Then change the wrapper and run the build. If you build Android apps, line up versions first: the Android Gradle plugin must be 8.4.0 or later, and if you go to AGP 9 at the same time, read the AGP 9 migration, which brings its own breaking changes.Breaking changes that hit app builds
Java 17 for the daemon: set
JAVA_HOME or the IDE’s Gradle JDK to 17 or newer; use toolchains if your code targets older Java. Kotlin DSL on Kotlin 2.2: labels such as this@Build_gradle no longer work, so use project, settings or gradle, and stricter nullability from JSpecify annotations can surface new compile errors in build logic. Groovy 4: some classes moved packages, and closure lookups can behave differently. Removed APIs: Project.exec and Project.javaexec, the conventions API and other long-deprecated pieces are gone. Behavior: archive tasks such as Jar and Zip are reproducible by default, and a custom Test task without configured test classes now runs no tests silently instead of reusing the main test source set.Kotlin Multiplatform and plugin authors
KMP builds need a Kotlin Gradle plugin of 2.0.0 or later, and Gradle 9.8 is tested up to Kotlin 2.4.20-RC2; the latest Kotlin is covered in Kotlin 2.4 and 2.4.20. If you publish Gradle plugins, a plugin built with the Kotlin DSL on Gradle 9 only runs on Gradle 8.11 and newer, and a Groovy DSL plugin built on Gradle 9 needs Gradle 7.0 or newer. To support older Gradle versions, keep building that plugin with Gradle 8.x.
What Gradle 9.8.0 adds
Released on September 29, 2026, Gradle 9.8.0 supports Java 27 for both the daemon and toolchains, can reuse Maven’s mirror settings so teams configure an internal mirror once, makes file, object and process services available directly in scripts and task actions, and lets the Maven Publish plugin skip regenerating an unchanged POM. It also improves build failure output and Windows performance. Gradle notes that some third-party tools, such as PMD, don’t support Java 27 yet.
Where Censuus fits
A healthy build keeps releases flowing; being found brings people to them. Censuus ranks apps by the visits they draw, and adding your app is free through the List my app form. Placement comes from traffic and sponsorship: apps climb on the visits they draw, and a sponsor can pay to rise higher.
Frequently asked questions
What Java version does Gradle 9 need?
Java 17 or later to run the Gradle daemon. Gradle 9.8.0 runs on JVM 17 through 27, and toolchains let your code target older Java versions.
What is the latest Gradle version?
Gradle 9.8.0, released on September 29, 2026.
Which Android Gradle plugin works with Gradle 9?
AGP 8.4.0 or later. AGP 9.0 itself requires Gradle 9.1.0, and AGP 9.4 requires Gradle 9.6.0.
How do I upgrade to Gradle 9?
Fix deprecation warnings on Gradle 8.14, update your plugins, then run ./gradlew :wrapper --gradle-version=9.8.0 and build.
Why did my custom test task stop running tests on Gradle 9?
Gradle 9 removed the convention that let a Test task reuse the test source set. Configure testClassesDirs and classpath on the task explicitly.
Can I still use Project.exec in Gradle 9?
No. Project.exec and Project.javaexec were deprecated in Gradle 8.11 and removed in 9.0.0, together with their counterparts in build, settings and init scripts.
Guides for app developers
- How to market an app: a stage-by-stage plan
- Submit your app for free
- How to get your app to show up in Google search
- How to get your app recommended by AI assistants
- Free app promotion sites, checked for dofollow
- App store optimization checklist: what Apple and Google actually say
- App launch checklist: iOS and Android, step by step
- How to find beta testers for your app
- How to get more app reviews without breaking the store rules
- How to get your app featured on the App Store and Google Play
- App Store and Google Play screenshot sizes: what you must upload
- How to promote an app on Google Play with Play Console’s own tools
- How to promote an iOS app with App Store Connect’s own tools
- App Store keywords: how to fill the 100-character field
- How to market a fitness app: what Apple and Google let you claim
- How to market a kids app: the store rules that shape it
- How to market a finance app: the store rules to know first
- How to market a dating app: the store rules that shape it
- How to market a subscription app: what the stores require of your offer
- How to market a mobile game: the store rules that shape it
- Apple Ads MCP: connect an AI assistant to your campaigns
- How to promote an app on TikTok with creators
- How to promote an app on YouTube with creators
- How to market a VPN app: the store rules to know first
- How to market an AI app: the store rules that shape it
- How to market an education app: schools, parents and learners
- How to localize your App Store and Google Play listing
- Android vitals and Google Play visibility: the thresholds that hide apps
- App Store and Google Play age ratings: what drives them
- App Store privacy labels and Google Play Data safety: what to declare
- Common App Store rejection reasons and how to avoid them
- How to get the first users for your app
- App preview video specs: App Store sizes, length and rules, and the Google Play video
- App Store custom product pages, and the Google Play version
- App icon size for the App Store and Google Play
- App Store phased release and Google Play staged rollouts
- App Store subtitle and promotional text: limits and how to use them
- Google Play feature graphic: size, placement and rules
- TestFlight public link: set it up, limit it, and fix it when it does not work
- App Store promo codes and offer codes: how they work and their limits
- App Store A/B testing: product page optimization and Google Play experiments
- App Store in-app events: limits, badges and media sizes
- App Store Connect analytics: what each metric means
- Google Play store listing reports: clicks, CTR and the 2026 changes
- Google Play target API level requirements for 2026
- Android developer verification: what changed on September 30, 2026
- App Store and Google Play fees in 2026
- Google Play’s 12 testers for 14 days rule, explained
- How to transfer an app to another developer account
- How to remove an app from the App Store and Google Play
- The app account deletion requirement on the App Store and Google Play
- Google Play 16 KB page size requirement: dates, checks and fixes
- Declared Age Range and Play Age Signals: age assurance APIs for app developers
- Xcode 26 and the iOS 26 SDK requirement for App Store Connect
- The iOS privacy manifest: what to declare and how
- Accessibility Nutrition Labels: what to declare on your App Store page
- Google Play’s photo and video permissions policy, explained
- Google Play Billing Library version requirement: what you need to ship now
- App Tracking Transparency: when to ask and how
- App Store Connect API key: create it, store it, use it
- How to submit an In-App Purchase for review
- The Play Integrity API: what it checks and how to use it
- How long app review takes on the App Store and Google Play
- Google Play policy updates in 2026, with the deadlines
- Rosetta 2 end of support: what Mac developers need to do
- Monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment on the App Store
- Subscription Bundles, Suites and multiseat purchases on the App Store
- Sign in with Apple private relay email and the new private.icloud.com domain
- App Store Server Notifications V2: switching from V1 and handling every event
- Migrating to StoreKit 2: what is deprecated and what replaces it
- App Store creative assets: headers and search result visuals in iOS 27
- On-Demand Resources is deprecated: moving to Background Assets
- Time Allowances in iOS 27: how your app gets its category
- Android Contact Picker and the new READ_CONTACTS rules
- The Android 17 location button and Google Play’s precise location rules
- Phone verification without READ_CALL_LOG: what replaces call-based checks
- Apple’s EU business terms from October 1, 2026
- Android 17 app memory limits: detect, test and stay under them
- The Android 17 local network permission
- Android 17 background audio hardening
- Cleartext HTTP and certificate transparency on Android 17
- Android 17: lock-free MessageQueue and static final fields
- Android 17 ignores orientation lock and resizability on large screens
- Android 17 behavior changes: a checklist for target SDK 37
- Preparing your app for iPhone Duo
- Google Play subscription grace period and account hold
- Getting your Android app ready for Googlebook
- The Android 17 Handoff API
- ADB Wi-Fi 2.0 wireless debugging
- Android AppFunctions: your app as on-device tools for AI agents
- Android Live Updates: how to qualify for a promoted notification
- App Store Connect webhooks
- Apple Foundation Models: on-device vs Private Cloud Compute
- Using Claude, Codex and other agents in Android Studio
- Gemini Nano for Android developers
- Firebase AI Logic: the App Check deadline and Gemini 2.5 shutdowns
- Swift 6.4: what’s new for app developers
- The Swift SDK for Android
- Publishing your game on Android Auto and Android Automotive OS
- Liquid Glass in a Compose Multiplatform app
- Expo SDK 58: when it ships and what changes
- Device Hub in Xcode 27
- Using the Xcode MCP server with Claude Code, Codex and other agents
- Xcode 27: release, requirements and point releases
- Gemma 4 and Android skills in Android Studio
- The UIScene life cycle is required in iOS 27
- Migrating to Android Gradle plugin 9
- Navigation 3 for Jetpack Compose
- Kotlin 2.4, 2.4.20 and the road to 2.5
- The latest Compose BOM and Compose 1.12
- Compose Multiplatform 1.12 and the Hot Reload MCP server
- Opting out of Liquid Glass with UIDesignRequiresCompatibility
- Flutter 3.47 and the latest stable version
- React Native 0.87 and the latest version
- Android Studio Quail 4 and what comes next
- CocoaPods goes read-only: what changes and when
- Fixing YouTube Error 153 in embedded players
- Fixing “APNS token has not been set yet” in Firebase Messaging
- Older iOS Simulator runtimes and Rosetta destinations in Xcode
- Fixing the fmt consteval error in React Native on Xcode 26.4
Put your app in the ranking
Censuus ranks apps by the visits they draw and by sponsorship, no bots. Listing is free; sponsorship raises placement.