Fixing “Unable to Make Progress Running Work” Error in Android Studio

Android developers sometimes encounter the frustrating error message: “Unable to make progress running work. There are items queued for execution but none of them can be started.” This usually happens during the Gradle build process. In this guide, we will discuss the reasons behind this issue and practical steps to solve it efficiently.

Understanding the Problem

This specific error indicates that Android Studio’s Gradle build system is stuck due to tasks being queued but unable to execute. Common causes include:

• Gradle configuration issues
• Cache corruption
• Dependency conflicts
• Insufficient memory resources

Let’s jump straight into actionable steps for resolving this issue.

Step-by-Step Solution to Resolve the Error

Step 1: Restart Android Studio and Gradle Daemons

• Close Android Studio completely.
• Open your system terminal and run:

./gradlew --stop

• Restart Android Studio.

Step 2: Clear Gradle Cache

Cached files sometimes become corrupted:

• Navigate to your project folder.
• Delete the Gradle cache by running:

./gradlew cleanBuildCache

Alternatively, manually delete the .gradle folder inside your project directory and user home directory:

• project/.gradle
• ~/.gradle/caches

Step 3: Check and Resolve Dependency Issues

Dependency issues may cause Gradle to halt unexpectedly:

• Open your build.gradle files and verify dependencies are correctly specified.
• Update dependencies to their latest stable versions if needed.

Step 4: Adjust Gradle Properties

Insufficient memory can also cause tasks to remain queued:

• Open gradle.properties in your project.
• Ensure you have proper memory allocation:

org.gradle.jvmargs=-Xmx2048m -XX:MaxPermSize=512m

Increasing these values can often solve task queuing issues.

Step 5: Upgrade Gradle and Android Gradle Plugin

Outdated Gradle versions can cause compatibility issues:

• In your project’s build.gradle, ensure you’re using the latest Android Gradle plugin:

classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:8.4.1'

• Check gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties and update Gradle itself:

distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-8.7-all.zip

Practical Tips for Preventing This Error

• Regularly clean your Gradle cache.
• Keep your Android Studio, Gradle, and dependencies updated.
• Monitor system memory usage and adjust JVM settings accordingly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring Gradle updates leading to eventual compatibility issues.
• Using unnecessarily high memory settings that can affect other processes negatively.
• Neglecting to clear the Gradle cache regularly.

Recommended Documentation

Consult these official resources for additional details:

• Troubleshooting Android Studio Builds
• Gradle Performance Optimization

Final Thoughts

Resolving Gradle build errors quickly is crucial to maintaining productivity. By systematically following these solutions, you’ll effectively manage your build environment, ensuring smoother development workflows.

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