# Existing sketches not working with new Android Version
**URL:** https://discourse.processing.org/t/existing-sketches-not-working-with-new-android-version/47813
**Category:** Processing for Android
**Created:** [January 27, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/existing-sketches-not-working-with-new-android-version/47813 "2026-01-27T16:39:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MPROCD](https://discourse.processing.org/u/MPROCD)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/existing-sketches-not-working-with-new-android-version/47813/1 "2026-01-27T16:39:29Z")
After I upgraded Android Version to 11, I tried to run existing sketches (which run OK with the previous Android version). The sketches fail to run.
I performed an SDK update. This did not help.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Mike
**strong text**
---
### Author:  [@glv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/glv)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/existing-sketches-not-working-with-new-android-version/47813/2 "2026-01-27T21:12:14Z")
Hello @MPROCD ,
> [@MPROCD](#):
>
> Any suggestions?
You can always try a fresh install or a reset. Proceed with caution!
I don’t often use Android Mode but wanted to test out recent versions.
My environment:
- Windows 10
- Processing 4.4.10
- Android Mode for Processing 4.6.1
- Android 15
While Processing is closed:
1. Delete the contents of the _preferences folder_.
2. Delete the _android folder_ from the _Sketchbook folder_
3. Delete _AndroidMode folder_ from the _mode folder_ in the _Sketchbook folder_
Start Processing and select the _Sketchbook folder_ that you will be using.
I then installed Android mode and everything seemed to work as expected and was able to run sketches on my Android 15 phone.
I use a custom location for my _Sketchbook folder_ and preferences:
I was able to create a sketch and run it on my Android 15 device.
Reference for custom _preferences folder_ location::
> [@Can I install Processing 4.4.4 on local drive?](https://discourse.processing.org/t/can-i-install-processing-4-4-4-on-local-drive/46917/8):
>
> \*\*\* UPDATE \*\*\* [Preferences · processing/processing4 Wiki · GitHub](https://github.com/processing/processing4/wiki/Preferences#sketchbook-and-settings-location) To change the default location of the preferences.txt file I used the lib folder here for Processing 4.4.7 and 4.4.10 and it worked: Yay! slight_smile
_Proceed with caution before deleting folders_ and _do so at your own risk_.
_Ensure you have everything backed up._
What is your environment?
Can you share a minimal sketch that fails and I can try it on my setup.
If you do sort this out please share with details.
This is the Android related contents of my _preferences.txt_:
```auto
ANDROID_SDK=E:\AndroidSketchbook\android\sdk
JAVA_HOME=D:\Program_Portable\Processing-4.4.10\app\resources\jdk
PATH=D:\Program_Portable\Processing-4.4.10\app\resources\jdk\bin;E:\AndroidSketchbook\android\sdk\platform-tools;E:\AndroidSketchbook\android\sdk\cmdline-tools\latest;null
android.gradle_plugin=7.1.0
android.sdk.appcompat=1.6.0
android.sdk.ar=1.37.0
android.sdk.gvr=1.180.0
android.sdk.path=E:\AndroidSketchbook\android\sdk
android.sdk.play_services=18.0.0
android.sdk.target=33
android.sdk.target.wear=30
android.sdk.target.wear_arm=24
android.sdk.v4legacy=1.0.0
android.sdk.wear=2.9.0
...
sketchbook.path.four=E:\AndroidSketchbook
...
```
`:)`
---
### Author:  [@glv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/glv)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2026, 7:51pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/existing-sketches-not-working-with-new-android-version/47813/3 "2026-04-07T19:51:12Z")
Hello @MPROCD,
I had issues with a fresh install of Android mode and the latest SDK.
I installed Processing 4.5.3 and used an older SDK and it worked!
Older SDK had this:
Latest SDK download had this:
I had to modify the _preferences.txt_ manually to add the SDK location:
There were issues trying to add it with the new preferences UI (User Interface) so I abandoned that approach.
At first glance it seems that the new SDK is missing the required base `platforms/android-33` package and only contains `platforms/android-33-ext*`.
I rarely use Android mode and this is what I can share from a quick exploration.
`:)`
---
### Author:  [@glv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/glv)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2026, 1:38pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/existing-sketches-not-working-with-new-android-version/47813/4 "2026-06-10T13:38:58Z")
> [@glv](#):
>
> At first glance it seems that the new SDK is missing the required base `platforms/android-33` package and only contains `platforms/android-33-ext*`.
Further exploration suggests that this may be an issue here:
>
Replace this:
```auto
// Platform
// Matches platform packages by target SDK number, so it may match an ext package.
expr = xpath.compile("//remotePackage[starts-with(@path, \"platforms;\")" +
"and contains(@path, '" + AndroidBuild.TARGET_SDK + "')]");
```
With this:
```auto
// Platform
// Require the exact base platform package:
expr = xpath.compile("//remotePackage[@path=\"platforms;android-" + AndroidBuild.TARGET_SDK + "\"" +
" and display-name=\"Android SDK Platform " + AndroidBuild.TARGET_SDK + "\"]");
```
I also wrote a small Processing sketch to test this by extracting the relevant selection logic code from _SDKDownloader.java_. The sketch showed that the current selector picks the Android SDK Platform 33-ext5, while the stricter selector picks the Android SDK Platform 33 package.
I am not posting the sketch and leave that as an exercise for enthusiasts!
It looks like changes in the Android SDK repository may be the issue: the repository now returns an SDK Extension package before the base platform package. This is the case even in an older Processing version from which I borrowed the base platform package.
That was fun!
See also:
_[Android Mode Compiler, problem not solved yet](https://discourse.processing.org/t/android-mode-compiler-problem-not-solved-yet/48739)_
\*\*\* _ **UPDATE** _ \*\*\*
Hello folks!
I did a fresh install of Processing 4.5.2 for Windows to test Android Mode.
My environment:
- Windows 10
- Processing 4.5.2
- Android Mode for Processing 4.6.1
- Android 15 on a MotoG
_ **Make sure you have a backup of your files before proceeding!** _
_ **You are responsible for this!** _
While Processing is closed:
- Delete the contents of the _preferences folder_.
- Delete the _android folder_ from the _Sketchbook folder_
- Delete _AndroidMode folder_ from the _mode folder_ in the _Sketchbook folder_
Contents of _preferences folder_:
The SDK install first installed:
- _android-33-ext5 folder_
When building the first sketch it then installed (this was shown in console):
- _android-33 folder_
I then deleted the _android-33-ext5 folder_ and it was still able to build and run on my Android phone with just the _android-33 folder._
I did add the SDK folder location to the preferences as well otherwise I was prompted with each run to install or locate.
_I made several efforts to be thorough testing this before and can’t comment on why this did not work at that time._
I saved a backup of the working _android folder_ for future.
I will update if I have anything new to add.
An older install did NOT work but I deleted that in my cleanup efforts and can’t examine that.
I learned a lot along the way!
I will try this on a W11 machine when I get the chance.
`:)`