Changing API level Android Studio

When you want to update your minSdkVersion in an existent project...

Update build.gradle(Module: app) - Make sure is the one under Gradle Script and it is NOT build.gradle(Project: yourproject).

An example of build.gradle:

apply plugin: 'com.android.application'

android {
    compileSdkVersion 28
    buildToolsVersion "28.0.2"

    defaultConfig {
        applicationId "com.stackoverflow.answer"
        minSdkVersion 21
        targetSdkVersion 28
        versionCode 1
        versionName "1.0"
    }
    buildTypes {
        release {
            minifyEnabled false
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
    }
}

dependencies {
    androidTestCompile 'junit:junit:4.12'
    compile fileTree(dir: 'libs', include: ['*.jar'])
}

Sync gradle button (refresh all gradle projects also works)

For beginners in Android Studio "Sync gradle button" is located in Tools -> Android -> Sync Project with Gradle Files "Rebuild project" Build -> Rebuild Project

Rebuild project

After updating the build.gradle's minSdkVersion, you have to click on the button to sync gradle file ("Sync Project with Gradle files"). That will clear the marker.

Updating manifest.xml, for e.g. deleting any references to SDK levels in the manifest file, is NOT necessary anymore in Android Studio.

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For android studio users:

right click the App directory choose the "module setting" option change the ADK Platform as what you need Click Apply

The gradle will rebuild the project automatically.

Update 2022

After you right click, select open module settings

you can change the minSdkVersion in the Default Config tab

note, you might also want to change the targetSdkVersion (same tab) and compileSdkVersion (properties) tab

click apply, then ok, the gradle should automatically be synced

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As now Android Studio is stable, there is an easy way to do it.

Right click on your project file Select "Open Module Settings" Go to the "Flavors" tab.

https://i.stack.imgur.com/XrcC2.png

Select the Min SDK Version from the drop down list

PS: Though this question was already answered but Android Studio has changed a little bit by its stable release. So an easy straight forward way will help any new answer seeker landing here.

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In android studio you can easily press:

Ctrl + Shift + Alt + S. If you have a newer version of android studio, then press on app first. Then, continue with step three as follows. A window will open with a bunch of options Go to Flavors and that's actually all you need

You can also change the versionCode of your app there.

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In build.gradle change minSdkVersion 13 to minSdkVersion 8 Thats all you need to do. I solved my problem by only doing this.

defaultConfig {
    applicationId "com.example.sabrim.sbrtest"
    minSdkVersion 8
    targetSdkVersion 20
    versionCode 1
    versionName "1.0"
}

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According to this answer, you just don't include minsdkversion in the manifest.xml, and the build system will use the values from the build.gradle file and put the information into the final apk.

Because the build system needs this information anyway, this makes sense. You should not need to define this values two times.

You just have to sync the project after changing the build.gradle file, but Android Studio 0.5.2 display a yellow status bar on top of the build.gradle editor window to help you

Also note there at least two build.gradle files: one master and one for the app/module. The one to change is in the app/module, it already includes a property minSdkVersion in a newly generated project.

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https://i.stack.imgur.com/rz6BP.png

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If you're having troubles specifying the SDK target to Google APIs instead of the base Platform SDK just change the compileSdkVersion 19 to compileSdkVersion "Google Inc.:Google APIs:19"

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As well as updating the manifest, update the module's build.gradle file too (it's listed in the project pane just below the manifest - if there's no minSdkVersion key in it, you're looking at the wrong one, as there's a couple). A rebuild and things should be fine...

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In Android studio open build.gradle and edit the following section:

defaultConfig {
    applicationId "com.demo.myanswer"
    minSdkVersion 14
    targetSdkVersion 23
    versionCode 1
    versionName "1.0"
}

here you can change minSdkVersion from 12 to 14

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File>Project Structure>Modules you can change it from there

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When you want to change minimum SDK you should take care of minSdkVersion^[About] in module build.garadle

android {
  defaultConfig {
    minSdkVersion 21
  }
}

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Changing the minSdkVersion in the manifest is not necessary. If you change it in the gradle build file, as seen below, you accomplish what you need to do.

defaultConfig {
   applicationId "com.demo.myanswer"
   minSdkVersion 14
   targetSdkVersion 23
   versionCode 1
   versionName "1.0"
}

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For me what worked was: (right click)project->android tools->clear lint markers. Although for some reason the Manifest reverted to the old (lower) minimum API level, but after I changed it back to the new (higher) API level there was no red error underline and the project now uses the new minimum API level.

Edit: Sorry, I see you were using Android Studio, not Eclipse. But I guess there is a similar 'clear lint markers' in Studio somewhere and it might solve the problem.

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Gradle Scripts ->
build.gradle (Module: app) ->
minSdkVersion (Your min sdk version)

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