Android R file not generating

Question

I know there are a lot of threads about this but I couldn't find one that solved my problem or is a duplicate.

So I was working on an app, accidently made the mistake of cleaning my project. This caused my R.java file to disappear. I tried cleaning my project again, building it again, closing eclipse, deleting the gen folder, checking all of my xml files for errors, all of that.

Problem now is whenever I create a new completely blank application project that doesn't even generate an R file automatically. I'm hoping there is still a way to restore it for my original project but as I stated nothing seems to work.

Solution 1

It could be if you have deleted

  <string name="action_settings">Settings</string>

in the strings.xml, but not deleted main.xml file in the menu folder.

Solution 2

have you tried checking for the target API maybe the api is low try doing right click your project >> properties >> andriod >> check the correct API or check if there are any error and fix them first these steps made my r file generate hope it makes yours

Solution 3

I have just had this experience. In my AndroidManifest.xml there was a reference to a theme which didn't exist.

For instance.

<application
    android:allowBackup="true"
    android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
    android:label="@string/app_name"
    android:theme="@style/AppTheme_Lorem" >

There wasn't AppTheme_Lorem among the application's themes

Solution 4

If newly created projects doesn't generate R.java file, most probably the adb is not running.

Solution:

1. Make sure, there is an executable file named adb at /SDK folder/platform-tools/adb
2. If you are on Linux platform, make sure it is not locked and is executable.

   Right click on adb -> permissions -> Tick on the check box "Execute/Run as a program".

Solution 5

I had the same issue. In my drawable folder I added a file video_Icon.jpg after that eclipse was not able to generating R file.

To fix the issue I changed the file name to video_icon.jpg and it worked.

View more solutions

Comments

[Ryan Sayles]

I have tried that, min is still at 4.0 and target is still at 4.2. It was working fine, I didn't change anything and I cleaned it which caused the error. The only errors coming up are the ones that try to reference R.something since R doesn't exist. I'm still more confused as to why it won't even generate when I create a new project

[Giant]

are you using eclipse in your project?

[Giant]

i cant think of any other solution but try this link out stackoverflow.com/questions/2194808/… maybe it can solve your problem

[Rizwan Sohaib]

I have same problem, and i think problem is with my java. I can not open SDK Manager to downgrade and even I installed Android Studio, that also does not launches successfully. Just crashes instantly..

[DucTran]

@Rizwan: there are some people cannot open their SDK Manager when they use Android Studio. I don't use it but I come across some questions about that already, it seems like Android Studio is also having some problems. Lucky me that I'm using 2 "different machines", one 1 my real windows and the other is on Hyper-V and I still keep the source for R21. I just uninstalled R22 on my real one then copy the R21 from the Hyper-V to it. You should try to find a R21 source somewhere, uninstalled everything android-related (e.g .android folder) and install the R21.

[Rakesh]

Man I accidentally deleted the whole strings.xml and then there came a troop of errors. I was banging my head for half an hour trying to figure out why was R file not generating. Than I saw your answer and realize that my Strings.xml was not there. Thanks to you man.

[Boris Karloff]

For me was that! Thanks very much.