When setting up a new Flutter development environment or updating Android Studio, developers frequently run into the Android SDK Manager Not Found error when executing flutter doctor or building an Android target. This error indicates that Flutter cannot locate the Android SDK tools, specifically the sdkmanager executable or command-line tools required to build and sign Android applications.

Understanding the Root Cause

In modern versions of Android Studio (version 4.0 and newer), Google decoupled the Android SDK Command-line Tools component from the default installation bundle. Because Flutter relies on sdkmanager to verify licenses, query installed components, and manage build dependencies, missing command-line tools cause Flutter CLI commands to fail.

Common reasons for this error include:

  • Missing Android SDK Command-line Tools (latest) package in Android Studio.
  • Unset or incorrect ANDROID_HOME or ANDROID_SDK_ROOT environment variables.
  • Unlinked Android SDK location in Flutter configuration.
  • Deprecated or broken directory layouts in the Android SDK folder.

Fix 1: Install Android SDK Command-Line Tools

The most common cause of the Android SDK Manager Not Found error is missing command-line tools inside Android Studio. Installing this component takes only a few clicks.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Open Android Studio.
  2. Open the SDK Manager:
    • On the Welcome screen: Click More Actions > SDK Manager.
    • From an open project: Go to Tools > SDK Manager (or Settings/Preferences > Appearance & Behavior > System Settings > Android SDK).
  3. Select the SDK Tools tab at the top.
  4. Check the box next to Android SDK Command-line Tools (latest).
  5. Click Apply and then OK to start downloading and installing.

Tip: If you are using an older Flutter project or automated CI pipeline, you might also need to ensure Android SDK Build-Tools and Android SDK Platform-Tools are checked under the same tab.

Fix 2: Set the Android SDK Location in Flutter

If you have installed the SDK but Flutter still fails to locate it, manually tell Flutter where your Android SDK resides using the flutter config command.

First, identify your Android SDK path:

  • macOS: /Users/<your-username>/Library/Android/sdk
  • Windows: C:\Users\<your-username>\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk
  • Linux: /home/<your-username>/Android/Sdk

Run the following command in your terminal to explicitly configure Flutter:

Code
# macOS / Linux
flutter config --android-sdk "/Users/your-username/Library/Android/sdk"
# Windows PowerShell
flutter config --android-sdk "C:\Users\your-username\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk"

Fix 3: Configure Environment Variables

Ensuring your operating system knows where the Android SDK and tools live prevents recurring path errors.

On macOS / Linux (zsh / bash)

Open your shell configuration file (e.g., ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc) and add the following lines:

Code
export ANDROID_HOME=$HOME/Library/Android/sdk
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/emulator
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/cmdline-tools/latest/bin
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/tools/bin

Reload your configuration:

Code
source ~/.zshrc

On Windows

  1. Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.
  2. Go to the Advanced tab and click Environment Variables.
  3. Under User variables, click New:
    • Variable name: ANDROID_HOME
    • Variable value: C:\Users\<your-username>\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk
  4. Find the Path variable under User variables, click Edit, and add:
    • %ANDROID_HOME%\platform-tools
    • %ANDROID_HOME%\cmdline-tools\latest\bin

Fix 4: Accept Android SDK Licenses

Once the SDK Manager and Command-line Tools are properly located, Flutter requires you to accept the Android SDK licenses before building apps.

Run the following command in your terminal:

Code
flutter doctor --android-licenses

Press y to accept each license agreement when prompted.

Fix 5: Verify the Fix with Flutter Doctor

After completing the steps above, check your environment health by running:

Code
flutter doctor -v

You should see a green checkmark next to the Android toolchain entry:

JSON
[✓] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices (Android SDK version 34.0.0)
    • Android SDK at /Users/developer/Library/Android/sdk
    • Platform android-34, build-tools 34.0.0
    • ANDROID_HOME = /Users/developer/Library/Android/sdk
    • All Android licenses accepted.

Summary

Resolving the Android SDK Manager Not Found error comes down to three main steps: installing the Android SDK Command-line Tools (latest) component via Android Studio, defining your ANDROID_HOME path, and accepting licenses using flutter doctor --android-licenses. Following these steps ensures your Flutter workflow remains seamless across updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does flutter doctor say Android SDK Manager is not found?

This happens when the Android SDK Command-line Tools package is missing from your Android SDK installation, or when Flutter cannot locate the Android SDK path due to missing environment variables.

Where is the default Android SDK location on macOS and Windows?

On macOS, the default path is '~/Library/Android/sdk'. On Windows, it is 'C:\Users\<your-username>\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk'.

How do I fix 'Android licenses status unknown' in Flutter?

Install the 'Android SDK Command-line Tools (latest)' via Android Studio's SDK Manager, then run 'flutter doctor --android-licenses' in your terminal and accept all prompts.

Can I use Flutter without installing Android Studio?

Yes, you can install the standalone Android Command-line Tools manually, set the ANDROID_HOME environment variable, and install build platforms via the sdkmanager CLI without full Android Studio IDE.