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Gradle build failed is a summary, not a diagnosis. The useful clue is the specific error above it: a configuration failure, a task that failed, a dependency that could not be resolved, a problem starting Gradle, or a daemon connection error. Find that clue before changing versions or clearing caches.
What the “Gradle build failed” line tells you—and what it does not
The line means the build did not complete. By itself, it does not explain why. Read upward in the console output for the first concrete failure: a named task, the details under What went wrong, an exception, a missing dependency coordinate, or a JVM message.
If you see CommandInvokationFailure: Gradle build failed., that wrapper is associated with Unity-style build output, but the phrase alone does not establish that Unity caused the problem. Diagnose the Gradle output first; Unity-specific steps depend on the project and tool versions.
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Use the failure stage to choose the next check
| What you observe | What it points to | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| Gradle cannot start or report its version | Installation or environment issue | Run the appropriate --version command; check PATH, JAVA_HOME, and executable permissions if the error suggests them. |
help fails during setup |
Configuration, settings, or plugin issue | Inspect settings and build scripts, including applied plugins. |
help succeeds, but a requested task fails |
Task execution or its inputs | Inspect the failed task and rerun with --info for more detail. |
| Output names a dependency or repository-resolution problem | Dependency resolution | Inspect the dependency view and why Gradle selected or could not resolve a version. |
| Failure occurs before tasks and reports daemon connection trouble | Daemon startup or communication | Inspect daemon logs; investigate network or NAT configuration only if the error supports that branch. |
Capture the evidence before changing anything
- Keep the complete console output. Record the first specific error, not just the final summary. Note the task name, exception, dependency coordinate, and any JVM or daemon message shown.
- Identify where execution stopped. Determine whether Gradle started, whether configuration completed, and whether a named task began. Those distinctions separate environment, configuration, task, dependency, and daemon problems.
- Avoid broad fixes without evidence. Changing Gradle or Java versions, deleting caches, or altering network settings can add new variables without addressing the reported failure.
Check whether Gradle can start
For a project that uses the Gradle Wrapper, run ./gradlew --version from the project directory. For a separately installed Gradle, run gradle --version. If the command itself cannot run, check that Gradle is available through PATH, that JAVA_HOME points to the intended Java installation, and that the wrapper script has executable permission where applicable.
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Check compatibility against the project’s actual Gradle and Java versions. Gradle’s troubleshooting manual, version 9.8.1, gives JDK 17 or higher as an example requirement for its documented setup; that is not a universal requirement for every Gradle project. See Gradle’s troubleshooting guide and verify the version details relevant to your build.
Use help to separate configuration from task execution
Run the wrapper’s help task from the project directory:
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./gradlew helpIf your project uses a separately installed Gradle, use gradle help instead. This tests whether Gradle can configure the build without running the task that originally failed. Gradle’s troubleshooting guide explains: “If not, the problem exists when executing one or more requested tasks (Gradle executes configuration scripts first, followed by build steps).”
- If
helpfails too: focus on configuration—settings, build scripts, and applied plugins—and follow the specific error it reports. - If
helpsucceeds: focus on the original task, its inputs, and the failure details from that task’s output.
Investigate dependencies, task details, and daemon errors
When the output names a dependency
Inspect the dependency view for the relevant configuration and check Gradle’s resolution reasons. A missing artifact, an unavailable repository, and a version conflict are different problems; use the coordinate and resolution details in the output rather than treating every dependency error as a cache issue. Gradle documents dependency troubleshooting in its build troubleshooting guide.
When a task fails without a clear explanation
Rerun the failing command with --info to obtain more task-execution detail. Keep the task name and the expanded output together so you can relate the extra messages to the failure.
When Gradle reports a daemon connection problem
Look for daemon-related evidence in the console output and inspect logs under $GRADLE_USER_HOME/daemon/<version>/. Gradle documents NAT masquerading as one possible cause of a daemon connection problem. That is a specific network branch—not a general reason to change network settings whenever a build fails.
When to escalate
If the error remains unclear after you identify the stage and collect the relevant output, share the exact failure details with Gradle’s help forum or another developer resource suited to the project. For persistent, business-critical Gradle issues, Gradle also lists Professional Services as a support resource.
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