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Support 16 KB page sizes in Android with Capacitor

Google Play is introducing a new compatibility requirement that affects Android developers using Capacitor. Starting November 1st, 2025, all new apps and app updates targeting Android 15+ must support 16 KB page sizes on 64-bit devices. This change aims to improve app performance but requires developers to ensure their apps and dependencies are compatible.

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Understanding 16 KB Page Sizes

Android devices are transitioning from 4 KB to 16 KB page sizes to optimize memory performance. This change brings several benefits:

  • Lower app launch times: Applications start faster due to improved memory management
  • Reduced power consumption: More efficient memory operations during app launch
  • Faster camera launches: Camera-intensive applications see performance improvements
  • Improved system boot time: Overall system responsiveness is enhanced

However, this transition requires apps using native code (NDK, C/C++, or third-party native libraries) to be recompiled with 16 KB ELF alignment. Apps that don't support 16 KB page sizes may experience crashes or compatibility issues on devices with this configuration.

Capacitor's Role in Supporting 16 KB Pages

Capacitor apps are particularly affected by this requirement because they often rely on native plugins and dependencies that may not yet be compatible with 16 KB page sizes. The Capacitor framework itself is being updated to support this new requirement, but individual plugins may need attention.

To ensure your Capacitor app is ready for the 16 KB page size requirement:

  1. Update your development environment:

    • Use Android Gradle Plugin 8.5.1 or higher
    • Update to the latest NDK (r28 or higher)

  2. Test your app compatibility:

    • Use Android 15 emulators with 16 KB system images
    • Test on supported Pixel devices with developer options enabled
    • Utilize Samsung Remote Test Lab for additional testing

  3. Check plugin compatibility: Review all Capacitor plugins in your project for 16 KB page size support. You can follow Google's 16 KB page size impact guide to check if your dependencies are compatible.

Known Issues

Several popular Capacitor plugins have encountered compatibility issues with 16 KB page sizes. Here are the most common issues and their current status:

ML Kit Barcode Scanning

The Capacitor ML Kit Barcode Scanning plugin experienced compatibility issues due to an outdated androidx.camera:camera-core dependency (version 1.1.0). This resulted in Google Play warnings about libraries not supporting 16 KB page sizes.

Status: The issue is resolved in androidx.camera:camera-core version 1.4.0, and the fix will be included in the next major update when Capacitor 8 becomes available. More information can be found here.

Solution: Override the androidx.camera:camera-core version in your app's variables.gradle file. Example:

ext {
    androidxCameraCoreVersion = '1.4.0'
}

SQLite

The Capacitor Community SQLite plugin encountered crashes on Android 15 emulators with 16 KB page sizes due to an outdated SQLCipher dependency (android-database-sqlcipher:4.5.3).

Status: The issue is actively being resolved with an upgrade to SQLCipher dependency net.zetetic:sqlcipher-android:4.6.1@aar, which supports Android 15 devices with 16 KB page sizes. This upgrade is already available in version 7.0.1 of the plugin.

Solution: Update the Capacitor Community SQLite plugin to the latest version or switch to the Capawesome SQLite plugin, which is also compatible with 16 KB page sizes and offers additional enhancements.

Cordova SQLite Plugins

This issue also affects Cordova SQLite plugins, which may not support 16 KB page sizes. We recommend migrating to an up-to-date Capacitor plugin to ensure compatibility and future-proof your app.

Conclusion

The transition to 16 KB page sizes represents an important step forward for Android app performance, but it requires proactive preparation from Capacitor developers. While the Capacitor ecosystem is actively addressing compatibility issues, developers should:

  1. Update their development environment and build tools
  2. Test their apps thoroughly using 16 KB page size environments
  3. Monitor plugin compatibility and apply available workarounds
  4. Stay informed about updates from plugin maintainers

By taking these steps before the November 1st, 2025 deadline, you can ensure your Capacitor apps continue to work smoothly on the latest Android devices while benefiting from improved performance characteristics.

For the most up-to-date information on plugin compatibility, regularly check the GitHub repositories of your dependencies and consider joining the Capacitor community discussions where compatibility updates are frequently shared.

You discovered additional Capacitor plugins with 16 KB page size compatibility issues? Please send us an email at support@capawesome.io. We'll investigate and update this blog post to help the community stay informed about known issues and solutions.