--- title: Support 16 KB page sizes in Android with Capacitor description: Learn how to prepare your Capacitor apps for Google Play's new 16 KB page size requirement and address compatibility issues with plugins. date: created: 2025-09-01 updated: 2026-07-17 authors: - robingenz categories: - Capacitor - Guides faq: true --- # 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](https://developer.android.com/guide/practices/page-sizes#16-kb-impact){:target="_blank"} 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](../../sdks/capacitor/mlkit/barcode-scanning.md) 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](https://github.com/capawesome-team/capacitor-mlkit/issues/289){:target="_blank"}. **Solution**: Override the `androidx.camera:camera-core` version in your app's `variables.gradle` file. Example: ```gradle ext { androidxCameraCoreVersion = '1.4.0' } ``` ### SQLite The [Capacitor Community SQLite](https://github.com/capacitor-community/sqlite){:target="_blank"} 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](../../sdks/capacitor/sqlite.md), which supports 16 KB page sizes and offers additional features. For full **Capacitor SQLite plugin documentation**, see the [SQLite plugin documentation](../../sdks/capacitor/sqlite.md#api). Or even better, check the [5 reasons why you should consider alternatives to the Capacitor Community SQLite plugin](./alternative-to-capacitor-community-sqlite-plugin.md) ???+ info "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. ## FAQ ### Does the 16 KB page size requirement affect apps that don't use any native code? Only apps with native code (NDK, C/C++, or native libraries bundled through plugins) need recompiling with 16 KB ELF alignment. A Capacitor app built entirely from web-layer plugins with no native library dependencies is less exposed to this specific issue, but most real-world apps end up affected indirectly through one or more installed plugins that do bundle native code. ### If I update the `androidxCameraCoreVersion` override for ML Kit Barcode Scanning, do I need to touch the plugin's own code? No — this is a dependency version override, not a plugin patch. Setting `androidxCameraCoreVersion = '1.4.0'` in your app's `variables.gradle` tells Gradle to resolve the plugin's camera dependency to a newer, compatible version without modifying the plugin's source at all. ### Should I keep using the Capacitor Community SQLite plugin if I update its version to fix this issue? You can, but it's worth evaluating alternatives while you're already touching the dependency. Updating to the latest Community SQLite version resolves the immediate 16 KB compatibility issue, but the [Capawesome SQLite plugin](../../sdks/capacitor/sqlite.md) supports 16 KB page sizes natively and offers additional features — see [5 reasons to consider alternatives to the Capacitor Community SQLite plugin](./alternative-to-capacitor-community-sqlite-plugin.md) for the fuller comparison. ### Does this issue only affect Capacitor, or Cordova apps too? Cordova SQLite plugins are affected the same way, since the underlying problem is the native SQLCipher dependency version, not something specific to the Capacitor bridge. If you're maintaining a Cordova app with a SQLite plugin, the recommended path is migrating to an up-to-date Capacitor plugin rather than patching the Cordova-side dependency. ### How do I actually test whether my app is affected before Google Play flags it? Use an Android 15 emulator configured with a 16 KB system image, or a supported Pixel device with developer options enabled to force 16 KB pages; Samsung Remote Test Lab is also mentioned as an additional testing option. Testing on a standard 4 KB emulator won't surface this class of crash, since the failure mode only appears under the 16 KB page configuration itself. ## Related Posts - [How to Fix Capacitor Plugin Build Errors with AGP 9](./how-to-fix-capacitor-plugin-build-errors-with-agp-9.md) - [How to Upgrade Your Capacitor App to Capacitor 8](./how-to-upgrade-your-capacitor-app-to-capacitor-8.md) - [How to Upgrade Your Capacitor Plugin to Capacitor 8](./how-to-upgrade-your-capacitor-plugin-to-capacitor-8.md) - [Updating to Capacitor 6.0](./updating-to-capacitor-6.md) ## 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](mailto:support@capawesome.io). We'll investigate and update this blog post to help the community stay informed about known issues and solutions.