React Native Android build failed: what I would check first

If a React Native Android build suddenly fails, the error message is often much less helpful than it looks. Sometimes it points to Gradle, sometimes to a plugin, sometimes to a dependency, and sometimes it just fails deep inside the Android build process without making the real cause obvious. I’ve run into this kind of problem enough times to stop treating “build failed” as one issue. It is usually a category of issues. This is the checklist I would go through first before changing random files or reinstalling everything. First: treat build failures as clues, not conclusions A React Native Android build can fail because of: Gradle configuration issues plugin resolution problems dependency/version mismatches Kotlin or AGP incompatibility corrupted caches autolinking problems native module integration issues environment/setup problems on the machine That means the text BUILD FAILED is not the diagnosis. It is just the start of the diagnosis. What I would check first 1. Read the first mea