How To Windows

How to Fix Android Studio Not Working on Windows 11

By Arpita 5 min read
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Android Studio is the official IDE for Android app development, and it’s a must-have for developers who build and test Android apps. However, sometimes users on Windows 11 encounter issues where Android Studio fails to open, freezes during startup, or crashes unexpectedly while running.

If your Android Studio is not working properly on Windows 11, don’t worry — it’s a common problem and can be fixed easily. In this guide, we’ll walk you through why Android Studio stops working and the step-by-step fixes to restore it to full functionality.

Why Is Android Studio Not Working on Windows 11?

Android Studio is a complex IDE that depends on many system components and SDK tools. When any of these fail, the IDE may not launch or respond.

Here are some of the most common reasons why Android Studio might not work:

  • Corrupted Android Studio configuration or cache files
  • Outdated Java Development Kit (JDK)
  • Corrupted SDK or Gradle files
  • Missing admin permissions
  • Conflicts with antivirus or Hyper-V
  • GPU rendering or driver issues
  • Damaged installation after Windows update

Now that you know the possible causes, let’s go through the fixes in detail.

Fix 1: Run Android Studio as Administrator

Sometimes, Android Studio doesn’t launch or perform certain actions due to missing administrator rights.

  1. Press Windows + S, type Android Studio.
  2. Right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
  3. If it opens successfully, you can make this change permanent:
    • Right-click the Android Studio shortcut → Properties.
    • Go to the Compatibility tab → Check Run this program as an administrator → Click Apply.

Tip: Running as administrator ensures Android Studio can modify SDK paths, plugins, and emulator settings without restrictions.

Fix 2: Delete Android Studio Cache and Configuration Files

Corrupted cache files are one of the most common reasons Android Studio fails to start or keeps freezing. Clearing them often fixes the issue immediately.

  1. Close Android Studio completely.
  2. Press Windows + R, type: %AppData% and press Enter.
  3. Delete the following folders if they exist: .android .AndroidStudio* .gradle JetBrains Google
  4. Also, delete the cache folder from: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\.AndroidStudio*
  5. Restart your PC and relaunch Android Studio.

💡 Tip: Android Studio will rebuild these folders automatically upon launch, restoring a clean configuration.

Fix 3: Update or Reinstall the JDK (Java Development Kit)

Android Studio requires the Java Development Kit (JDK) to function properly. An outdated or corrupted JDK can cause startup failures.

To Check Your JDK Version:

  1. Open Command Prompt and type: java -version
  2. If the command fails or shows an old version, reinstall JDK from: https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase-downloads.html

Then in Android Studio:

  • Open File → Settings → Build, Execution, Deployment → Build Tools → Gradle.
  • Under Gradle JDK, select your latest JDK version (e.g., JDK 21 or JDK 22).

Note: The latest Android Studio versions come with an embedded JDK, but you can override it manually if needed.

Fix 4: Repair or Reinstall Android Studio

If Android Studio refuses to launch or crashes immediately, the installation may be corrupted.

To Repair:

  1. Go to Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features.
  2. Locate Android Studio → Right-click → Select Repair (if available).

If the repair option isn’t available:

To Reinstall:

  1. Uninstall Android Studio completely.
  2. Delete leftover configuration folders:
    C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Google
    C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Android
    C:\Users\<YourUsername>\.AndroidStudio*
  3. Restart your computer.
  4. Download the latest version from: https://developer.android.com/studio
  5. Reinstall Android Studio.

Pro Tip: Always install Android Studio on your SSD for faster performance.

Fix 5: Disable Antivirus or Firewall Temporarily

Security software can sometimes block Android Studio components such as Gradle, the Emulator, or SDK updates.

  1. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage Settings.
  2. Turn off Real-time Protection temporarily.
  3. Launch Android Studio again.

If it starts successfully, add Android Studio and SDK folders to your antivirus exclusion list, then re-enable protection.

Fix 6: Disable Hyper-V or Virtual Machine Platform

If you’re using an Intel CPU, Hyper-V can conflict with Intel HAXM, which Android Studio uses for emulation.

  1. Press Windows + R, type: optionalfeatures and press Enter.
  2. Uncheck the following:
    • Hyper-V
    • Virtual Machine Platform
    • Windows Hypervisor Platform
  3. Click OK and restart your computer.

Alternatively, run this command in Command Prompt (Admin):

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off

Tip: Re-enable it later using bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto if you use Docker or WSL2.

Fix 7: Update Android Studio and SDK Tools

An outdated IDE or SDK may cause compatibility problems with Windows 11.

  1. Open Android Studio (if it launches).
  2. Go to Help → Check for Updates.
  3. Install any available updates for the IDE.
  4. Then go to Tools → SDK Manager → SDK Tools tab.
  5. Check and update the following:
    • Android SDK Platform-Tools
    • Android SDK Build-Tools
    • Android Emulator
    • Android SDK Command-line Tools

Pro Tip: Always keep both Android Studio and SDK components updated to the latest stable version.

Fix 8: Disable GPU Hardware Acceleration

In rare cases, GPU rendering issues can cause Android Studio’s window not to appear or crash instantly.

  1. Open File Explorer and navigate to: C:\Program Files\Android\Android Studio\bin
  2. Open studio64.exe.vmoptions (you can use Notepad).
  3. Add the following line at the bottom: -Dsun.java2d.d3d=false
  4. Save and close the file.
  5. Launch Android Studio again.

This disables hardware acceleration, forcing Android Studio to render using software — fixing most display-related crashes.

Fix 9: Check Environment Variables

If Android Studio fails to detect Java or SDK paths, it may not start at all.

  1. Press Windows + S, type Environment Variables, and open Edit the system environment variables.
  2. Click Environment Variables under the Advanced tab.
  3. Under System Variables, make sure the following exist: JAVA_HOME = C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-<version> ANDROID_HOME = C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk
  4. Click OK, then restart your PC.

Note: Correct environment variables are essential for Android Studio and Gradle builds.

Fix 10: Reset or Create a New Project

Sometimes, an existing project configuration becomes corrupted, making Android Studio crash when loading it.

  1. From the Welcome Screen, choose New Project.
  2. Create a blank project using default settings.
  3. If this opens correctly, the issue lies within your previous project’s Gradle or SDK files.
  4. Delete the .idea and .gradle folders in your old project, then reopen it.

Wrapping Up

If Android Studio isn’t working on your Windows 11 PC, the problem is often related to corrupted settings, outdated SDKs, or virtualization conflicts.

By running the IDE as administrator, clearing cache files, updating SDK components, and checking system configurations, you can easily bring Android Studio back to life.

Once fixed, make sure to keep it updated and run regular SDK maintenance to prevent similar issues in the future.

Now that your Android Studio is working again, you can get back to what matters most — building and testing awesome Android apps. 🚀📱

Arpita

With a background in Computer Science, she is passionate about sharing practical programming tips and tech know-how. From writing clean code to solving everyday tech problems, she breaks down complex topics into approachable guides that help others learn and grow.