Error:compileSdkVersion android-21 requires compiling with JDK 7

Solution 1:

The Exact Fix for this Issue (Android Studio Users on Mac)

If you have already upgraded to Java 8, please note that the JDK location is now within /Library/Java compared to Java 6's location /System/Library/Java. So to fix this problem, Right click on the Project folder > Project Structure > SDK Location.

Then change JDK location to

/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_25.jdk/Contents/Home

If you have installed a different JDK version (other than Java 8), find out the path using the java_home script first and use the output. Just run,

/usr/libexec/java_home 

Solution 2:

Actually I just found the solution - JDK 7 is in /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.7.0_71.jdk/Contents/Home.

that got it working for me. Oracle Docs on where JDK7 is installed

Solution 3:

I got a solution. It happened with me too and I searched a lot on Google but all I got was hints. A lot of hints. And I came up with a sure shot solution.

This is because the computer doesn't have JDK 7 (or greater) installed. The JDK directory in AS/Configuration might points to JDK6. (That System/Library/...)

All you need to do is:

1. Download latest JDK.
2. Install it.
3. Point Android Studio/Configure/Project Defaults/Project Structure/(JDK Location: ) to /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_25.jdk/Contents/Home

Text highlighted in bold-italics may differ, so it's recommended that you browse it. Hope this helps. Spent a whole day messing up with gradle, android studio. Happy coding.