Testing Android APK with QtCreator fails with an error.

SMF-Qt

@piervalli said in Testing Android APK with QtCreator fails with an error.:

qputenv("QT_DEBUG_PLUGINS", QByteArray("1"));

I added that call but no difference. I have a break point set on that line of code (it is the first executable line in my program) and it is not being reached.
I have checked that the Java is linking against my main (renaming it caused the build to fail with a missing symbol error).
When I start the debugger the phone shows a white screen with an android symbol on it and a message about waiting for the debugger it then closes after a few seconds.
The same symbol is present on my phones desktop which when clicked shows the white screen and android symbol briefly, sometimes there is a message about there being a bug in the app,

piervalli

the variable QT_DEBUG_PLUGINS shows logs when Qt loads the libraries, it is useful app crash on startup. To checks it you should checks the log ex. adb logcat findstr "Qt" or similar

SMF-Qt

@piervalli

A lot of data to look at, here are the last few lines that reference QtTest (edited to get passed spam filter), I could not see anything obviously when looking at the log overall.

qt.core.plugin.factoryloader: looking at "libplugins_platforms_qtforandroid_arm64-v8a.so"
qt.core.plugin.loader: Found metadata in lib /data/app/~~XIK_3oK5DKj4Pv2epcGJwQ==/org.qtproject.example.QtTest-z9izm4KcYpYvGHTt3ypwhw==/base.apk!/lib/arm64-v8a/libplugins_platforms_qtforandroid_arm64-v8a.so, metadata=
qt.core.library: "/data/app/~~XIK_3oK5DKj4Pv2epcGJwQ==/org.qtproject.example.QtTest-z9izm4KcYpYvGHTt3ypwhw==/base.apk!/lib/arm64-v8a/libplugins_platforms_qtforandroid_arm64-v8a.so" loaded library
qt.core.plugin.factoryloader: looking at "libplugins_styles_qandroidstyle_arm64-v8a.so"
qt.core.plugin.loader: Found metadata in lib /data/app/~~XIK_3oK5DKj4Pv2epcGJwQ==/org.qtproject.example.QtTest-z9izm4KcYpYvGHTt3ypwhw==/base.apk!/lib/arm64-v8a/libplugins_styles_qandroidstyle_arm64-v8a.so, metadata=
qt.core.plugin.factoryloader: looking at "libplugins_sqldrivers_qsqlite_arm64-v8a.so"
qt.core.plugin.loader: Found metadata in lib /data/app/~~XIK_3oK5DKj4Pv2epcGJwQ==/org.qtproject.example.QtTest-z9izm4KcYpYvGHTt3ypwhw==/base.apk!/lib/arm64-v8a/libplugins_sqldrivers_qsqlite_arm64-v8a.so, metadata=
qt.core.library: "/data/app/~~XIK_3oK5DKj4Pv2epcGJwQ==/org.qtproject.example.QtTest-z9izm4KcYpYvGHTt3ypwhw==/base.apk!/lib/arm64-v8a/libplugins_platforms_qtforandroid_arm64-v8a.so" unloaded library

SMF-Qt

@SMF-Qt

This is the entry for the main QtTest library:

nativeloader: Load /data/app/~~XIK_3oK5DKj4Pv2epcGJwQ==/org.qtproject.example.QtTest-z9izm4KcYpYvGHTt3ypwhw==/base.apk!/lib/arm64-v8a/libQtTest_arm64-v8a.so using class loader ns clns-4 (caller=/data/app/~~XIK_3oK5DKj4Pv2epcGJwQ==/org.qtproject.example.QtTest-z9izm4KcYpYvGHTt3ypwhw==/base.apk): ok

SMF-Qt

@SMF-Qt

Running the adb command that is reported as failing outside of qtcreator reports what seems to be a permissions problem:

adb -s 192.168.0.50:42175 pull /system/bin/app_process64 /work/Qt-Android/QtTest-V1.1.5c/application/build/Android_QtAndroid_Clang_arm64_v8a-Debug/android-app-process/app_process
adb: error: failed to copy '/system/bin/app_process64' to '/work/Qt-Android/QtTest-V1.1.5c/application/build/Android_QtAndroid_Clang_arm64_v8a-Debug/android-app-process/app_process': remote open failed: Operation not permitted

SMF-Qt

@SMF-Qt

I don't know is it is relevant but if I try a Android Virtual Device (AVD) instead of a usb or wifi connected phone I get the following error:

The deployment AVD "TestPhone" cannot be started.

My thinking is if I deploy to a virtual phone device I might get a better perspective on my problem deploying to a real phone.

Can the TestPhone AVD be started outside of QtCreator to test it ?

The Icon shows a yellow blob while on the real phone (usb and WiFi) the blob on the icon is green.

jsulm

@SMF-Qt said in Testing Android APK with QtCreator fails with an error.:

Can the TestPhone AVD be started outside of QtCreator to test it ?

Yes, either from command line or from Android Studio.
See https://developer.android.com/studio/run/emulator-commandline?hl=en

SMF-Qt

@jsulm

Well looks like the idea of using a virtual phone in this case is a non starter:

root [ ~ ]# /opt/android/sdk/emulator/emulator -avd TestPhone
INFO | Android emulator version 35.6.11.0 (build_id 13610412) (CL:N/A)
INFO | Graphics backend: gfxstream
INFO | Found systemPath /opt/android/sdk/system-images/android-28/google_apis/arm64-v8a/
PANIC: Avd's CPU Architecture 'arm64' is not supported by the QEMU2 emulator on x86_64 host.

jsulm

@SMF-Qt said in Testing Android APK with QtCreator fails with an error.:

PANIC: Avd's CPU Architecture 'arm64' is not supported by the QEMU2 emulator on x86_64 host.

Create a x86_64 virtual device and deploy a x86_64 build of your app

SMF-Qt

@jsulm

I could but I think this is a build issue, I think I need to find out more about this "app_process" file that is missing.
I ran strace on qtcreator and re-built the app and the only reference to "app_process" is a test for its existance which failed:

access("/work/Qt-Android/QtTest-V1.1.5c/application/build/Android_QtAndroid_Clang_arm64_v8a-Debug/android-app-process/app_process", F_OK) = -1 ENOENT (No such file or directory)

SMF-Qt

@SMF-Qt

According to Googles AI:

What is app_process?

app_process is a binary found in the /system/bin directory on Android devices. According to Stack Overflow, it's a device binary created by the full device build.

It's the entry point for starting a Java process within the Android runtime environment.
It's used to run applications, often those that need to interact with system-level services or bypass normal Android application lifecycle restrictions.
It can be used to execute JAR files or DEX files within a Dalvik/ART environment.
Essentially, it's how you can run custom Java code as a separate process on an Android device, outside the typical app sandbox.

SMF-Qt

@SMF-Qt

So if I understand what adb and google are telling me the issue is that the operating system on my test phone is blocking adb's access to /system/bin/.

I wonder if this is a Samsung thing the test phone is a Samsung A06 ?

SMF-Qt

@SMF-Qt

Using adb shell I have found the adbd server on my test phone:

shell 26668 1 0 40:23 ? 00:04:49 adbd --root_seclabel=u:r:su:s0 --tim_seclabel=u:r:adbd_tradeinmode:s0

It is running as user shell which I think does not have read access to /system/bin.

So I think my next step is to root the Test Phone and see if that helps.

cristian-adam

The adb: error: failed to copy '/system/bin/app_process64' is something new with Android 15.

I have started seeing this issue with my Samsung Galaxy S23 with Android 15.

See this other report at https://forum.qt.io/topic/162537/qt-creator-android-15-adb.exe-pull-system-bin-app_process64-error

In my case native debugging with Android Studio doesn't work with the Galaxy S23. It does work with the Arm64 Emulator with Android 15.

I tested with a Samsung Galaxy S10e with Android 12, and everything worked fine with Qt Creator 17...

SMF-Qt

@cristian-adam

Thanks for the info, the Samsung A06 I am currently using has Android 14 currently installed.

SMF-Qt

@SMF-Qt

I did not make any progress rooting my Test Phone (Samsung A06), however I tried an old HTC M9 running Android 7.0 and that did proceed past the adb pull request for "app_process" but failed because the APK package is too new for Android 7.0 (expected failure).

cristian-adam

@SMF-Qt said in Testing Android APK with QtCreator fails with an error.:

I did not make any progress rooting my Test Phone (Samsung A06), however I tried an old HTC M9 running Android 7.0 and that did proceed past the adb pull request for "app_process" but failed because the APK package is too new for Android 7.0 (expected failure).

Android 9 is the minimum required for Qt for Android 6.9.

According to Wikipedia you can get Android 11 for HTC One M9. The steps to do this unofficial upgrade are listed here. I have no idea how this would work.

SMF-Qt

I think for now I am going to put arm64-v8a activities on hold as both hardware and emulated deployments have issues and try jsulm's suggestion of an X86_64 setup. I have already tested the X86_64 phone simulator outside of both qtcreator and Android Studio and it appears to function ok.

SMF-Qt

@SMF-Qt

Ok thanks for the suggestions I now have a working X86_64 emulator and an X86_64 apk build that deploys to the emulated phone.

My next problem is that the deployed app crashes on startup, but to investigate that I think I will start a new thread and come back to the arm64-v8a problems when my test application is more usable.

...
Installing Android package to device.
Running command "/opt/android/sdk/platform-tools/adb -s emulator-5554 install -r /work/Qt-Android/QtTest/application/build/Android_Qt_6_9_1_qt_androidX86_Clang_x86_64-Debug/android-build//build/outputs/apk/debug/android-build-debug.apk"
Performing Streamed Install
Success
Android package built successfully in 0.572 ms.
-- It can now be run from the selected device/emulator.
-- File: /work/Qt-Android/QtTest/application/build/Android_Qt_6_9_1_qt_androidX86_Clang_x86_64-Debug/android-build//build/outputs/apk/debug/android-build-debug.apk
14:18:06: The process "/opt/qt6/bin/androiddeployqt" exited normally.
14:18:06: Package deploy: Running command "/opt/android/sdk/platform-tools/adb -s emulator-5554 pull /system/bin/app_process64 /work/Qt-Android/QtTest/application/build/Android_Qt_6_9_1_qt_androidX86_Clang_x86_64-Debug/android-app-process/app_process".
14:18:06: Package deploy: Running command "/opt/android/sdk/platform-tools/adb -s emulator-5554 pull /system/bin/linker64 /work/Qt-Android/QtTest/application/build/Android_Qt_6_9_1_qt_androidX86_Clang_x86_64-Debug/android-app-process/linker64".
14:18:06: Package deploy: Running command "/opt/android/sdk/platform-tools/adb -s emulator-5554 pull /system/lib64/libc.so /work/Qt-Android/QtTest/application/build/Android_Qt_6_9_1_qt_androidX86_Clang_x86_64-Debug/android-app-process/libc.so".
14:18:06: Elapsed time: 00:05.

danish777

Thanks for sharing the detailed steps — it looks like you're almost there. The error about the missing ABI usually means QtCreator isn’t detecting the correct architecture for deployment. Adding ```
ANDROID_ABIS = arm64-v8a


Double-check that the Kit you're using is actually set up with the correct Qt for Android version and the appropriate architecture. Also, make sure the NDK path is correctly configured in the SDK settings — mismatches there can silently cause issues like this.

Running on an emulator first is definitely a smart move. Hopefully with those tweaks, you'll be able to deploy without issues. Let us know how it goes!