دعم حجم الصفحة 16KB في أندرويد: مشكلتي الحقيقية والحل النهائي

Android 16 KB Page-Size Support Explained: My Real-World Fix to Run Apps Seamlessly

A New Challenge for Android Developers

Every new version of Android brings exciting features, but for developers, it also introduces new technical challenges. One of the most significant (and less talked about) changes in Android 15 is the 16 KB page-size support. While it improves memory efficiency and security, it can also break apps that aren’t prepared for it, especially those built with the Android NDK.

When I first tested my app on a device running Android 15, I faced sudden app crashes and unexpected errors that didn’t exist before. After researching and debugging, I discovered the root cause was related to the new 16 KB memory page-size requirement. In this article, I’ll explain what changed, why it matters, and how I fixed it so you can avoid the same pitfalls.

What Is Page Size in Android and Why Does It Matter?

In operating systems, page size refers to the block of memory used for virtual memory management. Traditionally, Android devices used a 4 KB page size, which is widely supported by compilers, libraries, and most applications.

With Android 15, Google introduced support for 16 KB page size on some devices. This means that apps, especially those using native code (C/C++ with NDK) must be compatible with both 4 KB and 16 KB pages to run smoothly.

Why this matters:

• • If your app assumes a fixed 4 KB page size, it may fail to allocate memory correctly.
  • Some precompiled native libraries may not load at all.
  • Performance can be affected if memory handling isn’t optimized.

The Problem I Faced: Sudden Crashes on Android 15

When I first tested my app on an Android 15 device, it installed correctly but crashed immediately on launch. The logcat error looked something like this:

dlopen failed: library "libxyz.so" not found: unsupported page size 16384

This error was frustrating because everything worked fine on Android 14 and below. After digging deeper, I realized my NDK-built libraries weren’t compiled for 16 KB page size support.

Why Google Is Moving Toward 16 KB Page Size

Before jumping into the fix, let’s understand why this change happened. Google’s reasons include:

1. 1. Performance Improvements – Larger memory pages mean fewer page table entries, reducing overhead for apps that handle large datasets.
   2. Security Enhancements – 16 KB alignment can strengthen memory protection and isolation.
   3. Future-Proofing – Many ARM64 devices are shifting toward larger memory pages as a standard, so Android is preparing ahead.

The Fix: How I Solved the 16 KB Page-Size Issue

Step 1: Updating the NDK and Toolchain

The first fix was simple but crucial: update to the latest NDK version. Older NDK builds did not support 16 KB page-size compatibility. By moving to the latest stable NDK, I ensured that my libraries could be built with broader compatibility.

sdkmanager --install "ndk;27.1.12297006"

Update it in android/build.gradle:

Step 2: Rebuilding Native Libraries

After updating the NDK, I rebuilt my native libraries using CMake with explicit support for page-size flexibility.

Example CMake flag:

Navigate to android/app/build.gradle:

This ensures that your binaries don’t assume a hardcoded 4 KB page size.

Also, you can add these things in android/gradle.properties:

I have used this Gradle version:

Gradle-wrapper.properties:

distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-8.14.3-all.zip

Step 3: Checking Precompiled Dependencies

One of my biggest issues was that I was using a third-party precompiled .so library. It was built with assumptions about 4 KB pages, making it incompatible. The solution was either:

• • Recompile from source with the new NDK, or
  • Request an updated library from the vendor.

Step 4: Testing on Multiple Devices

I tested the app on:

• • A device with 4 KB pages (older Pixel)
  • A device with 16 KB pages (Pixel with Android 15 preview)

This step confirmed that the fix worked universally, ensuring no regressions.

Final Result by analysing APK:

To analyse if the generated APK/.aab file supports 16kb page size, then navigate to build/Analyze APK:

If results does not show any error then our APK is now supporting 16 kb page size:

Best Practices for Developers Facing the Same Issue

1. 1. Always Use the Latest NDK – Google actively updates NDK to support new device architectures and memory changes.
   2. Avoid Hardcoding Page Sizes – Don’t assume PAGE_SIZE == 4096. Use Android APIs that adapt dynamically.
   3. Rebuild All Native Dependencies – Even if your code is fine, third-party libraries might cause crashes.
   4. Test Across Configurations – Don’t rely on emulators alone. Use physical devices with different memory configurations.
   5. Watch Google Play Requirements – Google may eventually require 16 KB compatibility for publishing apps. Stay ahead of compliance.

My Key Learnings From the 16 KB Transition

• • The problem was not obvious my app didn’t fail at compile time, only at runtime.
  • Using older libraries was a hidden bottleneck.
  • Debugging required carefully reading logcat errors the key was spotting the unsupported page size message.
  • Once fixed, my app not only ran but also showed slight performance gains when handling larger datasets.

How This Change Benefits Developers in the Long Run

While frustrating at first, supporting 16 KB pages offers benefits:

• • Future-Proofing Apps – Ensures compatibility with upcoming ARM devices.
  • Better Memory Handling – Apps that process large files, databases, or media will see efficiency gains.
  • Improved App Stability – Avoids crashes that could cost downloads and ratings on Google Play.

By fixing this issue early, I’ve made my app ready for the next wave of Android devices and you should too.

Fix It Before It Breaks

The shift to 16 KB page-size support in Android 15 is not just a small technical detail it’s a major change in how memory works on modern devices. If your app uses the NDK or native libraries, ignoring this could lead to sudden crashes, poor reviews, and rejections from Google Play.

The good news? The fix is straightforward: update your NDK, rebuild your libraries, and test across devices. I’ve been through this pain, solved it, and shared my solution so you don’t have to waste weeks debugging the same problem.

If you’re a developer preparing your apps for Android 15 and beyond, now is the time to act. Don’t wait until your users start complaining future-proof your app today.

كيفية إصلاح أعطال حجم الصفحة 16 كيلوبايت في أندرويد 15

تحديث NDK وأدوات البناء – قم بتثبيت أحدث إصدار من NDK وأدوات البناء لدعم حجم الصفحة 16 كيلوبايت.

إعادة بناء المكتبات الأصلية – أعد ترجمة كود C/C++ وجميع المكتبات التابعة لتعمل مع 16 كيلوبايت.

الاختبار عبر الأجهزة – جرّب التطبيق على أجهزة 4 كيلوبايت و16 كيلوبايت للتأكد من الأداء السلس.

س1. ما هو حجم الصفحة 16 كيلوبايت في أندرويد 15؟

يقدم أندرويد 15 أجهزة تستخدم صفحات ذاكرة بحجم 16 كيلوبايت بدلاً من 4 كيلوبايت التقليدية، مما قد يؤثر على توافق التطبيقات القديمة.

س2. لماذا تظهر رسالة الخطأ ‘unsupported page size 16384’؟

تظهر هذه المشكلة عندما تكون المكتبات الأصلية للتطبيق مبرمجة فقط لحجم 4 كيلوبايت، وبالتالي لا تعمل بشكل صحيح على الأجهزة ذات 16 كيلوبايت.

س3. كيف أصلح تطبيقي؟

قم بتحديث NDK وأدوات البناء إلى أحدث إصدار، أعد بناء المكتبات الأصلية، وتأكد من أن جميع المكتبات الخارجية تدعم حجم الصفحة 16 كيلوبايت.