Android API 37 emulator: Detox fails during app launch in beforeAll with Espresso NoSuchMethodException
Author: dbaonguisWakefernCreated Jul 23, 2026Updated Jul 23, 2026
Labelstype: bug 🐞platform: androidstatus: triage
Did you test using the latest Detox?
- I have tested this issue on the latest Detox release and it still reproduces.
Did your test fail and you're not sure why?
- I have read the troubleshooting guide and it didn't help me.
What happened?
Android build config used to build app and test APKs
buildscript {
ext {
buildToolsVersion = "35.0.0"
minSdkVersion = 28
compileSdkVersion = 35
targetSdkVersion = 35
ndkVersion = "27.1.12297006"
playServicesVersion = "18.0.0"
playServicesLocationVersion = "21.0.1"
supportLibVersion = "28.0.3"
androidMapsUtilsVersion = "2.2.5"
kotlinVersion = "2.0.21"
}
...
}Generic test scenario
- A simple Detox suite that launches the app in beforeAll using
beforeAll(async () => { await device.launchApp({ delete: true, newInstance: true, permissions: { notifications: 'YES' }, }); }); - Failure occurs before actual test steps/assertions execute.
Reproduction
- Start Android emulator API 37.
- Run Detox with android.emu.release.
- Observe failure during launch/startup phase.
Actual behavior
- Detox allocates emulator and installs app/test APKs.
- Instrumentation starts, then crashes during Espresso initialization.
- Suite times out in beforeAll.
Key error from sanitized logs
- java.lang.RuntimeException: java.lang.NoSuchMethodException: android.hardware.input.InputManager.getInstance []
- at androidx.test.espresso.base.InputManagerEventInjectionStrategy.initialize(...)
- Caused by: java.lang.NoSuchMethodException: android.hardware.input.InputManager.getInstance []
Additional notes
- This appears independent of test-specific logic because crash happens before test body execution.
- Same setup passes on API 36 and fails on API 37.
Attachments
- detox.log.sanitized
- detox.trace.json.sanitized
What was the expected behaviour?
- device.launchApp completes and tests proceed.
In what environment did this happen?
Detox version: 20.46.0 React Native version: 0.79.0 Has Fabric (React Native's new rendering system) enabled: (no) Node version: v20.18.3 Device model: emulator with SDK API level 37 Android version: 17 Test-runner (select one): jest
Detox logs
Detox logssee attached file
[detox.log.sanitized.zip](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/30324438/detox.log.sanitized.zip)
Device logs
Device logssee attached file
[detox.trace.json.sanitized.zip](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/30324452/detox.trace.json.sanitized.zip)
More data, please!
No response
Source: wix/Detox