Update Your Projects for AGP 9

Márton Braun from JetBrains drops a critical update: Android Gradle Plugin 9.0 just landed with breaking changes that will affect every Kotlin Android project. Time to update your build configs.

AGP 9.0 fundamentally changes how Kotlin integrates with Android projects. Two major shifts are happening: Kotlin support is now built directly into AGP (no separate plugin needed), and Kotlin Multiplatform projects must migrate to a new library plugin architecture. These aren't optional tweaks, they're mandatory for AGP 10.0 coming later in 2026.

Key Takeaways

• Remove org.jetbrains.kotlin.android plugin, Kotlin support now built into AGP 9.0
• KMP projects must migrate to new com.android.kotlin.multiplatform.library plugin
• Application modules need restructuring: split into separate app and library modules
• Temporary opt-out available via gradle.properties until AGP 10.0 ships
• Android Studio Otter 3 Feature Drop required, IntelliJ IDEA support coming Q1 2026

The application module migration involves a surprising architectural shift that actually improves build speed and stability (but requires splitting your project structure).