Chilkat for Android™ (Java)

Download

What's in the download

Unzip to any directory. The archive contains a native JNI library for each Android ABI and the Chilkat Java class source files:

chilkat-android/
├─ libs/                                native JNI libraries, one per ABI
│   ├─ arm64-v8a/   libchilkat.so       64-bit ARM (most devices)
│   ├─ armeabi-v7a/ libchilkat.so       32-bit ARM (older devices)
│   ├─ x86/         libchilkat.so       32-bit x86 emulator
│   └─ x86_64/      libchilkat.so       64-bit x86 emulator
├─ src/com/chilkatsoft/                 Chilkat Java class sources (Ck*.java)
├─ license.pdf
├─ pcre2-license.pdf
└─ quickjs-license.pdf

Unlike the desktop Java download, there is no chilkat.jar — you add the Chilkat Java source files to your project and the per-ABI .so libraries to your APK.

Getting started (Android Studio)

1. Add the native libraries

   Copy the libs/<abi>/libchilkat.so files into your app's src/main/jniLibs/<abi>/ directory, keeping the same ABI folder names (arm64-v8a, armeabi-v7a, x86, x86_64). Gradle bundles the matching ABI into the APK automatically.

   See Location of JNI shared libraries in the APK directory tree and Using Chilkat Android for Java in an Android Studio project.

2. Add the Chilkat Java sources

   Copy the src/com/chilkatsoft/ source files into your project so they keep the com.chilkatsoft package path (e.g. under src/main/java/com/chilkatsoft/).

   See Copy Chilkat Java sources into your Android project directory tree.

3. Load the native library

   Load libchilkat once before using any Chilkat class — for example in a static initializer or your Application.onCreate:

   static {
       System.loadLibrary("chilkat");
   }

4. Grant INTERNET permission

   Any Chilkat feature that uses the network needs the INTERNET permission. Add it to your AndroidManifest.xml:

   <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />

   See INTERNET permissions for Android applications.

5. Unlock Chilkat

   Call UnlockBundle once at startup (any string starts the 30-day trial; use your license code after purchase):

   import com.chilkatsoft.CkGlobal;
   
   CkGlobal glob = new CkGlobal();
   boolean success = glob.UnlockBundle("Anything for 30-day trial");
   if (success == false) {
       System.out.println(glob.lastErrorText());
   }

Common errors

“UnsatisfiedLinkError: ... couldn't find libchilkat.so”

Either System.loadLibrary("chilkat") wasn't called before using a Chilkat class, or the .so for the device/emulator's ABI isn't in jniLibs/<abi>/. Make sure you copied the ABI(s) you need (include arm64-v8a for real devices).

Network calls fail (SocketException / permission denied)

The app is missing the INTERNET permission. Add <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" /> to the manifest.

Crash loading the library on Android 15+ devices

This can be a 16 KB page-size issue. Use Chilkat 9.5.0.99 or later, which supports 16 KB pages.

“cannot find symbol” / unresolved com.chilkatsoft.* classes

The Chilkat Java sources weren't added with the correct package path. They must live under a com/chilkatsoft/ folder on your source path.