Release Version Using Alpha Dependency 'androidx.browser:browser:1.9.0-alpha04'

[Aaron-Ritter]

Describe the bug

Dependabot discovered the new android-browser-helper 2.6.x release. When running our different CI checks, we discovered that it pulls an alpha dependency androidx.browser:browser:1.9.0-alpha04.

To Reproduce

Check additional context below.

Expected behavior

We'd expect a release not pulling in an alpha release, especially one which requires API 36. There is no reference in the Release notes on this either.

Did this ever used to work

android-browser-helper 2.5.0 works well.

Additional context

Few failing workflows as an example:

• https://github.com/FusionAuth/fusionauth-android-sdk/actions/runs/15955672742/job/45001628707?pr=215#step:7:166
• https://github.com/FusionAuth/fusionauth-android-sdk/actions/runs/15955672742/job/45001628707?pr=215#step:6:285
• https://github.com/FusionAuth/fusionauth-android-sdk/actions/runs/15955672734/job/45001628711?pr=215#step:6:283

All with the error:

1: Task failed with an exception.
-----------
* What went wrong:
Execution failed for task ':app:checkReleaseAarMetadata'.
> A failure occurred while executing com.android.build.gradle.internal.tasks.CheckAarMetadataWorkAction
   > An issue was found when checking AAR metadata:
     
       1.  Dependency 'androidx.browser:browser:1.9.0-alpha04' requires libraries and applications that
           depend on it to compile against version 36 or later of the
           Android APIs.
     
           :app is currently compiled against android-35.
     
           Recommended action: Update this project to use a newer compileSdk
           of at least 36, for example 36.
     
           Note that updating a library or application's compileSdk (which
           allows newer APIs to be used) can be done separately from updating
           targetSdk (which opts the app in to new runtime behavior) and
           minSdk (which determines which devices the app can be installed
           on).

[mayajel]

Hi there. Your expectation is fairly reasonable; we may consider separating out android-browser-helper changes dependent on androidx.browser alpha from the main releases. For the time being the only recommendation I can give is to stay on 2.5.0.

[piotr-cz]

There is a stable release for 1.9.0 available since July 30, 2025.

On the main branch it requires SDK 36, but at least it's not an alpha version