IssueTracker

A link to another sample project demonstrating that the leak only happens when using: LocationServices.FusedLocationApi.requestLocationUpdates but does not happen using a deprecated method: googleMap.setOnMyLocationChangeListener.

https://github.com/fernandospr/android-maps-userlocation

Hello, I'm also experiencing the memory leak in my activity responsible for the location service.

The implementation of my project is not different from the example project attached by fernando.

FYI this memory leak also seems to exist when using the new FusedLocationProviderClient. I took Fernano's sample from comment #2 and hacked it up to use the FusedLocationProviderClient and was still able to observe the leak upon exiting the activity.

Leak still present in 2019 on latest play-services-location 16.0.0. 3+ years since first reported via linked Github issue, no fix or hint of acknowledgment. Clown college grade software engineering.

I am also still experiencing this!

Still present in 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-location:17.0.0'

As an alternative I am using FusedLocationProviderClient with PendingIntent:

           IntentFilter intentFilter = new IntentFilter(ACTION_LOCATION);
           registerReceiver(locationReceiver, intentFilter);
           mFusedLocationClient.requestLocationUpdates(mLocationRequest, locationPendingIntent);
and
            unregisterReceiver(locationReceiver);
            mFusedLocationClient.removeLocationUpdates(locationPendingIntent)


Here is forked LocationUpdates repo with LeakCanary installed and an option to switch between LocationCallback and PendingIntent. LeakCanary not reporting anything when using PendingIntent.
https://github.com/dejandobnikar/location-samples/tree/master/LocationUpdates

Thank you for your feedback.  We assure you that we are doing our best to address all issues reported. For now, we will be closing the issue as won't fix obsolete. If this issue currently still exists, we request that you log a new issue along with the bug report here https://goo.gl/TbMiIO and reference this bug for context.

Comment #8, the one thing that would matter to address is how to *actually* get this issue fixed. It appears pointless to file a new issue, and unclear where to do so, as this issue has not received attention from Google's side throughout the years despite quite a few people starring it and bug reports in different places. The continued existence of the bug was confirmed not long ago in prior comments by different people. I've just confirmed it again myself on R Beta 3.

8 ram

Could you please comment with the device (manufacturer and model), Android OS version and SD card storage (present/not present) where you have seen this crash? We have a potential fix, but it is tricky to reproduce all cases where it could be triggered.
Thanks!

@chrisc404 - Can you try creating a new emulator instance from the latest Google APIs image? (Upgrading an existing virtual device didn't work for me.)

Issue verified on: HTC Desire 500, Android 4.1.2, HTC SDK API 5.26, No SD card

I am also facing same issue in device memory full condition.It occurs always.

12-29 15:12:25.419 12548 12548 W System.err: Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference

12-29 15:12:25.419 12548 12548 W System.err:    at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.m.ad.a(Unknown Source)

12-29 15:12:25.419 12548 12548 W System.err:    at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.h.a(Unknown Source)

HTC One max, 5.0.2,
java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.m.ad.a(Unknown Source) at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.h.a(Unknown Source) at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.y.a(Unknown Source) at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.bd.a(Unknown Source) at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.ev.a(Unknown Source) at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.af.a(Unknown Source) at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.w.onTransact(SourceFile:66) at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:380) at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapViewDelegate$zza$zza.onCreate(Unknown Source) at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zza.onCreate(Unknown Source) at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$3.zzb(Unknown Source) at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$1.zza(Unknown Source) at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zzb.zzzW(Unknown Source) at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zzb.zza(Unknown Source) at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zza(Unknown Source) at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.onCreate(Unknown Source) at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView.onCreate(Unknown Source)...

Android 5.1, maps 7.8.0

java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.m.ad.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.h.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.y.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.bd.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.ev.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.af.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.w.onTransact(SourceFile:66)
        at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:403)
        at xxxxxx.x(Unknown Source)
        ....
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView.a(Unknown Source)

I have used emulator to test application. Also added memory to internal & external for sd card, but still error exist.
                                                                     
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference
                                                                          at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.m.ad.a(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.h.a(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.y.a(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.bd.a(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.ev.a(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.z.a(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.y.a(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.u.onTransact(SourceFile:107)
                                                                          at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:380)
                                                                        at com.google.android.gms.maps

AVD
Name: Nexus_5_API_23
CPU/ABI: Google APIs Intel Atom (x86_64)
Target: Google APIs (API level 23)
Android Version 6.0
Kernel Version 3.10.0+
Skin: nexus_5
Eject SD card

This is bad !!!

12-31 11:44:46.290 4383-4383/? E/appname: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference
                                                                      java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference
                                                                          at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.m.ad.a(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.h.a(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.ao.a(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.bd.a(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.ev.a(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.af.a(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.w.onTransact(SourceFile:66)
                                                                          at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:387)
                                                                          at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapViewDelegate$zza$zza.onCreate(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zza.onCreate(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$3.zzb(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$1.zza(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zzb.zzzh(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zzb.zza(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zza(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.onCreate(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView.onCreate(Unknown Source)
                                                                          at ru.domofond.appcommon.fragments.MapFragment.onCreateView(MapFragment.java:125)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.Fragment.performCreateView(Fragment.java:1962)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1067)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1248)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.BackStackRecord.run(BackStackRecord.java:738)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.execPendingActions(FragmentManager.java:1613)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.Fragment.performStart(Fragment.java:1983)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1102)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1248)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1230)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.dispatchStart(FragmentManager.java:2047)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.Fragment.performStart(Fragment.java:1992)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1102)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1248)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.BackStackRecord.run(BackStackRecord.java:738)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.execPendingActions(FragmentManager.java:1613)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.executePendingTransactions(FragmentManager.java:570)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.app.FragmentPagerAdapter.finishUpdate(FragmentPagerAdapter.java:141)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.view.ViewPager.populate(ViewPager.java:1106)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.view.ViewPager.populate(ViewPager.java:952)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.view.ViewPager.onMeasure(ViewPager.java:1474)
                                                                          at android.view.View.measure(View.java:18788)
                                                                          at android.widget.RelativeLayout.measureChildHorizontal(RelativeLayout.java:715)
                                                                          at android.widget.RelativeLayout.onMeasure(RelativeLayout.java:461)
                                                                          at android.view.View.measure(View.java:18788)
                                                                          at android.view.ViewGroup.measureChildWithMargins(ViewGroup.java:5951)
                                                                          at android.widget.FrameLayout.onMeasure(FrameLayout.java:194)
                                                                          at android.view.View.measure(View.java:18788)
                                                                          at android.support.v4.widget.DrawerLayout.onMeasure(DrawerLayout.java:940)
                                                                          at android.view.View.measure(View.java:18788)
                                                                          at android.view.ViewGroup.measureChildWithMargins(ViewGroup.java:5951)
                                                                          at android.widget.FrameLayout.onMeasure(FrameLayout.java:194)
                                                                          at android.support.v7.widget.ContentFrameLayout.onMeasure(ContentFrameLayout.java:135)
                                                                          at android.view.View.measure(View.java:18788)
                                                                          at android.view.ViewGroup.measureChildWithMargins(ViewGroup.java:5951)
                                                                          at android.support.v7.widget.ActionBarOverlayLayout.onMeasure(ActionBarOverlayLayout.java:391)
                                                                        at android.view.View.measure(Vie

I have the same problem in deffirent emulators
 Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference

We have the same problem on various devices, but on Android 4.x only.


Stack Trace
_________________________________
0       java.lang.NullPointerException
1               at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.m.ad.a(Unknown Source)
2               at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.h.a(Unknown Source)
3               at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.y.a(Unknown Source)
4               at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.bd.a(Unknown Source)
5               at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.ev.a(Unknown Source)
6               at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.af.a(Unknown Source)
7               at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.w.onTransact(SourceFile:66)
8               at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:347)
9               at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapViewDelegate$zza$zza.onCreate(Unknown Source)
10              at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zza.onCreate(Unknown Source)
11              at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$3.zzb(Unknown Source)
12              at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$1.zza(Unknown Source)
13              at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zzb.zzqs(Unknown Source)
14              at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zzb.zza(Unknown Source)
15              at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zza(Unknown Source)
16              at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.onCreate(Unknown Source)
17              at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView.onCreate(Unknown Source)

Encountered on Nexus 7 running 6.0.1

Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.m.ad.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.h.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.y.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.bd.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.ev.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.z.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.y.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.u.onTransact(SourceFile:107)
        at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:387)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapFragmentDelegate$zza$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$4.zzb(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zza(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at android.support.v4.app.Fragment.performCreateView(Fragment.java:1789)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:924)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1116)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.onCreateView(FragmentManager.java:2196)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentActivity.onCreateView(FragmentActivity.java:300)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater.createViewFromTag(LayoutInflater.java:748)
        ... 25 more

[Comment deleted]

Any ETA on fixing this?

Please update on ETA, this is also coming on Spice Dream Uno Android One phone.

I have the same issue on Android One. Who is the owner, please update ETA.

I have the same problem. I've been trying to figure out what in my code is causing it since I assume Google code is well written. But.... Thousands of reports.

[Comment deleted]

Hi Muthu,

Im using same version of google play services 8.4.0. still i'm getting that crash. so can you please make sure its working fine for you. just test like (uninstall app and remove sd card and install app and open, check is it works fine with give any crash).

I am experiencing the same error as the original poster for the following devices and AVD's configuration:

* Device:

Android 4.4.2

* AVD:

avd.ini.encoding=UTF-8
abi.type=x86_64
disk.dataPartition.size=500M
hw.accelerometer=yes
hw.audioInput=yes
hw.battery=yes
hw.camera.back=none
hw.camera.front=none
hw.cpu.arch=x86_64
hw.dPad=no
hw.device.hash2=MD5:[...]
hw.device.manufacturer=Google
hw.device.name=Nexus S
hw.gps=yes
hw.gpu.enabled=yes
hw.keyboard=no
hw.keyboard.lid=no
hw.lcd.density=240
hw.mainKeys=yes
hw.ramSize=343
hw.sdCard=yes
hw.sensors.orientation=yes
hw.sensors.proximity=yes
hw.trackBall=no
image.sysdir.1=system-images/android-21/google_apis/x86_64/
skin.dynamic=no
skin.name=WXGA720
skin.path=platforms/android-21/skins/WXGA720
tag.display=Google APIs
tag.id=google_apis
vm.heapSize=32

Stacktrace for the AVD:

01-13 15:49:59.202 3185-3185/? E/AndroidRuntime: FATAL EXCEPTION: main
                                                 Process: com.eazybike.lite, PID: 3185
                                                 java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start activity ComponentInfo{com.eazybike.lite/com.eazybike.MapsActivity}: android.view.InflateException: Binary XML file line #29: Error inflating class fragment
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2298)
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2360)
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread.access$800(ActivityThread.java:144)
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1278)
                                                     at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
                                                     at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:135)
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5221)
                                                     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
                                                     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:372)
                                                     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:899)
                                                     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:694)
                                                  Caused by: android.view.InflateException: Binary XML file line #29: Error inflating class fragment
                                                     at android.view.LayoutInflater.createViewFromTag(LayoutInflater.java:763)
                                                     at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:806)
                                                     at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:809)
                                                     at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:809)
                                                     at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:504)
                                                     at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:414)
                                                     at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:365)
                                                     at android.support.v7.app.AppCompatDelegateImplV7.setContentView(AppCompatDelegateImplV7.java:256)
                                                     at android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity.setContentView(AppCompatActivity.java:109)
                                                     at com.eazybike.MapsActivity.onCreate(MapsActivity.java:172)
                                                     at android.app.Activity.performCreate(Activity.java:5937)
                                                     at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnCreate(Instrumentation.java:1105)
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2251)
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2360) 
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread.access$800(ActivityThread.java:144) 
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1278) 
                                                     at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102) 
                                                     at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:135) 
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5221) 
                                                     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method) 
                                                     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:372) 
                                                     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:899) 
                                                     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:694) 
                                                  Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference
                                                     at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.m.ad.a(Unknown Source)
                                                     at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.h.a(Unknown Source)
                                                     at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.ao.a(Unknown Source)
                                                     at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.bd.a(Unknown Source)
                                                     at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.ev.a(Unknown Source)
                                                     at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.z.a(Unknown Source)
                                                     at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.y.a(Unknown Source)
                                                     at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.u.onTransact(SourceFile:107)
                                                     at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:380)
                                                     at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapFragmentDelegate$zza$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
                                                     at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
                                                     at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$4.zzb(Unknown Source)
                                                     at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zza(Unknown Source)
                                                     at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
                                                     at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
                                                     at android.support.v4.app.Fragment.performCreateView(Fragment.java:1962)
                                                     at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1036)
                                                     at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1226)
                                                     at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.addFragment(FragmentManager.java:1328)
                                                     at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.onCreateView(FragmentManager.java:2284)
                                                     at android.support.v4.app.FragmentController.onCreateView(FragmentController.java:111)
                                                     at android.support.v4.app.FragmentActivity.dispatchFragmentsOnCreateView(FragmentActivity.java:314)
                                                     at android.support.v4.app.BaseFragmentActivityHoneycomb.onCreateView(BaseFragmentActivityHoneycomb.java:31)
                                                     at android.support.v4.app.FragmentActivity.onCreateView(FragmentActivity.java:79)
                                                     at android.view.LayoutInflater.createViewFromTag(LayoutInflater.java:733)
                                                     at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:806) 
                                                     at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:809) 
                                                     at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:809) 
                                                     at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:504) 
                                                     at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:414) 
                                                     at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:365) 
                                                     at android.support.v7.app.AppCompatDelegateImplV7.setContentView(AppCompatDelegateImplV7.java:256) 
                                                     at android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity.setContentView(AppCompatActivity.java:109) 
                                                     at com.eazybike.MapsActivity.onCreate(MapsActivity.java:172) 
                                                     at android.app.Activity.performCreate(Activity.java:5937) 
                                                     at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnCreate(Instrumentation.java:1105) 
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2251) 
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2360) 
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread.access$800(ActivityThread.java:144) 
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1278) 
                                                     at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102) 
                                                     at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:135) 
                                                     at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5221) 
                                                     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method) 
                                                     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:372) 
                                                     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:899) 
                                                     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:694)

Stacktrace for the device, which regardless the similarity, *does not* present a reference to the mkdir() method as the one in the AVD.

Fatal Exception: java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start activity ComponentInfo{com.eazybike.lite/com.eazybike.MapsActivity}: android.view.InflateException: Binary XML file line #29: Error inflating class fragment
       at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2359)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2411)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.access$800(ActivityThread.java:151)
       at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1342)
       at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:110)
       at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:193)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5315)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Method.java)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:825)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:641)
       at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(NativeStart.java)
Caused by android.view.InflateException: Binary XML file line #29: Error inflating class fragment
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.createViewFromTag(LayoutInflater.java:713)
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:755)
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:758)
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:758)
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:492)
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:397)
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:353)
       at android.support.v7.app.AppCompatDelegateImplV7.setContentView(AppCompatDelegateImplV7.java:256)
       at android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity.setContentView(AppCompatActivity.java:109)
       at com.eazybike.MapsActivity.onCreate(MapsActivity.java:172)
       at android.app.Activity.performCreate(Activity.java:5343)
       at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnCreate(Instrumentation.java:1088)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2323)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2411)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.access$800(ActivityThread.java:151)
       at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1342)
       at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:110)
       at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:193)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5315)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Method.java)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:825)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:641)
       at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(NativeStart.java)
Caused by java.lang.NullPointerException
       at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.m.ad.a(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.h.a(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.y.a(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.bd.a(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.ev.a(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.z.a(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.y.a(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.u.onTransact(SourceFile:107)
       at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:361)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapFragmentDelegate$zza$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$4.zzb(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zza(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
       at android.support.v4.app.Fragment.performCreateView(Fragment.java:1962)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1036)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1226)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.addFragment(FragmentManager.java:1328)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.onCreateView(FragmentManager.java:2284)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentController.onCreateView(FragmentController.java:111)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentActivity.dispatchFragmentsOnCreateView(FragmentActivity.java:314)
       at android.support.v4.app.BaseFragmentActivityHoneycomb.onCreateView(BaseFragmentActivityHoneycomb.java:31)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentActivity.onCreateView(FragmentActivity.java:79)
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.createViewFromTag(LayoutInflater.java:689)
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:755)
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:758)
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:758)
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:492)
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:397)
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:353)
       at android.support.v7.app.AppCompatDelegateImplV7.setContentView(AppCompatDelegateImplV7.java:256)
       at android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity.setContentView(AppCompatActivity.java:109)
       at com.eazybike.MapsActivity.onCreate(MapsActivity.java:172)
       at android.app.Activity.performCreate(Activity.java:5343)
       at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnCreate(Instrumentation.java:1088)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2323)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2411)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.access$800(ActivityThread.java:151)
       at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1342)
       at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:110)
       at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:193)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5315)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Method.java)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:825)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:641)
       at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(NativeStart.java)

I have hundreds of reports that show "Caused by java.lang.NullPointerException".  See below:

android.view.InflateException: Binary XML file line #18: Error inflating class fragment
        at android.view.LayoutInflater.createViewFromTag(LayoutInflater.java:713)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:755)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:758)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:758)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:492)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:397)
        at com.mandicmagic.android.fragment.MapFragment.onCreateView(SourceFile:246)
        at android.support.v4.app.Fragment.performCreateView(SourceFile:1789)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(SourceFile:955)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(SourceFile:1138)
        at android.support.v4.app.BackStackRecord.run(SourceFile:740)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.execPendingActions(SourceFile:1501)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl$1.run(SourceFile:458)
        at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:808)
        at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:103)
        at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:193)
        at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5292)
        at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
        at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515)
        at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:824)
        at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:640)
        at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.m.ad.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.h.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.y.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.bd.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.ev.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.z.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.y.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.u.onTransact(SourceFile:107)
        at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:361)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapFragmentDelegate$zza$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$4.zzb(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zza(Unknown Source)
                                       zza
                                       zza
                                       zza
                                       zza
                                       zza
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at android.support.v4.app.Fragment.performCreateView(SourceFile:1789)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(SourceFile:924)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.onCreateView(SourceFile:2194)
        at android.support.v4.view.LayoutInflaterCompatHC$FactoryWrapperHC.onCreateView(SourceFile:44)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater$FactoryMerger.onCreateView(LayoutInflater.java:169)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater.createViewFromTag(LayoutInflater.java:684)
        ... 21 more
java.lang.NullPointerException
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.m.ad.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.h.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.y.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.bd.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.ev.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.z.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.y.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.u.onTransact(SourceFile:107)
        at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:361)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapFragmentDelegate$zza$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$4.zzb(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zza(Unknown Source)
                                       zza
                                       zza
                                       zza
                                       zza
                                       zza
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at android.support.v4.app.Fragment.performCreateView(SourceFile:1789)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(SourceFile:924)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.onCreateView(SourceFile:2194)
        at android.support.v4.view.LayoutInflaterCompatHC$FactoryWrapperHC.onCreateView(SourceFile:44)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater$FactoryMerger.onCreateView(LayoutInflater.java:169)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater.createViewFromTag(LayoutInflater.java:684)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:755)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:758)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:758)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:492)
        at android.view.LayoutInflater.inflate(LayoutInflater.java:397)
        at com.mandicmagic.android.fragment.MapFragment.onCreateView(SourceFile:246)
        at android.support.v4.app.Fragment.performCreateView(SourceFile:1789)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(SourceFile:955)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(SourceFile:1138)
        at android.support.v4.app.BackStackRecord.run(SourceFile:740)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.execPendingActions(SourceFile:1501)
        at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl$1.run(SourceFile:458)
        at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:808)
        at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:103)
        at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:193)
        at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5292)
        at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
        at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515)
        at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:824)
        at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:640)
        at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)

Same issue with a Huaweii device

This still happens in an emulator configured with an SD card... It happens all the time.

avd.ini.encoding=UTF-8
AvdId=Nexus_10_API_23
abi.type=x86
avd.ini.displayname=Nexus 10 API 23
disk.dataPartition.size=200M
hw.accelerometer=yes
hw.audioInput=yes
hw.battery=yes
hw.camera.back=none
hw.camera.front=none
hw.cpu.arch=x86
hw.dPad=no
hw.device.hash2=MD5:47dc70fd92541dd16c19f9efa3e9db62
hw.device.manufacturer=Google
hw.device.name=Nexus 10
hw.gps=yes
hw.gpu.enabled=yes
hw.initialOrientation=landscape
hw.keyboard=yes
hw.lcd.density=320
hw.mainKeys=no
hw.ramSize=1536
hw.sdCard=yes
hw.sensors.orientation=yes
hw.sensors.proximity=no
hw.trackBall=no
image.sysdir.1=system-images/android-23/google_apis/x86/
runtime.network.latency=none
runtime.network.speed=full
runtime.scalefactor=auto
sdcard.size=100M
skin.dynamic=yes
skin.name=2560x1600
skin.path=2560x1600
skin.path.backup=/home/nick/android-studio/plugins/android/lib/device-art-resources/nexus_10
snapshot.present=no
tag.display=Google APIs
tag.id=google_apis
vm.heapSize=128

I had the issue on an (Nexus 5 API 23) emulator with an SD card. Wiping/recreating a new emulator image of the same platform solved the NPE.

Same issue for Hisense EG98.

Had the issue on Emulator, upgrading to new HAXM made it go away. (MacOS+AndroidStudio)

[Comment deleted]

Upgrading to the new HAXM (Windows + Android Studio) worked for me as well. I also deleted and recreated the device but don't know if that was needed.

That is not a solution. Whar about the thousand of reports in real devicea? I have 2 emulators. One with api 22 and another with api 21. The problem only happens in the one with api 21 which has google play services 8.4.

I agree this is not a solution - should have made clearer that I only consider it a temporary workaround while I'm testing my app, and it may work for other people as well until the problem is fixed properly.

[Comment deleted]

This is happening to me since last nights Android Studio update. I compiled an apk before the update (Jan. 11) and it works fine. On emulator and device. An apk compiled after the update (Jan 16) gives me that error. That means it's the "com.google.android.gms:play-services" library available through the Android Studio Project Structure that is causing it right?

HTC Desire X (protou)
ALCATEL ONE TOUCH 5036A (YarisL_GSM)

java.lang.NullPointerException
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.m.ad.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.h.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.gmm6.c.y.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.bd.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.ev.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.z.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.maps.api.android.lib6.e.y.a(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.u.onTransact(SourceFile:107)
        at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:326)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapFragmentDelegate$zza$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$4.zzb(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zza(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
        at com.groundspam.app.checkup.mainmenu.fragments.sector_map.SectorMapFragment.onCreateView(SectorMapFragment.java:81)
        at android.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:831)
        at android.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1037)
        at android.app.BackStackRecord.run(BackStackRecord.java:635)
        at android.app.FragmentManagerImpl.execPendingActions(FragmentManager.java:1399)
        at android.app.FragmentManagerImpl.executePendingTransactions(FragmentManager.java:439)
        at android.support.v13.app.FragmentPagerAdapter.finishUpdate(FragmentPagerAdapter.java:145)
        at android.support.v4.view.ViewPager.populate(ViewPager.java:1073)
        at android.support.v4.view.ViewPager.populate(ViewPager.java:919)
        at android.support.v4.view.ViewPager.onMeasure(ViewPager.java:1441)
        at android.view.View.measure(View.java:15286)
        at android.view.ViewGroup.measureChildWithMargins(ViewGroup.java:4832)
        at android.widget.LinearLayout.measureChildBeforeLayout(LinearLayout.java:1390)
        at android.widget.LinearLayout.measureVertical(LinearLayout.java:681)
        at android.widget.LinearLayout.onMeasure(LinearLayout.java:574)
        at android.view.View.measure(View.java:15286)
        at android.view.ViewGroup.measureChildWithMargins(ViewGroup.java:4832)
        at android.widget.FrameLayout.onMeasure(FrameLayout.java:310)
        at android.view.View.measure(View.java:15286)
        at android.widget.LinearLayout.measureVertical(LinearLayout.java:833)
        at android.widget.LinearLayout.onMeasure(LinearLayout.java:574)
        at android.view.View.measure(View.java:15286)
        at android.view.ViewGroup.measureChildWithMargins(ViewGroup.java:4832)
        at android.widget.FrameLayout.onMeasure(FrameLayout.java:310)
        at com.android.internal.policy.impl.PhoneWindow$DecorView.onMeasure(PhoneWindow.java:2230)
        at android.view.View.measure(View.java:15286)
        at android.view.ViewRootImpl.performMeasure(ViewRootImpl.java:2105)
        at android.view.ViewRootImpl.measureHierarchy(ViewRootImpl.java:1262)
        at android.view.ViewRootImpl.performTraversals(ViewRootImpl.java:1492)
        at android.view.ViewRootImpl.doTraversal(ViewRootImpl.java:1160)
        at android.view.ViewRootImpl$TraversalRunnable.run(ViewRootImpl.java:4682)
        at android.view.Choreographer$CallbackRecord.run(Choreographer.java:738)
        at android.view.Choreographer.doCallbacks(Choreographer.java:564)
        at android.view.Choreographer.doFrame(Choreographer.java:532)
        at android.view.Choreographer$FrameDisplayEventReceiver.run(Choreographer.java:723)
        at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:615)
        at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:92)
        at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:155)
        at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5520)
        at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
        at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:511)
        at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:1029)
        at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:796)
        at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)

It was right the problem was related with the SD card missing in the emulator.

who and when finally solve this issus??????????????

It looks like google does not care about android any-more.
It is more than 2 months and there is not even an owner assigned to the defect

I am getting the same problem. I have an SD card that I formatted for internal storage. I tried to reformat it as a removable storage again, but the problem persist.

[Comment deleted]

Darn! Google fix this defect! Darn!

I have this issue.

The huge problem is the report from real devices crashing on Google Play! People are uninstalling our apps because of that!

That's unbelievable. The problem harms our reputation not Google's. For the end-user our app is faulty not Google Play Services. How can we convince the lost users to install our app again? Will Google provide an explanation?

You are right that this is hurting our reputation not theirs. My advice is to catch the exception and let the customer know using a dialog that this is Googles problem not yours. That, and posting this error everywhere possible are probably the only things we can do until Google gets in gear.

En mi caso, era la ROM (Viper ONE) que tengo instalada en mi HTC ONE, que no gestiona bien el no aceptar SD externa. He compilado con otro dispositivo y funciona perfectamente.

PD: Perdón por contestar en Español.

We have identified the issue and have developed a fix. It will be rolling out in the next major update of Google Play Services, but at this stage we don't have a timeline just yet. (It will be soon!)

If you are using an emulator, re-creating the instance (possibly with a new SD card attached) should work around the problem.

Thanks for the patience, everyone! We will let you know when the fix has rolled out.
(Make sure to 'star' the issue to be notified of updates.)

[Comment deleted]

Our company uses Maps API and we need next update Google Services as fast as possible :) . Guys i am scary, my boss angry. I can't say 900 users to buy the SD card :( .

I have the same problem. It was temporarily fixed by increasing the size of the virtual SD card in the emulator. I worked for about 3 weeks until yesterday. We are developing a new app with Google maps and as of yesterday, that development has stopped completely. Please fix this as soon as possible.

Also falling victim to this.  Good thing we only have 100,000 users across 30 apps that are completely 100% reliant on the map functioning.  I take pride in my work and this is bothering me to no end because I can't tell clients nor end users that it's not my fault.

I'm using the emulator and "wipe data" option in AVD Manager worked for me.

Hitting same issue on Note 4 with Google Play Services version 8.4.89. Is there ETA for fix?

It is now 3 weeks after the fix was made, any info regarding a release date ?

Really do not understand what is the problem to let us know what is the ETA for fix?

Any news on this? Our app is also impacted

Can add another affected developer! Looking to roll out to hundreds of potential users.

I have the same issue. Any ETA on fixing this?

Same issue here too. Any news?

Please fix this! I'm blocked on this for a long time.

Three months after the report, this issue is still present... Please fix this soon!!!

I've spotted this issue too. It causes a lot of crashes...
I don't know what do...
Please could you help on this?

I have this issue, too, please fix it.

I am experiencing the same error as the original poster in different emulators.
Please fix ...

It's really been a long time, and we all expect to problem to be solved. Google I hope that you will, as soon as possible, provide an answer for us - when we can expect the solution for problem. The existence of this problem affects all of us, our our applications and our business.
I think it is in the common interest that these things are expressly solved and that do not occur in the future.

I can not reproduce issue, but my friends are really pissed off about this issue. I guess Google is trying to get us buying new Nexus which does not have a SD-card slot :)

Please stop spamming around... There are over 200 people that get notified by email about your useless comments.

The fix is developed, it's going to be in the next major release.

No reason to annoy 200 people anymore who are only waiting for ONE email about this thread: From a dev telling us that the fix is published.

I subscribe in full what JL wrote. I have more than 40.000 reports. So I must have lost at least 40.000 users. How much will cost to have them back?

It is a shame Google's attitude.

Ебанаврот Google ты где ? АУ!!!! Пофиксите блядь баг если вы по  английски не понимаете !

Facing this issue too. However I'm using the emulator with an configured SD card. When will there be a release of an fix for this?

Facing this issue too.

Facing this issue too, please Google wake up !

Estoy desarrollando una aplicacion que utiliza mapas de google maps v2 y funcionaba correctamente...desde el 24 de febrero que falla y se detiene apenas quiere actualizar una posicion...me salen falle de google play services...ya no se que hacer porque se me acerca la fecha de presentacion de tesis

[Comment deleted]

[Comment deleted]

Fix please ! Nexus 5 api 23 -> google map

Same issue here.
Any idea about when this fix will be released?

@89 this was reported on december, so it's probably being fixed and will be released on the next version soon.
all we can do is wait. :(

Please give us a new release version!

Any news on this, google? Increasing the SD card size of the virtual emulator doesn't work...

Please stop posting on this issue unless you are a Google employee. The fix is already developed and we were told that it will be included in the next Google Play Services release. There has not been an update to Google Play Services since that announcement. It it not productive to continue commenting on this issue and just creates spam for everyone who has this starred and is waiting on an announcement from Google.

So you say: just stay quiet and wait until the almighty Google delivers the fix. Meanwhile we have to handle the loss of users, lowering rating of the app, etc. More than 3 months to deliver a fix that affects hundreds of developers and you say: stay quiet. Great!

@94 i don't think we have a choice. maybe have a fallback in case this happens? show an error button to the user, which will allow to restart the activity or something?
I hope it won't be like this post though:
https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=78377
so many stars on the report, so long time to wait for a fix, and then was rejected...

Same issue here

It's a major issue for one of our app. We are really waiting for a fix. It's blocking the launch of our app on the store and our client cannot understand it.
Please, realease the new version quickly

If you have access to an affected device - does this crash still happen if Google Play Services 8.7.03 (2645110-440) is installed on the device?

i can confirm it fails on 8.7.03 - my htc device doesn't have an sd card so map fails

8.7.03 - same error, crash app

different bug trace, using 8.3.0:

java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference

at maps.dz.o.a(o.java)
at maps.dg.e.a(e.java)
        at maps.dg.p.a(p.java)
        at maps.ei.ag.a(ag.java)
        at maps.ei.bu.a(bu.java)
        at maps.ei.r.a(r.java)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.j$a.onTransact(:com.google.android.gms.alldynamite:66)
        at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:385)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapViewDelegate$zza$zza.getMap(IMapViewDelegate.java)
                                                                         onCreate(IMapViewDelegate.java)
                                                                         onResume(IMapViewDelegate.java)
                                                                         getView(IMapViewDelegate.java)
                                                                         getMapAsync(IMapViewDelegate.java)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zza.onCreate(MapView.java)
                                                   onResume(MapView.java)
                                                   zzzi(MapView.java)
                                                   getMapAsync(MapView.java)
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$3.getState(zza.java)
                                                zzb(zza.java)
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$1.zza(zza.java)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zzb.zzzh(MapView.java)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zzb.zza(MapView.java)
                                                   getMapAsync(MapView.java)
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zzts(zza.java)
                                              zzeF(zza.java)
                                              zza(zza.java)
                                              onCreate(zza.java)
                                              zzb(zza.java)
                                              onResume(zza.java)
                                              zza(zza.java)
                                              zzb(zza.java)
                                              zza(zza.java)
        at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zzts(zza.java)
                                              zzeF(zza.java)
                                              zza(zza.java)
                                              onCreate(zza.java)
                                              zzb(zza.java)
                                              onResume(zza.java)
                                              zza(zza.java)
                                              zzb(zza.java)
                                              zza(zza.java)
        at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView.onCreate(MapView.java)
                                               onResume(MapView.java)
                                               getMapAsync(MapView.java)

Any one know how to prevent/catch this bug?

Can't wait for google to fix their code. They are clearly not coming to the party...

Same issue happening on LGE Nexus 5X running Android 6.0.1, using play service 8.4.0

Google, there is an explanation WHY this issue doesn't even have an owner yet? After about four months?

Same issue:
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
                                                     at maps.dz.o.a(Unknown Source)

caused in htc desire  android version 4.1.1

Since google has completely dropped the ball on this, I thought it might be helpful to show how I catch this error. In my map activity:

try {
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_map);
} catch(InflateException e) {
    Log.e(TAG, "Google maps error #9021", e);
    Toast.makeText(this, "Google maps error #9021", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
    finish();
    return;
}

And then I also had to catch in onDestroy:

@Override
public void onDestroy() {
    try {
        super.onDestroy();
    } catch(Exception e) {
        Log.e(TAG, "Exception in onDestroy", e);
    }
}

Not ideal. Google really needs to fix this. But hope that helps anyone else trying to deal with this.

Same issue happening on HTC One M8 running Android 6.0, using play service 8.3.0

Issue happening all at once. The application worked for quite some time, then today it suddenly began crashing. Even the try catch on the lifecycle isn't working.

Had it happen today, on a Nexus 6P running Android 6.0.1.

Playservices 7.0 and maps 7.0

Fatal Exception: java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start activity ComponentInfo{}: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference
       at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2416)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2476)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.-wrap11(ActivityThread.java)
       at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1344)
       at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
       at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:148)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5422)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:726)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:616)
Caused by java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference
       at maps.dz.o.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.dg.e.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.dg.p.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.ag.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.bu.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.n$1.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.n.a(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.i$a.onTransact(:com.google.android.gms.alldynamite:107)
       at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:387)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapFragmentDelegate$zza$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$4.getState(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zza(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
       at com..MapFragment.onCreateView(MapFragment.java:71)
       at android.support.v4.app.Fragment.performCreateView(Fragment.java:1789)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:955)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1138)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1120)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.dispatchActivityCreated(FragmentManager.java:1929)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentActivity.onStart(FragmentActivity.java:547)
       at com..onStart(Activity.java:376)
       at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnStart(Instrumentation.java:1237)
       at android.app.Activity.performStart(Activity.java:6268)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2379)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2476)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.-wrap11(ActivityThread.java)
       at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1344)
       at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
       at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:148)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5422)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:726)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:616)

I am facing the same issue with Lenovo A600 (Android 5.0) and Oppop devices (Android 4.0) and found no way to fix/catch this exception:

Fatal Exception: java.lang.NullPointerException
       at maps.ce.i.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.dg.g.<init>(Unknown Source)
       at maps.dg.g.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.dg.p.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.ag.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.bu.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.n$1.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.n.a(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.i$a.onTransact(:com.google.android.gms.alldynamite:107)
       at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:380)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapFragmentDelegate$zza$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$4.zzb(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zza(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
       at android.support.v4.app.Fragment.performCreateView(Fragment.java:1974)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1067)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1252)
       at android.support.v4.app.BackStackRecord.run(BackStackRecord.java:738)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.execPendingActions(FragmentManager.java:1617)
       at android.support.v4.app.Fragment.performStart(Fragment.java:1996)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1102)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1252)
       at android.support.v4.app.BackStackRecord.run(BackStackRecord.java:738)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl.execPendingActions(FragmentManager.java:1617)
       at android.support.v4.app.FragmentManagerImpl$1.run(FragmentManager.java:517)
       at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:739)
       at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:95)
       at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:135)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5240)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:372)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:950)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:745)


If anyone able to fix this issue kindly let me know.

Someone knows how to workaround this? Maybe use the map API on different way?

I have a product to launch depending on this.

I already catched the error and put a message to user indicating that is this a Google issue, but it is hard to defend when the Google Map official app runs ok on same device. And there is so much devices without any SD Card around.

The last thing I need on a new product is an flood of users that cannot use my app giving poor ratings!

Having the same issue with devices that do not have sd cards installed. Makes the app useless. Any workarounds? The app was using maps api v1 upgraded to v2 and facing this issue.

same issue here

[Comment deleted]

Same error here ranging from Android 4.1.2 up to 5.1.1. Using Google Play Services library v. 8.4.0

Fatal Exception: java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start activity ComponentInfo{...}: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference
       at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2448)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2510)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.access$1200(ActivityThread.java:163)
       at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1371)
       at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
       at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:135)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5595)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:372)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:960)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:755)
Caused by java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference
       at maps.dz.o.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.dg.e.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.dg.p.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.ag.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.bu.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.r.a(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.j$a.onTransact(:com.google.android.gms.alldynamite:66)
       at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:380)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapViewDelegate$zza$zza.getMap(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zza.onCreate(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$3.getState(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$1.zza(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zzb.zzzW(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView$zzb.zza(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zztU(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zztU(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView.onCreate(Unknown Source)
       at ........ResultActivity.onCreate(ResultActivity.java:220)
       at android.app.Activity.performCreate(Activity.java:6100)
       at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnCreate(Instrumentation.java:1109)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2401)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2510)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.access$1200(ActivityThread.java:163)
       at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1371)
       at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
       at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:135)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5595)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:372)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:960)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:755)

Someone asked for reports on which devices - issue just seen on "vodafone smart tab 3g" running Android 4.4.2.

Fatal Exception: java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start activity ComponentInfo{..........}: android.view.InflateException: Binary XML file line #86: Error inflating class fragment
       at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2398)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2450)
......
Caused by android.view.InflateException: Binary XML file line #86: Error inflating class fragment
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.createViewFromTag(LayoutInflater.java:713)
       at android.view.LayoutInflater.rInflate(LayoutInflater.java:755)
......
Caused by java.lang.NullPointerException
       at maps.dz.o.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.dg.e.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.dg.p.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.ag.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.bu.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.n$1.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.n.a(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.i$a.onTransact(:com.google.android.gms.alldynamite:107)
       at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:361)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapFragmentDelegate$zza$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment$zza.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
......

Came here from Issue 9163

I have facing same issue on lenovo 5.1.1
Please get rid out of it

Similar issue reported by many of our users on Acer, Micromax, XOLO, etc devices. Google please fix this ASAP!

Fatal Exception: java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start activity ComponentInfo{com.*.*/com.*.*.XYZActivity}: java.lang.NullPointerException
       at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2306)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2358)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.access$600(ActivityThread.java:156)
       at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1340)
       at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:99)
       at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:153)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5297)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Method.java)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:511)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:833)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:600)
       at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(NativeStart.java)
Caused by java.lang.NullPointerException
       at maps.ce.i.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.dg.g.(Unknown Source)
       at maps.dg.g.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.dg.p.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.ag.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.bu.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.n$1.a(Unknown Source)
       at maps.ei.n.a(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.i$a.onTransact(:com.google.android.gms.alldynamite:107)
       at android.os.Binder.transact(Binder.java:310)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.internal.IMapFragmentDelegate$zza$zza.getMap(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment$zza.onInflate(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza$4.getState(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zztU(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.dynamic.zza.zztU(Unknown Source)
       at com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment.onCreateView(Unknown Source)
       at android.app.Fragment.performCreateView(Fragment.java:1695)
       at android.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:861)
       at android.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1057)
       at android.app.FragmentManagerImpl.moveToState(FragmentManager.java:1039)
       at android.app.FragmentManagerImpl.dispatchActivityCreated(FragmentManager.java:1840)
       at android.app.Activity.performCreate(Activity.java:5125)
       at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnCreate(Instrumentation.java:1081)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2270)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2358)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.access$600(ActivityThread.java:156)
       at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1340)
       at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:99)
       at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:153)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5297)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Method.java)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:511)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:833)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:600)
       at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(NativeStart.java)

Please fix issue ASAP.... AOSP.

ANDROID_VERSION=5.0.2
PHONE_MODEL=Lenovo A6000
 STACK_TRACE=java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean java.io.File.mkdir()' on a null object reference

Will Google please consider releasing the fix for this issue in a hotfix to the existing deployed version of Google Play Services?

This is a showstopping bug for many devices without SD cards, causing a crash whenever the map is viewed.  It's been almost 5 months since this issue was first reported, and 3.5 months since a fix was announced internally in comment #57.  As of today it's been starred by 392 people.  We are also holding back a major v2.0 release of an app that was updated from Maps API v1 to v2 because of this problem, because releasing v2.0 while this bug is still in the wild would amount to disabling the app for these users.

On a related note, I believe the status should be changed to "FutureRelease"?

It's been 6 months now that this bug is making us developers look like fools to our users. I can reproduce it easily. Time to make a move, Google.

Having the exact same issue. When can we expect a fix?

If you have access to an affected device - does anyone have a version of Google Play Services on the device higher than 8.7.03 (2645110-440)?

According to https://www.androidpit.com/install-google-play-services-apk, there are several higher versions out in the wild, including 8.9.16 and 9.0.83.

If you have a version number higher than 8.7.03, please let me know if you still get this same crash.

Did anyone solved this issue... please help

[Comment deleted]

[Comment deleted]

It seems, everythings about map works nice with Play Services 9.0.82 update on an old Jellybean device.

Free your internal memory.. There won't be any of such problems

Can a Googler confirm if this is now fixed in the v9.0.0 of the Maps library?

Any news on this one?

This issue is resolved for me with version 9.0.0 of the Google Maps library and version 9.0.82 of the Google Play services installed on the phone.

This is on an Ice Cream Sandwich device.

We've not seen this crash in the wild in the past week since we updated Google Play Services dependencies to v9.0.0 in our app.

After 6 long months, this can finally be closed.

Sorry this took so long to fix, but here is the bug fix you've been waiting for!

We can confirm that this issue is now fixed in version 9.0.83 of Google Play Services, released in May 2016.

eah!

Thank you; too bad version 9.0.83 is crippled with other bugs:

https://code.google.com/p/gmaps-api-issues/issues/detail?id=9765
https://code.google.com/p/gmaps-api-issues/issues/detail?id=9784

One question ( sorry might be noob) Do the devs need to update play services or google maps version SDK or just user's upgrading their Google Play Services to 9.0.83 would fix it ? Thanks

User's upgrading Google Play Services on their device to 9.0.83 will fix this issue. You do not need to update the SDK version.

I am running HTC One M7 with Android 5.0.2 API 21 and Google Play Services 9.2.0 and needed to reboot my device in order to avoid this issue.

still facing the same problem in 2018.
i can't believe