java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError:failed resolution of :Lorg/apache/http/ProtocolVersion

Update: This is no longer a bug or a workaround, it is required if your app targets API Level 28 (Android 9.0) or above and uses the Google Maps SDK for Android 16.0.0 or below (or if your app uses the Apache HTTP Legacy library). It is now included in the official docs. The public issue has been closed as intended behavior.

This is a bug on the Google Play Services side, until it's fixed, you should be able to workaround by adding this to your AndroidManifest.xml inside the <application> tag:

<uses-library android:name="org.apache.http.legacy" android:required="false" />

This link android-9.0-changes-28-->Apache HTTP client deprecation explains reason for adding the following to your AndroidManifest.xml:

<uses-library android:name="org.apache.http.legacy" android:required="false"/>

With Android 6.0, we removed support for the Apache HTTP client. Beginning with Android 9, that library is removed from the bootclasspath and is not available to apps by default.

Do any of the following:

1- Update the play-services-maps library to the latest version:

com.google.android.gms:play-services-maps:16.1.0

2- Or include the following declaration within the <application> element of AndroidManifest.xml.

<uses-library      android:name="org.apache.http.legacy"      android:required="false" />