Android Studio 4.0.1, Gradle, and React Native: AndroidManifest.XML not found when it exists

Android Studio 4.0.1, Gradle, and React Native: AndroidManifest.XML not found when it exists

[Java]

INTRO
Greetings, all!

My Android Studio 4.0.1 project refused to build due to not being able to find an AndroidManifest.xml file that’s in /main/ where it should be, according to the documentation. Mass replacing the occurrences of “api” with “implementation” or vice versa hasn’t helped.

Thus, what other information do you want for clarification, and what should change to ensure this works?

Thankee!

MANIFEST FILE
<manifest xmlns:android=" http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android "

package="com.hornet">

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

<application

android:name=".MainApplication"

android:label="@string/app_name"

android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"

android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"

android:allowBackup="false"

android:theme="@style/AppTheme">

<activity

android:name=".MainActivity"

android:label="@string/app_name"

android:configChanges="keyboard|keyboardHidden|orientation|screenSize|uiMode"

android:launchMode="singleTask"

android:windowSoftInputMode="adjustResize">

<intent-filter>

<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />

</intent-filter>

</activity>

<activity android:name="com.facebook.react.devsupport.DevSettingsActivity" />

</application>

</manifest>

RUN ERRORS WITH DEBUG MODE ACTIVE
Moved to this Google Doc for being too long for this post!