Android X backwards compatibility

This is not possible. To use any library that depends on AndroidX, your project must migrate your whole project to AndroidX.

Note that the reverse is supported - you can use libraries built with Support Library in projects that use AndroidX (that's the purpose of the android.enableJetifier=true flag).

AndroidX^[About]

• Consumer support -> Producer androidX - not compatible.

You should migrate your consumer to use AndroidX. Android Studio menu -> Refactor -> Migrate to AndroidX...

• Consumer androidX -> Producer support - compatible.

Consumer's gradle.properties in addition to use androidX should enable Jetifier^[About] which converts support to androidX

android.useAndroidX=true
android.enableJetifier=true

[Mix AndroidX and support in a multi-module project]