diff --git a/framework/cdv-gradle-config-defaults.json b/framework/cdv-gradle-config-defaults.json
index 00d92bd817..48820fb1e1 100644
--- a/framework/cdv-gradle-config-defaults.json
+++ b/framework/cdv-gradle-config-defaults.json
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 {
     "MIN_SDK_VERSION": 28,
-    "SDK_VERSION": 34,
+    "SDK_VERSION": 35,
     "COMPILE_SDK_VERSION": null,
     "GRADLE_VERSION": "8.7",
-    "MIN_BUILD_TOOLS_VERSION": "34.0.0",
+    "MIN_BUILD_TOOLS_VERSION": "35.0.0",
     "AGP_VERSION": "8.3.0",
     "KOTLIN_VERSION": "1.9.24",
     "ANDROIDX_APP_COMPAT_VERSION": "1.6.1",
diff --git a/templates/project/res/values/themes.xml b/templates/project/res/values/themes.xml
index 9190bbb58e..df3f1fce7e 100644
--- a/templates/project/res/values/themes.xml
+++ b/templates/project/res/values/themes.xml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
  specific language governing permissions and limitations
  under the License.
 -->
-<resources>
+<resources xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools">
     <style name="Theme.App.SplashScreen" parent="Theme.SplashScreen.IconBackground">
       <!-- Optional: Set the splash screen background. (Default: #FFFFFF) -->
       <item name="windowSplashScreenBackground">@color/cdv_splashscreen_background</item>
@@ -30,5 +30,8 @@
 
       <!-- Required: Set the theme of the Activity that directly follows your splash screen. -->
       <item name="postSplashScreenTheme">@style/Theme.AppCompat.NoActionBar</item>
+
+      <!-- Disables the edge-to-edge enforcement. This is required to keep the status bar plugin working as expected when the status bar does not overlays webview. -->
+      <item name="android:windowOptOutEdgeToEdgeEnforcement" tools:ignore="NewApi">true</item>
     </style>
 </resources>