Why does Android Studio download gradle each time a new gradle project is imported?

Projects can declare which Gradle they require to run (see gradle.properties file in gradle directory in the root of the project).

Android Studio uses this information to download and run the right version (it's actually not Android Studio, it's the Gradle Wrapper running inside it). And it's a good thing.

What you can do?

1. Wait. Once you have the version downloaded in ~/.gradle directory, it will be used for any project declaring the same version. It's one-time cache.
2. Disable the usage of the wrapper when you import the project. I really recommend against it! You project might not build because of that.

Same happens to me.

The answer of JBaruch is allright.

1.- When you're opening a file on the option Gradle project: select the build.gradle that cames on your project

2.- Select the option "Use local grade distribution" and in Gradle home option; go and select in C:\Program Files\Android\Android Studio\gradle\gradle-2.2.1

It will not ask you to download it again (except if needs other version)

Basically it downloads the Gradle build files for your current project according to its version and this whole work is done by your gradle wrapper which actually looks towards the basic requirement for your project and downloads the files according to that so whenever you are going to use any another projects of same version or with same requirements then it will not download any additional file at that time.Its just a one time shot!!!!