How to setTheme to an activity at runtime? It doesn't work call setTheme before onCreate and setContentView

Question

I want setTheme to an activity at runtime, I have search some solutions by google. someone said call setTheme before onCreate and setContentView can works, the code section like

public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    setTheme(android.R.style.Theme_Translucent_NoTitleBar);
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    ...
    setContentView(...)
}

but it not works, I want to know, is there another solution can setTheme to activity?

Just try this - set your theme after `super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);` and before `setContentView(...)` — Praveenkumar, Jun 21 '12 at 09:14
@hermanbrain : Always call `super.onCreate(...)` first in your `onCreate(...)` method unless you're intending to modify the `Bundle` you pass to it. As SpK says, call `setTheme(...)` after you call `super.onCreate(...)`. — Squonk, Jun 21 '12 at 09:18
Same problem, i even tried placing it as praveen said but no success. I made a custom theme in style.xml and added the line setTheme(R.style.MyCustomTheme); do i need to do anything else? — Srujan Barai, Sep 06 '15 at 02:04

score 23 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 28 '12 at 05:26

23

Just try this - set your theme after super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); and before setContentView(...)

Like below code -

public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) 
{
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setTheme(android.R.style.Theme_Translucent_NoTitleBar); // Set here
    setContentView(...)
}

answered Jun 28 '12 at 05:26

Praveenkumar

24,084
23
95
173

5

i tried this , but it shows the black background , can you help me. – mdDroid May 11 '16 at 13:18
1

@mdDroid Dis you find the solution for the black background – Adi Sep 27 '18 at 05:46

score 9 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 02 '13 at 18:28

Actually this only worked for me if I set it before calling super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
{
    final int themeRes = getIntent().getIntExtra(EXTRA_THEME_ID, 0);
    if (themeRes != 0) setTheme(themeRes);
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    //ect...
}

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 27 '16 at 07:42

4

setContentView(...);
setTheme(R.style.MyTheme);
setContentView(...);

It must work well..

More on Themes, Read this http://entertheinfinity.blogspot.in/2016/06/designing-android-interface-themes.html

answered Jun 27 '16 at 07:42

Umesh

41
2

I use this technique to change the theme on the Starting Activity of the app. It is because in the onCreate there is no View(i.e no action bar loaded or any view in activity) in which the theme can be set. Setting the theme before setContentView() is like Setting a theme to null View. My Analogy. It's always on you to decide. Thanks – Umesh Aug 11 '16 at 11:44

score 3 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 21 '18 at 14:44

To set the theme at runtime and fix the "black background" problem:

the theme should be set before onCreate().

public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    setTheme(android.R.style.Theme_Translucent_NoTitleBar);
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    ...
    setContentView(...)
}

the theme of the transparent activity in the android manifest should be set to any theme that has a transparent background (e.g. a dialog theme).

this tells the Android OS continue to draw the activities behind the transparent activity so that you don't end up with a black background.

i'm using an AppCompatActivity; i need to use an AppCompat theme:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.example.app">
    ...
    <application
        ...>
        ...
        <activity
            android:name=".TranslucentActivity"
            android:theme="@style/Theme.AppCompat.DayNight.Dialog"
            .../>
        ...
    </application>
</manifest>

Thanks, setting the theme in AndroidManifest works when your third module sets the theme dynamically and the `app` module uses `Material Theme`. — rosuh, Dec 02 '20 at 03:02

How to setTheme to an activity at runtime? It doesn't work call setTheme before onCreate and setContentView

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