Center a button in a Linear layout

Question

I am using a linear layout to display a pretty light initial screen. It has 1 button that is supposed to centre in the screen both horizontally and vertically. However no matter what I try to do the button will top align centre. I have included the XML below, can some one point me in the right direction?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent">

    <ImageButton android:id="@+id/btnFindMe" 
        android:layout_width="wrap_content" 
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal"
        android:background="@drawable/findme"></ImageButton>

</LinearLayout>

What fixed it for me in a LinearLayout with horizontal alignment was to set `layout_width` to "wrap_content". Subsequently the `layout_gravity` did what it was supposed to do ! — Someone Somewhere, Nov 28 '12 at 00:53
If you strictly need to use LinearLayout, I think this should work: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/18051472/how-to-center-the-content-inside-a-linear-layout — Antonio, May 26 '15 at 15:11

score 466 · Answer 1 · edited Dec 10 '15 at 16:09

466

Center using a LinearLayout:

<LinearLayout
    android:id="@+id/LinearLayout1"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:orientation="vertical" >

    <ImageButton
        android:id="@+id/btnFindMe"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:background="@drawable/findme" />
</LinearLayout>

edited Dec 10 '15 at 16:09

Bart Burg

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answered Jun 06 '12 at 15:20

lancha90

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LinearLayout is simpler and lighter-weight compared to a RelativeLayout, should be a little faster. – SurlyDre Nov 15 '13 at 03:22
3

I was using layout_gravity instead of gravity. changing to android:gravity="center" fixed this for me. rookie mistake. – ackushiw Dec 20 '15 at 01:39
@ackushiw was also my problem! – Denny Feb 11 '17 at 11:57
At least for me android:gravity="center" LinearLayout attribute did the trick. Thank you bro! – tthreetorch Apr 27 '19 at 17:16

David Webb · Accepted Answer · 2009-12-24T11:27:03.137

391

If you want to center an item in the middle of the screen don't use a LinearLayout as these are meant for displaying a number of items in a row.

Use a RelativeLayout instead.

So replace:

android:layout_gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal"

for the relevant RelativeLayout option:

android:layout_centerInParent="true"

So your layout file will look like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout android:id="@+id/RelativeLayout01" 
    android:layout_width="fill_parent" 
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">

    <ImageButton android:id="@+id/btnFindMe" 
        android:layout_width="wrap_content" 
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerInParent="true"
        android:background="@drawable/findme"></ImageButton>

</RelativeLayout>

edited Dec 24 '09 at 11:27

answered Dec 24 '09 at 11:10

David Webb

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There are instances where you need to use a LinearLayout and center content. This should not be the accepted answer. It would be better to suggest to use a RelativeLayout if possible, and if not _how_ to center in a LinearLayout. – stevebot Mar 18 '15 at 00:16
1

Not to mention the fact that a RelativeLayout is much more runtime intensive due to the way they have to have their dimensions measured, whereas a LinearLayout is super straightforward and much more efficient. – Trevor Hart Jul 14 '17 at 19:39

score 47 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 15 '16 at 15:07

47

Have you tried defining android:gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal" inside the layout and setting android:layout_weight="1" in the image?

edited Jun 15 '16 at 15:07

Kevin Crain

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answered Dec 24 '09 at 10:53

rui

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I like this option which lets me keep mi LinearLayout ! (I didn't have to set `android:weight="1"` in the button to center it though.) – Sébastien Jul 02 '11 at 10:47
4

android:gravity doesn't work for me in a horizontal LinearLayout, but android:layout_gravity does. – jfritz42 Mar 13 '12 at 16:27

score 37 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 20 '11 at 03:14

37

A commonly-used method that works with linear layout is to set a property on the image button

android:layout_gravity="center"

You can choose whether to left-align, center-align, or right-align each object in the linear layout. Note that the above line is precisely the same as

android:layout_gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal"

answered Oct 20 '11 at 03:14

hopcraft

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Add android:gravity="center" property in parent layout - which holds your button (child components). – Shekh Akther Jan 08 '13 at 14:05
you also need android.orientation="vertical" plus the layout_gravity in the parent, aka the LInearLayout element.... – Joe Healy Jul 23 '15 at 14:08

Tanmay Sahoo · Answer 5 · 2017-01-20T09:48:57.830

12

Add this

android:gravity="center"

In LinearLayout.

edited Jan 20 '17 at 09:48

answered Sep 27 '16 at 04:50

Tanmay Sahoo

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should be `android:gravity="center"` – John Joe Jan 15 '17 at 14:51

score 10 · Answer 6 · edited May 05 '18 at 03:21

10

If you use LinearLayout you can add gravity center:

<LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:orientation="vertical"
        android:gravity="center">
            <Button
            android:layout_width="200dp"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            />
</LinearLayout>`

edited May 05 '18 at 03:21

Taku

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answered May 05 '18 at 02:59

Hans Pour

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score 7 · Answer 7 · answered Mar 24 '14 at 17:33

easy with this

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:layout_weight="1"
        android:visibility="visible" 
        android:gravity="center"
        android:orientation="vertical" >

        <ProgressBar
            android:id="@+id/pbEndTrip"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_gravity="center"
            />

        <TextView
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
            android:gravity="center"
            android:text="Gettings" />
    </LinearLayout>

score 5 · Answer 8 · edited Jun 08 '12 at 12:50

5

You can use the RelativeLayout.

edited Jun 08 '12 at 12:50

answered Jun 08 '12 at 07:00

Amit kumar

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score 5 · Answer 9 · edited Dec 12 '15 at 18:37

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent">

    <ImageButton android:id="@+id/btnFindMe" 
        android:layout_width="match_parent" 
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity = "center"
        android:background="@drawable/findme">
    </ImageButton>

</LinearLayout>

The above code will work.

score 3 · Answer 10 · answered Mar 27 '16 at 21:07

As per the Android documentation for XML Attributes of android:layout_gravity, we can do it easily :)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent">

    <ImageButton android:id="@+id/btnFindMe" 
        android:layout_width="wrap_content" 
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"

        android:layout_gravity="center"

        android:background="@drawable/findme"></ImageButton>

</LinearLayout>

android:layout_gravity="center" works fine :) thanks ! – Amine Soumiaa Mar 22 '18 at 14:35 — Amine Soumiaa, Mar 22 '18 at 14:35

score 2 · Answer 11 · answered Jul 23 '15 at 14:09

complete and working sample from my machine...

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    tools:context=".MainActivity"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:textAlignment="center">


    <TextView
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceLarge"
        android:text="My Apps!"
        android:id="@+id/textView"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:layout_marginBottom="20dp"
     />

    <Button
        android:layout_width="220dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="SPOTIFY STREAMER"
        android:id="@+id/button_spotify"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:layout_below="@+id/textView"
        android:padding="20dp"
        />

    <Button
        android:layout_width="220dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="SCORES"
        android:id="@+id/button_scores"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:layout_below="@+id/textView"
        android:padding="20dp"
        />


    <Button
        android:layout_width="220dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerInParent="true"
        android:text="LIBRARY APP"
        android:id="@+id/button_library"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:layout_below="@+id/textView"
        android:padding="20dp"
        />

    <Button
        android:layout_width="220dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerInParent="true"
        android:text="BUILD IT BIGGER"
        android:id="@+id/button_buildit"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:layout_below="@+id/textView"
        android:padding="20dp"
        />

    <Button
        android:layout_width="220dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerInParent="true"
        android:text="BACON READER"
        android:id="@+id/button_bacon"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:layout_below="@+id/textView"
        android:padding="20dp"
        />

    <Button
        android:layout_width="220dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerInParent="true"
        android:text="CAPSTONE: MY OWN APP"
        android:id="@+id/button_capstone"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:layout_below="@+id/textView"
        android:padding="20dp"
        />

</LinearLayout>

you can only use 'android:layout_below' on siblings of 'RelativeLayout' — jazz, Nov 10 '16 at 12:49

score 2 · Answer 12 · answered Jul 23 '21 at 19:08

You can do so by using the gravity="center" attribute in the parent class which makes its child position in the center.

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:gravity="center">

score 1 · Answer 13 · answered Dec 11 '15 at 11:52

1

just use ( to make it in the center of your layout)

        android:layout_gravity="center"

and use

         android:layout_marginBottom="80dp"

         android:layout_marginTop="80dp"

to change postion

answered Dec 11 '15 at 11:52

Mohamed Adel

1,980
17
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score 1 · Answer 14 · answered Feb 25 '17 at 10:45

Set to true android:layout_alignParentTop="true" and android:layout_centerHorizontal="true" in the Button, like this:

<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    >
     <Button
        android:id="@+id/switch_flashlight"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="@string/turn_on_flashlight"
        android:textColor="@android:color/black"
        android:onClick="action_trn"
        android:background="@android:color/holo_green_light"
        android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
        android:padding="5dp" />
</RelativeLayout>

score 0 · Answer 15 · answered Sep 19 '14 at 11:00

You also can Try this Code:

<LinearLayout
            android:id="@+id/linear_layout"
            android:layout_width="fill_parent"
            android:layout_height="0dp"
            android:layout_gravity="center"
            android:orientation="horizontal"
            android:weightSum="2.0"
            android:background="@drawable/anyBackground" >

        <LinearLayout
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_gravity="center"
            android:orientation="vertical"
            android:layout_weight="1" >

            <ImageView
                android:id="@+id/img_mail"
                android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:layout_gravity="center"
                android:background="@drawable/yourImage" />
        </LinearLayout>

        <LinearLayout
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_gravity="center"
            android:orientation="vertical"
            android:layout_weight="1" >



<ImageView
            android:id="@+id/img_save"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="match_parent"
            android:layout_gravity="center"
            android:background="@drawable/yourImage" />
        </LinearLayout>
        </LinearLayout>

Can you explain how this is different from the already provided answers? — EWit, Sep 19 '14 at 11:09

score 0 · Answer 16 · answered Mar 13 '18 at 02:49

You can also set the width of the LinearLayout to wrap_content and use android:layout_centerInParent, android:layout_centerVertical="true":

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:layout_centerInParent="true"
android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
android:layout_centerVertical="true"
>

<ImageButton android:id="@+id/btnFindMe" 
    android:layout_width="wrap_content" 
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"       
    android:background="@drawable/findme"/>

score 0 · Answer 17 · answered May 30 '20 at 16:14

0

This is working for me.

android:layout_alignParentEnd="true"

answered May 30 '20 at 16:14

Marci

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Abubakar · Answer 18 · 2021-07-23T19:09:19.367

0

In this case, you also can use a RelativeLayout As a parent of that ImageButton

android:layout_centerInParent="true"

then use the above code in the ImageButton.

edited Jul 23 '21 at 19:09

answered Jul 23 '21 at 19:02

Abubakar

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score -2 · Answer 19 · answered Feb 11 '14 at 18:42

-2

use

android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"

answered Feb 11 '14 at 18:42

Mayank Mishra

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Actually vogon101, this is a valid property in a RelativeLayout. :) It doesn't answer the question, though, because the user was using a LinearLayout and wanted to center both vertically and horizontally. – Sarah May 09 '14 at 01:09

score -2 · Answer 20 · edited Jul 04 '13 at 19:47

Did you try this?

  <TableLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="@+id/mainlayout" android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="fill_parent">
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:padding="5px"
android:background="#303030"
>
    <RelativeLayout
    android:id="@+id/widget42"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
    >
    <ImageButton
    android:id="@+id/map"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="map"
    android:src="@drawable/outbox_pressed"
    android:background="@null"
    android:layout_toRightOf="@+id/location"
    />
    <ImageButton
    android:id="@+id/location"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="location"
    android:src="@drawable/inbox_pressed"
    android:background="@null"
    />
    </RelativeLayout>
    <ImageButton
    android:id="@+id/home"
    android:src="@drawable/button_back"
    android:background="@null"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_centerVertical="true"
    />
</RelativeLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:padding="5px"
android:orientation="horizontal"
android:background="#252525"
>
    <EditText
    android:id="@+id/searchfield"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_weight="1"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
    android:background="@drawable/customshape"
    />
    <ImageButton
    android:id="@+id/search_button"
    android:src="@drawable/search_press"
    android:background="@null"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_centerVertical="true"
    />
</LinearLayout>
<com.google.android.maps.MapView
    android:id="@+id/mapview" 
    android:layout_weight="1"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content" 
    android:clickable="true"
    android:apiKey="apikey" />

</TableLayout>

score -7 · Answer 21 · answered Jul 22 '13 at 06:25

It would be easier to use relative layouts, but for linear layouts I usually center by making sure the width matches parent :

    android:layout_width="match_parent"

and then just give margins to right and left accordingly.

    android:layout_marginLeft="20dp"
    android:layout_marginRight="20dp"

Center a button in a Linear layout

21 Answers21

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