why error only in 4.3 but works for 5.x/6.x IllegalStateException: You need to use a Theme.AppCompat 4.3

Question

I found following SO questions on the same topic

You need to use a Theme.AppCompat theme (or descendant) with this activity

My question is more about why it only happened on device with Android 4.3. Same code works with Android 5/6

public class MyActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

styles.xml

<!-- Base application theme. -->
<style name="AppTheme" parent="@android:style/Theme.Holo.Light">
    <item name="android:windowBackground">@null</item>
</style>
<style name="SplashTheme" parent="Theme.AppCompat.NoActionBar">
    <item name="android:windowBackground">@drawable/background_splash</item>
</style>

v21/styles.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <style name="AppTheme" parent="Theme.AppCompat.NoActionBar">
    </style>
</resources>

Can you please explain?

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 01 '16 at 06:12

1

I believe the answer is in your code. styles.xml is used on devices with Android 4.3, and v21/styles.xml on device with Android 5+ Try to remove v21/styles.xml and see what happen on Android 5+.

answered Nov 01 '16 at 06:12

Sviatoslav Melnychenko

543
5
18

My bad. So you apply SplashTheme to MyActivity and this activity doesn't start on Android 4.3, am I right? – Sviatoslav Melnychenko Nov 01 '16 at 06:19
Thank you so much sir...my mistake..should have known better – GJain Nov 01 '16 at 06:28

why error only in 4.3 but works for 5.x/6.x IllegalStateException: You need to use a Theme.AppCompat 4.3

1 Answers1