How to change color of material design icon used in Button in Android

Question

I am having this Button in my XML:

<Button
     android:id="@+id/button_message_me"
     style="@style/Widget.AppCompat.Button.Borderless.Colored"
     android:layout_width="0dp"
     android:layout_weight="0.25"
     android:layout_height="wrap_content"
     android:adjustViewBounds="true"
     android:background="@drawable/ic_chat_white_48dp"
     android:onClick="clickMessageMe"/>

However, I want to change the color of ic_chat_white_48dp from white to blue. How to do change?

What I already tried so far:

After reading this post, I tried using android:tint="@color/blue" but it did not work.

So, thinking that I might need to use ImageButton instead of Button (as mentioned in the answer) I replaced Button with ImageButton in my XML but I landed up getting exception:

java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start activity ComponentInfo{chat.knowme.knowme/chat.knowme.knowme.ShowProfileActivity}: java.lang.ClassCastException: android.support.v7.widget.AppCompatImageButton cannot be cast to android.widget.Button

Any help would be really appreciated. Many thanks!

Update: The crash was because I was casting the ImageButton to Buttonin my source. I fixed it and now doesn't crash anymore (thanks to Patel Pinkal for his answer).

However, color still remain unchanged even with ImageButton

There is no initialize code as such for this button. I've used `(Button) findViewById(R.id.button_message_me);` whenever I wanted to show/hide this button. And have written `clickMessageMe` method for the button. However, crash occurs as soon as I launch the activity. — Atul, Jan 05 '17 at 06:22

Patel Pinkal · Answer 1 · 2017-01-05T06:49:13.660

3

You are trying to initialize Button instead of AppCompatImageButton. Just replace like this

 AppCompatImageButton appCompatImageButton = (AppCompatImageButton) findViewById(R.id.appCompatImageButton);

Instead of :

 Button button = (Button) findViewById(R.id.button);

AND

if you want to change color using Button or AppCompatImageButton, you have to change like

android:backgroundTint="@Color/yourColor"

Instead of

android:tint="@Color/yourColor"

edited Jan 05 '17 at 06:49

answered Jan 05 '17 at 06:22

Patel Pinkal

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Oh I see. Sure I'll try this might be the reason :) – Atul Jan 05 '17 at 06:23
@Atul try it and review it here – Patel Pinkal Jan 05 '17 at 06:25
Well I tried it. Crash disappeared but color still didn't change. – Atul Jan 05 '17 at 06:35
Not sure if I can post code and layout etc. Need to check. However, I'll try your new suggestion. Thanks mate. – Atul Jan 05 '17 at 06:45
Nope. Is it only for higher versions? I am getting `Attribute backgroundTint is only used in API level 21 and higher (current min is 15` – Atul Jan 05 '17 at 06:52
Let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackoverflow.com/rooms/132359/discussion-between-atul-and-patel-pinkal). – Atul Jan 05 '17 at 06:52

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 05 '17 at 07:05

I also face this problem. Finally found the solution, using Android Material Design Icon Generator Plugin. Through this you can generate icons in various colors and sizes.

Step1: File-> Settings->Plugin

Step2: Search for android material icon, you will get Android Material Design Icon Generator Plugin in the list

Step3: Select that and click Apply

Once its installed, Right click on your project from studio->new->Material design icon or ctrl+alt+M

It will be useful for developers.

That is nice suggestion indeed. If I couldn't change color through code I'll surely go for this. — Atul, Jan 05 '17 at 07:42

How to change color of material design icon used in Button in Android

2 Answers2