How do I center text horizontally and vertically in a TextView?

Question

How do I center the text horizontally and vertically in a TextView, so that it appears exactly in the middle of the TextView in Android?

set both layout_width and layout_height to fill_parent, then set gravity to center. That'll do the trick — DbxD, Jun 25 '15 at 09:39
fill_parent is deprecated now so use MATCH_PARENT in layout_width and layout_height and set gravity of the TextView to center. — Bilal Ahmad, Jun 30 '18 at 09:58

score 3408 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 10 '21 at 09:10

3408

I'm assuming you're using XML layout.

<TextView  
    android:layout_width="match_parent" 
    android:layout_height="match_parent" 
    android:gravity="center"
    android:text="@string/**yourtextstring**"
/>

You can also use gravity center_vertical or center_horizontal according to your need.

As @stealthcopter commented, in java: .setGravity(Gravity.CENTER);.

And for Kotlin users, .gravity = Gravity.CENTER

edited Dec 10 '21 at 09:10

Ryan M

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answered Jan 11 '09 at 01:53

Bill

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This doesn't work when used with a RelativeLayout where the layout's height & width are set to wrap_content – Rob Aug 17 '11 at 19:00
109

@Rob, if the width and height are wrap_content, then technically, the text is already centered. – JoJo Nov 17 '11 at 04:06
4

If I want to align TextView relative to another view, but it's text centered in itself? – Mar 10 '12 at 21:43
1

If you're a minimalist like me you can drop the layout tags. – Eugene van der Merwe Jul 23 '12 at 20:20
10

This isn't working for me (`android:gravity="center"`). It still shows at far left of screen. :( – uSeRnAmEhAhAhAhAhA Sep 20 '13 at 08:00
1

it sounds like your Textviews width and height are set to wrap_content. If this is the case you can set layout_gravity to center – Daniel Jonker Jul 09 '14 at 04:15
40

Not to be confused with `android:layout_gravity="center"`, which does something else. – Rudi Kershaw Dec 22 '14 at 14:28
3

In a Relative Layout if you set: `android:layout_width="wrap_content"` `android:layout_height="wrap_content"` and `android:gravity="center"` that works for me. – bheatcoker Mar 19 '15 at 10:04
1

gravity=center not working. Textview height=34dp and width=100dp.Please help – user3207655 Nov 03 '15 at 06:18
4

Don't forget, there is also `center_veritcal` and `center_horizontal`. – Jeel Shah Aug 13 '16 at 16:55
2

@ Rob,relative layout provides android:layout_centerInParent="true" – Vasant Aug 26 '16 at 05:05
1

you can also set manually the height and width to certain value to implement gravity. – Moses Aprico Sep 07 '16 at 05:51
2

I needed to make sure the height was set to `match_parent` before I could get `gravity="center"` to work vertically in addition to working horizontally. (because if I left it as wrap-content, even if the content was in the corner of the parent, it didn't 'look' like it was centered, even though it technically was, but the height was less than the parent) – jungledev Feb 20 '17 at 17:40
3

The key is `android:layout_height="match_parent"` and `android:gravity="center"`. If height is "wrap_content", it won't work. – CoolMind Feb 28 '18 at 08:47
3

That centers the TextView, the question is how to center the text inside the TextView and I believe the answer is:- ```android:textAlignment="center"``` – gareth Nov 14 '19 at 11:39
Technically, the text is already centered if the width and height are `wrap_content`. – Iman Sep 28 '22 at 13:53

score 485 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 22 '15 at 14:27

485

android:gravity="center"

This will do the trick

edited Mar 22 '15 at 14:27

darryn.ten

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answered Feb 08 '10 at 22:54

Jean

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The textview has to be match_parent or fill_parent for this to work. If its wrap content, then it will not center. – Kalel Wade Aug 18 '14 at 15:59
9

@KalelWade: centering text in a textview with wrap_content makes no sense at all. Maybe you're thinking of centering a textview in a parent view, in which case, you simiply put this line in the parent. – Mooing Duck Feb 26 '16 at 20:42
1

@Mooing Duck Thus the reason to not use wrap content - it doesn't make sense. But when you're either coping and pasting or just rushing, you may not put two and two together. That's why I mentioned it. – Kalel Wade Feb 26 '16 at 22:04
3

if TextView with width and height equal "wrap_content" is inside LinearLayout with width and height "match_parent" then you need to set the layout_gravity of Linear_layout. – Faisal Naseer Feb 01 '17 at 16:08
2

@MooingDuck, when height is "wrap_content" and gravity is "center_vertical", it draws in Design (preview) as centered, but in a device it is positioned to a top. So make height "match_parent" and set gravity to "center_vertical" or "center". – CoolMind Feb 28 '18 at 08:45
the question is how to center the text inside the TextView and I believe the answer is:- android:textAlignment="center" – Abubakar Feb 24 '22 at 00:39

score 314 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 21 '09 at 12:25

314

You can also set it up dynamically using:

textView.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL | Gravity.CENTER_HORIZONTAL);

answered Nov 21 '09 at 12:25

zeevb

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Or just textview.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER); – Amplify91 Apr 07 '11 at 16:00
1

What is the criteria for judgement to decide which way to choose, to write in xml or write in Java file? – kenju Aug 20 '15 at 08:49
3

@Kenju if you want it to be easily editable and the value won't change during runtime: XML. If you must change the value realtime (for example, change the alignment when the user presses a button) then you can only do it via Java. – Gustavo Maciel Nov 06 '15 at 00:38
3

@GustavoMaciel so, basically xml unless it needs to be modified dynamically ... Now i got it. Thanks for your simple and useful answer ! – kenju Nov 06 '15 at 00:46

score 126 · Answer 4 · edited Nov 11 '11 at 03:33

126

android:layout_centerInParent="true"

This works when used with a RelativeLayout where the layout's height & width are set to wrap_content.

edited Nov 11 '11 at 03:33

sth

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answered Nov 11 '11 at 00:58

itherese

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This centers the TextView, not the text in it. – anthropomo Jan 12 '13 at 04:08
3

This does NOT work when there is word-wrap in the `TextView`. The text will be full-width and multi-line AND LEFT-justified within the `TextView`. It will appear left-justified on the display. You should use "gravity" as specified in the other answers. – David Manpearl Apr 13 '13 at 03:04

score 89 · Answer 5 · edited Jul 26 '13 at 08:36

89

You can also use the combination:

android:gravity="left|center"

Then, if textview width is more than "fill_parent" the text will still be aligned to left (not centered as with gravity set only to "center").

edited Jul 26 '13 at 08:36

Zapnologica

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answered Jan 01 '13 at 20:11

Szorstki

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score 59 · Answer 6 · edited Feb 17 '15 at 11:10

59

Apply gravity:

TextView txtView = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.txtView);
txtView.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER_HORIZONTAL);

For vertical:

txtView.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL);

In XML:

<TextView      
    android:layout_width="fill_parent" 
    android:layout_height="fill_parent" 
    android:gravity="center"
    android:text="@string/Hello_World"        
/>

edited Feb 17 '15 at 11:10

ayz4sci

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answered May 30 '13 at 05:34

Gaganpreet Singh

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score 45 · Answer 7 · edited Sep 27 '16 at 13:01

There are two ways of doing this.

The first in the XML code. You need to pay attention at the Gravity Attribute. You also can find this attribute in the Graphic Editor; it may be easier than the XML EDITOR.

<TextView  
    android:layout_width="fill_parent" 
    android:layout_height="fill_parent" 
    android:gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal"
    android:text="Your Text"
/>

For your specific scenario, the values of gravity will be:

center_vertical|center_horizontal

In the graphical editor you will find all the possible values, even see their results.

score 41 · Answer 8 · edited May 13 '14 at 04:49

41

If you are using TableLayout make sure to set the gravity of the TableRows to center, too. Otherwise it will not work. At least it didn't work with me until I set the gravity of the TableRow to center.

For example, like this:

<TableRow android:id="@+id/tableRow2" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:gravity="center">        
    <TextView android:text="@string/chf" android:id="@+id/tv_chf" android:layout_weight="2" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:gravity="center"></TextView>        
</TableRow>

edited May 13 '14 at 04:49

Peter Mortensen

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answered May 13 '11 at 11:57

Maverick1st

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Interesting. Have to check if that is valid for LinearLayout (the TableRow parent) as well. – Martin Aug 11 '14 at 17:28

score 39 · Answer 9 · edited May 13 '14 at 04:49

39

You need to set TextView Gravity (Center Horizontal & Center Vertical) like this:

android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"

and

android:layout_centerVertical="true"

And dynamically using:

textview.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER);
textView.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL | Gravity.CENTER_HORIZONTAL);

edited May 13 '14 at 04:49

Peter Mortensen

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answered May 15 '12 at 05:03

NagarjunaReddy

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Code semantics is wrong. Replace `layout_centerhorizontal` and `layout_centervertical` by `layout_centerHorizontal` and `layout_centerVertical` ("H" and "V" to uppercase, otherwise it wont work). – yugidroid Jul 31 '12 at 16:15
2

layout_* tells the View's parent where it wants to be. Without layout_* tells the View how to place its components – Dandre Allison Oct 08 '12 at 07:36

score 34 · Answer 10 · edited Jan 12 '13 at 04:40

34

In my opinion,

android:gravity="center"

is better than,

android:layout_centerInParent="true"

which is better than,

android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
android:layout_centerVertical="true"

at least for formatting text.

edited Jan 12 '13 at 04:40

anthropomo

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answered Jul 16 '12 at 04:28

epicness42

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score 33 · Answer 11 · edited Jan 19 '16 at 06:33

For Linear Layout: In XML use something like this

<TextView  
    android:id="@+id/textView1"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent" 
    android:layout_height="fill_parent" 
    android:gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal"
    android:text="Your Text goes here"
/>

To do this at run time use something like this in your activity

TextView textView1 =(TextView)findViewById(R.id.texView1);
textView1.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL | Gravity.CENTER_HORIZONTAL);

For Relative Layout: in XML use some thing like this

<TextView  
    android:id="@+id/textView1"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent" 
    android:layout_height="fill_parent" 
    android:layout_centerInParent="true"
    android:text="Your Text goes here"
/>

To do this at run time use something like this in your activity

TextView textView1 =(TextView)findViewById(R.id.texView1);
RelativeLayout.LayoutParams layoutParams = RelativeLayout.LayoutParams)textView1.getLayoutParams();
layoutParams.addRule(RelativeLayout.CENTER_IN_PARENT, RelativeLayout.TRUE);
textView1.setLayoutParams(layoutParams);

score 25 · Answer 12 · edited May 13 '14 at 04:57

25

Use in the XML file.

Layout file

<TextView
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:text="@string/stringtext"/>

or:

Use this inside the Java class

TextView textView =(TextView)findViewById(R.id.texviewid);
textView.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL | Gravity.CENTER_HORIZONTAL);

edited May 13 '14 at 04:57

Peter Mortensen

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answered Oct 04 '13 at 17:18

venu

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score 22 · Answer 13 · answered Oct 11 '13 at 11:08

22

Use this for relative layout

android:layout_centerInParent="true"

and for other layout

android:gravity="center"

answered Oct 11 '13 at 11:08

score 20 · Answer 14 · edited Jan 12 '19 at 15:31

If the TextView's height and width are wrap content then the text within the TextView always be centered. But if the TextView's width is match_parent and height is match_parent or wrap_content then you have to write the below code:

For RelativeLayout:

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

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:gravity="center" 
        android:text="Hello World" />

</RelativeLayout>

For LinearLayout:

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

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:text="Hello World" />

</LinearLayout>

score 17 · Answer 15 · answered Aug 24 '13 at 20:50

17

While using gravity works for TextView, there's an alternate method implemented in API level 17 -

textView.setTextAlignment(View.TEXT_ALIGNMENT_CENTER);

Don't know the difference, but it works too. However only for API level 17 or higher.

answered Aug 24 '13 at 20:50

0xC0DED00D

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The difference is described here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/16196444/text-layout-alignment-in-android-textalignment-gravity – jasdefer Jul 10 '15 at 08:08
This will truly center the text in the TextView. If you just use gravity, there's a bit of trailing padding depending on what the text is.... If you have a little circle badge with text in the center, for instance, you can see a very obvious difference. – tarrball Dec 26 '19 at 22:18

score 14 · Answer 16 · edited Apr 20 '15 at 15:43

In RelativeLayout, it will be nice with it.

And another Button and anything else you can add.

The following works nicely for me.

<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:background="#ff314859"
    android:paddingLeft="16dp"
    android:paddingRight="16dp">
    <TextView 
        android:id="@+id/txt_logo"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="your text here"
        android:textSize="30dp"
        android:gravity="center"/>

        ...other button or anything else...

</RelativeLayout>

score 12 · Answer 17 · answered Jun 05 '19 at 01:09

12

Use android:textAlignment="center"

       <TextView
        android:text="HOW WAS\nYOUR\nDAY?"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:textAlignment="center"
        android:id="@+id/textView5"
         />

answered Jun 05 '19 at 01:09

Chathura Wijesinghe

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textAlignment="center" won't do the job until the TextView has dimensions to match_parent – SAurabh Jun 18 '19 at 06:55
@SAurabh above example is working without any issues. – Chathura Wijesinghe Jun 19 '19 at 02:22
is it working without gravity to parent or layout gravity in itself? It won't Text alignment will align the text within its view bounds so until the textView takes match_parent in this case it it won't seem like this without gravity in its parent layout or layout_gravity in itself – SAurabh Sep 20 '19 at 07:30

score 11 · Answer 18 · edited Sep 27 '16 at 13:02

11

You can just set the gravity of your textview into CENTER.

edited Sep 27 '16 at 13:02

Piyush

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answered Apr 02 '13 at 03:34

note-knotz

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score 11 · Answer 19 · answered Dec 15 '15 at 12:38

11

Easiest way (which is surprisingly only mentioned in comments, hence why I am posting as an answer) is:

textview.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER)

answered Dec 15 '15 at 12:38

JKennedy

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Alpesh Sorathiya · Answer 20 · 2019-01-11T13:53:57.123

TextView gravity works as per your parent layout.

LinearLayout:

If you use LinearLayout then you will find two gravity attribute android:gravity & android:layout_gravity

android:gravity : represent layout potion of internal text of TextView while android:layout_gravity : represent TextView position in parent view.

If you want to set text horizontally & vertically center then use below code this

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="300dp"
    android:background="@android:color/background_light"
    android:layout_height="300dp">

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:text="Hello World!"
        android:gravity="center_horizontal"
        android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    />
</LinearLayout>

RelativeLayout:

Using RelativeLayout you can use below property in TextView

android:gravity="center" for text center in TextView.

android:gravity="center_horizontal" inner text if you want horizontally centered.

android:gravity="center_vertical" inner text if you want vertically centered.

android:layout_centerInParent="true" if you want TextView in center position of parent view. android:layout_centerHorizontal="true" if you want TextView in horizontally center of parent view. android:layout_centerVertical="true" if you want TextView in vertically center of parent view.

<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="300dp"
    android:background="@android:color/background_light"
    android:layout_height="300dp">

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:text="Hello World!"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:layout_centerInParent="true"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    />
</RelativeLayout>

Btw, any reason you rollbacked to the previous revision? The revision that you reverted is a good practice so that as what the editor has mentioned can help text editors with encoding. — Edric, Mar 27 '19 at 12:12
Thank you for `android:gravity="center_horizontal"` and `android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"` — Chaki_Black, Feb 05 '22 at 13:02

score 10 · Answer 21 · answered Jul 15 '12 at 02:14

If you are trying to center text on a TableRow in a TableLayout, here is how I achieved this:

<TableRow android:id="@+id/rowName"
          android:layout_width="wrap_content"
          android:layout_height="wrap_content"
          android:padding="5dip" >
    <TextView android:id="@+id/lblSomeLabel"
              android:layout_width="fill_parent"
              android:layout_height="fill_parent"
              android:gravity="center"
              android:layout_width="0dp"
              android:layout_weight="100"
              android:text="Your Text Here" />
</TableRow>

score 10 · Answer 22 · answered Nov 15 '15 at 06:33

If you are using Relative Layout:

  <TextView
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="@string/stringname"
    android:layout_centerInParent="true"/>

If you are using LinearLayout

<TextView
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="@string/stringname"
    android:layout_gravity="center"/>

score 10 · Answer 23 · edited Jun 20 '21 at 02:21

10

Try this way,it will work

<LinearLayout
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:gravity="center">
  
        <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:textAlignment="center"/>

</LinearLayout>

edited Jun 20 '21 at 02:21

Zain

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answered Jun 17 '16 at 18:29

Cunity

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score 9 · Answer 24 · edited May 13 '14 at 04:56

9

Here is my answer that I had used in my app. It shows text in center of the screen.

<TextView
    android:id="@+id/txtSubject"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="@string/subject"
    android:layout_margin="10dp"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceLarge" />

edited May 13 '14 at 04:56

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jun 03 '13 at 09:54

Md. Naushad Alam

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Attif · Answer 25 · 2019-01-09T21:44:48.397

The TextView's height and width are wrap content then the text within the textview always be centered, then make center in its parent layout by using:

<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent">

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerInParent="true"
        android:text="Hello.."/>
</RelativeLayout>

For LinearLayout also the code is same :

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:gravity="center">

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Hello.."/>
</LinearLayout>

and pro-grammatically parent is RelativeLayout java code this at run time use something like this in your activity

TextView textView1 =(TextView)findViewById(R.id.texView1);
RelativeLayout.LayoutParams layoutParams = RelativeLayout.LayoutParams)textView1.getLayoutParams();
layoutParams.addRule(RelativeLayout.CENTER_IN_PARENT, RelativeLayout.TRUE);
textView1.setLayoutParams(layoutParams);

score 9 · Answer 26 · answered Feb 13 '20 at 07:30

9

Actually, we can do better by excluding fontPadding.

<TextView
  android layout_height="wrap_content"
  android layout_height="wrap_content"
  android:includeFontPadding="false"
  android:textAlignment="center"
/>

answered Feb 13 '20 at 07:30

Seanghay

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score 8 · Answer 27 · answered Jul 04 '13 at 20:09

8

As many answers suggest above works fine.

android:gravity="center"

If you want to center it just vertically:

android:gravity="center_vertical"

or just horizontally:

android:gravity="center_horizontal"

answered Jul 04 '13 at 20:09

rgamber

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score 7 · Answer 28 · edited May 13 '14 at 04:54

7

Simply, in your XML file, set the textview gravity to center:

<TextView
    android:gravity="center" />

edited May 13 '14 at 04:54

Peter Mortensen

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answered May 06 '13 at 17:56

Mansoor Ahmad Samar

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score 7 · Answer 29 · answered May 20 '16 at 10:18

android:gravity="center_horizontal" for align text Center horizontally. android:gravity="center_vertical" for align text Center vertically. android:gravity="center" for align text Center both vertically and horizontally.

<TextView
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:gravity="center_horizontal|center_vertical"
        android:layout_height="match_parent" />

score 7 · Answer 30 · answered Jun 30 '17 at 09:27

7

You can do like this to get text centered

<TextView
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:gravity="center" />

answered Jun 30 '17 at 09:27

Kamlakar Kate

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score 7 · Answer 31 · edited Jun 14 '18 at 10:32

We can achieve this with these multiple ways:-

XML method 01

<TextView  
    android:id="@+id/textView"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content" 
    android:gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal"
    android:text="@strings/text"
/>

XML method 02

<TextView  
    android:id="@+id/textView"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content" 
    android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
    android:layout_centerVertical="true"
    android:text="@strings/text"
/>

XML method 03

<TextView  
    android:id="@+id/textView"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content" 
    android:gravity="center"
    android:text="@strings/text"
/>

XML method 04

<TextView  
    android:id="@+id/textView"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content" 
    android:layout_centerInParent="true"
    android:text="@strings/text"
/>

Java method 01

textView.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL | Gravity.CENTER_HORIZONTAL);

Java method 02

textview.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER);

Java method 03

textView.setTextAlignment(View.TEXT_ALIGNMENT_CENTER);

Muklas · Answer 32 · 2018-07-13T03:26:41.010

<LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:orientation="vertical"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content">
    <TextView
            android:id="@+id/failresults"
            android:layout_width="fill_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_marginTop="3dp"
            android:gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal"
            android:text=""
            android:textSize="12sp" />
</LinearLayout>

if you have textview inside linearlayout, you need set them both gravity to center

score 4 · Answer 33 · answered Jan 23 '17 at 12:09

I don't think, You really need to do that just define your TextView in layout file like this

<RelativeLayout
    android:layout_width="width"
    android:layout_height="height">
    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/yourid"
        android:layout_centerInParent="true"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Your text" />
</RelativeLayout>

score 3 · Answer 34 · edited Sep 27 '16 at 13:01

3

Set the gravity attribute in the layout file as android:gravity="center"

edited Sep 27 '16 at 13:01

Piyush

18,895
5
32
63

answered Aug 17 '16 at 22:29

Himmat Gill

341
3
4

score 3 · Answer 35 · edited Mar 26 '19 at 04:12

 <android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout 
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto">


       <TextView
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:text="HELLO"
            android:textColor="@color/colorPrimaryDark"
            app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
            app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent"
            app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
            app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"/>

 </android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout>

score 3 · Answer 36 · answered Apr 01 '19 at 07:12

If you are making your text view width and height to wrap content then you have to manage it's position via layout gravity according to the parent supported attributes. Else you can do.

<TextView  
    android:layout_width="match_parent" 
    android:layout_height="match_parent" 
    android:gravity="center"/>

score 3 · Answer 37 · answered Aug 17 '20 at 08:49

3

For kotlin:

If you want to center your TextView from code:

textView.gravity = Gravity.CENTER

If you want to horizontally center:

textView.gravity = Gravity.CENTER_HORIZONTAL

Or, vertically center:

textView.gravity = Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL

answered Aug 17 '20 at 08:49

Jamil Hasnine Tamim

4,389
27
43

score 2 · Answer 38 · answered Feb 19 '14 at 12:55

2

<TextView
android:id="+@id/textView"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:gravity="center"
/>

answered Feb 19 '14 at 12:55

Amey Haldankar

2,223
1
24
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score 2 · Answer 39 · edited Jul 14 '16 at 09:39

2

Did you try this way?

<TextView
android:id="+@id/txtVw"
android:gravity="center"
/>

edited Jul 14 '16 at 09:39

Aditya Vyas-Lakhan

13,409
16
61
96

answered Mar 13 '14 at 12:57

Ruben JG

97
7

score 2 · Answer 40 · answered Dec 07 '16 at 10:26

use the below code in xml it worked for me you can change the orientation it will be in the centre

<LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:orientation="horizontal"
        android:background="@color/colorPrimaryDark"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content">
        <TextView
            android:id="@+id/id_text"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:textSize="18sp"
            android:textColor="@android:color/white"
            android:textStyle="normal"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:text="centre me"/>
    </LinearLayout>

score 2 · Answer 41 · edited Mar 31 '17 at 12:51

2

Use android:gravity="center" to resolve your issue.

edited Mar 31 '17 at 12:51

Satan Pandeya

3,747
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answered Mar 22 '17 at 08:09

Praveen Gaur

211
3
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score 2 · Answer 42 · answered Apr 22 '18 at 04:41

<TextView  
android:layout_width="match_parent" 
android:layout_height="match_parent" 
android:gravity="center"
android:text="In the center"/>

Above is to set it using .xml file.

but I prefer java version because you can also disable it in code while in running condition if necessary. Following is java code.

textView1.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL | Gravity.CENTER_HORIZONTAL);

score 2 · Answer 43 · edited Oct 09 '21 at 04:56

2

android:textAlignment="center"

this will do the trick

edited Oct 09 '21 at 04:56

Suraj Rao

29,388
11
94
103

answered Oct 09 '21 at 04:35

Leslin Antony

21
4

1

While this code may answer the question, providing additional context regarding how and/or why it solves the problem would improve the answer's long-term value. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center: https://stackoverflow.com/help/how-to-answer . Good luck – nima Oct 09 '21 at 07:40

score 2 · Answer 44 · answered Feb 03 '22 at 12:38

2

For the layout of text, it is better to use

android:textAlignment="center"

and for the other layout of objects etc, it's good to use

android:gravity="center"

answered Feb 03 '22 at 12:38

Haechan

53
6

score 2 · Answer 45 · answered Sep 09 '22 at 12:58

2

just add this in your xml.

android:gravity="center"

answered Sep 09 '22 at 12:58

TARUN SAINI

41
3

score 2 · Answer 46 · answered Jun 18 '23 at 11:37

as mentioned in other answers, you can set gravity in xml with:

android:gravity="center"

and in java code :

textview.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER)

in kotlin code :

textview.gravity = Gravity.CENTER

but if you are doing this in kotlin compose, you can center gravity using :

textAlign = TextAlign.Center

score 1 · Answer 47 · edited Mar 31 '17 at 13:01

1

If you are working with RelativeLayout, try using this property inside your TextView tag :

android:layout_centerInParent= true

edited Mar 31 '17 at 13:01

Satan Pandeya

3,747
4
27
53

answered Mar 05 '17 at 15:21

Varun Jain

171
2
14

The "true" should be in quotes – Mason Apr 19 '17 at 18:02

score 1 · Answer 48 · answered Sep 20 '17 at 03:34

1

try this :

<TextView  
    android:layout_width="match_parent" 
    android:layout_height="match_parent" 
    android:gravity="center"
/>

answered Sep 20 '17 at 03:34

Bapusaheb Shinde

839
2
13
16

score 1 · Answer 49 · answered Dec 03 '17 at 18:05

I have added xml snippet to make a textview center alligned in both Linear and Relative Layout.

In Linear Layout

<TextView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Text In Center"
android:layout_gravity="center"
android:gravity="center"/>

In Relative Layout

<TextView
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:text="Text In Center"
android:layout_centerInParent= true/>

score 1 · Answer 50 · answered Feb 05 '18 at 10:43

Let's say Full Textview in screen

 <TextView
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:text="Hello World!"
    android:gravity="center"
    />

Let's say Textview(not full) in Relative layout

<TextView
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="Hello World!"
    android:layout_centerInParent=true
    />

Let's say Textview(not full) in Linear_layout

<TextView
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="Hello World!"
    android:layout_gravity="centre"
    />

score 1 · Answer 51 · edited Mar 15 '18 at 22:27

1

Via .xml file gravity can be set to center as follows

<TextView  
    android:layout_width="match_parent" 
    android:layout_height="match_parent" 
    android:gravity="center"
    android:text="In the center"
/>

Via java following is the way you can solve your particular issue

textView1.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL | Gravity.CENTER_HORIZONTAL);

edited Mar 15 '18 at 22:27

sg7

6,108
2
32
40

answered Mar 03 '18 at 19:33

hyperCoder

271
2
13

score 1 · Answer 52 · answered Jun 13 '18 at 05:50

You can set the gravity to center vertical and textalignment to center.

<TextView
     android:text="@string/yourText"
     android layout_height="wrap_content"
     android layout_height="wrap_content"
     android:gravity="center_vertical"
     android:textAlignment="center" />

score 1 · Answer 53 · edited Dec 28 '21 at 13:09

1

android:gravity="center"

This line in xml would help you to center the TextView.

edited Dec 28 '21 at 13:09

Lucas Sabino

59
6

answered Dec 29 '18 at 13:35

Sarvesh Thiruppathi

275
2
7

score 1 · Answer 54 · answered Feb 07 '19 at 04:24

1

You must set the Gravity like this:

(textView.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL | Gravity.CENTER_HORIZONTAL);

answered Feb 07 '19 at 04:24

mohamad sheikhi

394
5
16

score 1 · Answer 55 · answered Feb 16 '19 at 05:08

1

Try this:

<TextView
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:gravity="center" />

answered Feb 16 '19 at 05:08

mohamad sheikhi

394
5
16

score 1 · Answer 56 · answered Mar 26 '19 at 05:44

Try this:

Using LinearLayout if you are using textview height and width match_parent You can set the gravity text to center and text alignment to center text horizontal if you are using textview height and width wrap_content then add gravity center attribute in your LinearLayout.

XML Code

<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical">

<TextView
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:textAlignment="center"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:textColor="#000"
    android:textSize="30sp"
    android:text="Welcome to Android" />
    </LinearLayout>

Java code

You can programatically do like this:-

(textView.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL | Gravity.CENTER_HORIZONTAL);

Thank you

score 1 · Answer 57 · answered Aug 26 '20 at 16:30

Honorable Mention for the Belated GUI

I wanted to add some value to this already fantastic thread. And finally after 11 years we now have a way to drag and drop the TextView from the toolbox and select gravity through a GUI Properties box. AND, thankfully the GUI combines the properties concisely as "center_vertical|center_horizontal".

    <TextView
    android:text="This is my sample text."
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="35.7dp"
    android:id="@+id/textView2"
    android:layout_marginBottom="24.7dp"
    android:typeface="sans"
    android:textSize="20"
    android:gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal" />

score 1 · Answer 58 · edited Nov 07 '21 at 06:49

Rearranging the location of the layout, image or textview comes under the topic of alignment. so if you want to put your image src in middle vertically, you should use the code below written

android:layout_centerVertical="true"

and for center Horizontally

android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"

or else, I think we can also use gravity to put every element in mid of parent layout like android:gravity="center"

score 1 · Answer 59 · edited May 06 '22 at 08:30

1

To show text in the center like:

------------------>text<-------------------

Use these styles:

<TextView  
    android:layout_width="match_parent" 
    android:layout_height="wrap_contect" 
    android:gravity="center"
    android:text="@string/text"
/>

android:gravity="center"

edited May 06 '22 at 08:30

Cody Gray - on strike

239,200
50
490
574

answered May 06 '22 at 08:26

Ashish Kumar

1,088
8
17

score 0 · Answer 60 · answered Jul 20 '16 at 06:27

<TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:textSize="25dp"
        android:textStyle="bold"
        android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"
        android:text="Tours"
        android:id="@+id/textView" />

score 0 · Answer 61 · answered Aug 17 '16 at 21:46

0

And for those wondering how to center it vertically in its TextView element while keeping it on the left (horizontally) :

android:gravity="center"
android:textAlignment="viewStart"

answered Aug 17 '16 at 21:46

FlorianB

2,188
18
30

score 0 · Answer 62 · answered Oct 06 '16 at 11:08

0

There are 2 ways to do this :

1. From Xml
     use :  
        <TextView
         .........
        android:gravity="center"/>

2. From Java class
    use : 

     [textview].setGravity(Gravity.CENTER);

answered Oct 06 '16 at 11:08

Heena Arora

739
8
18

score 0 · Answer 63 · answered Nov 13 '17 at 10:42

0

You can center a Text View using android:gravity="center"

The code goes as follows

    <TextView
     android:text="@string/yourText"
     android layout_height="wrap_content"
     android layout_height="wrap_content"
     android:gravity="center" />

answered Nov 13 '17 at 10:42

Sarvesh Thiruppathi

65
10

score 0 · Answer 64 · answered Nov 27 '17 at 19:04

If that TextView doesn't have the height / width attributes set to wrap_content, just use android:gravity="center". But some people complain that using that does not work. That's because their layout doesn't have the same gravity. You can set

android:layout_gravity="center" IN THE TEXTVIEW (this will apply only to the TextView)

or

android:gravity="center" IN THE PARENT LAYOUT (this will apply to all the views inside it)

score 0 · Answer 65 · edited Dec 31 '17 at 03:23

In ConstraintLayout for any view:

(When you are using a constraint layout, set height & width to 0, and let the constraint to manage view bounds.)

<View
    android:layout_width="0dp"
    android:layout_height="0dp"
    app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"
    app:layout_constraintLeft_toLeftOf="parent"
    app:layout_constraintRight_toRightOf="parent"
    app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent" />

score 0 · Answer 66 · answered Dec 18 '17 at 07:06

How to center a view or its content e.g. TextView or Button horizontally and vertically? layout_gravity can be used to position a view in the center of its parent. While gravity attribute is used to position view’s content e.g. “text” in the center of the view.

( 1 ) Center TextView Horizontally

<LinearLayout 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"
       android:orientation="vertical"
       android:layout_margin="10dp"
    tools:context=".MainActivity" >

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Hello World!"
        android:layout_gravity="center"
        android:background="#333"
        android:textColor="#fff"
        />

</LinearLayout>

( 2 ) Center TextView Vertically

android:layout_gravity=”center_vertical” dose not work!!

To center TextView vertically, you need to make a trick. Place TextView inside a RelativeLayout then set the TextView attribute android:layout_centerInParent=”true”

<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"
       android:orientation="vertical"
       android:layout_margin="10dp"
    tools:context=".MainActivity" >

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Hello World!"
        android:layout_centerInParent="true"
        android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:background="#333"
        android:textColor="#fff"
        />

</RelativeLayout>

( 3 ) Center Text Horizontally

android:gravity=”center_horizontal"

( 4 ) Center Text Horizontally & Vertically

android:gravity=”center” this will center the text horizontally and vertically

<TextView
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="100dp"
    android:text="Hello World!"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:background="#333"
    android:textColor="#fff"
    />

score 0 · Answer 67 · answered Mar 20 '18 at 15:10

0

Use Gravity Property in the TextView to center the Text Vertically and Horizontally.

android:gravity="center"

answered Mar 20 '18 at 15:10

Aravinth Velusamy

140
2
8

score 0 · Answer 68 · answered May 08 '18 at 09:25

use android:gravity="center" to parent

<LinearLayout
    android:layout_width="200dp"
    android:layout_height="200dp"

    android:gravity="center"
    >
    <TextView
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:text="Hello world"
        />
</LinearLayout>

score 0 · Answer 69 · answered May 25 '18 at 08:12

0

Here is solution.

<TextView  
       android:layout_width="match_parent" 
       android:layout_height="match_parent" 
       android:gravity="center"
       android:text="**Your String Value**" />

answered May 25 '18 at 08:12

Jatin Mandanka

411
11
16

score 0 · Answer 70 · answered Nov 05 '18 at 11:12

0

You can changeandroid:gravity for this.

android:gravity="center" or

if you want to center horizontal or vertical

android:gravity="center_horizontal"

android:gravity="center_vertical"

answered Nov 05 '18 at 11:12

hash

5,336
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score 0 · Answer 71 · answered Dec 14 '18 at 16:56

0

You can programatically do this in java with: textview.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER);

answered Dec 14 '18 at 16:56

Joshua Best

246
1
14

Josss · Answer 72 · 2019-12-13T04:23:32.440

0

Textview width and height should be match_parent and add android:gravity="center" in your textview attributes.

edited Dec 13 '19 at 04:23

answered Apr 27 '19 at 07:06

Josss

229
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score 0 · Answer 73 · answered May 10 '19 at 19:13

0

If you have only one single TextView into your XML file then you can make the parent view gravity as the centre. This will make your child element in the centre of the screen and then you can make your child view as a wrap for both height and width.

answered May 10 '19 at 19:13

Rohit Patil

1,615
12
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score 0 · Answer 74 · answered Dec 02 '22 at 07:04

Font padding can also affect the position of text you can remove it by adding includefontpadding=false

<TextView
    android:includeFontPadding="false"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:gravity="center" />

How do I center text horizontally and vertically in a TextView?

74 Answers74

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