How to change color of Toolbar back button in Android?

Question

I could not change the color of back button. I am using toolbar material design. In my app I am applying black background of tool bar but the back design is being black by default that's why I just want to change the color of this back button. Please give me solutions.

Thank You

Rajen Raiyarela · Answer 1 · 2018-08-23T05:15:28.347

251

You can add a style to your styles.xml,

<style name="ToolbarTheme" parent="@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.ActionBar">
  <!-- Customize color of navigation drawer icon and back arrow --> 
  <item name="colorControlNormal">@color/toolbar_color_control_normal</item>
</style>

and add this as theme to your toolbar in toolbar layout.xml using app:theme, check below

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar 
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:minHeight="?attr/actionBarSize"
    android:background="?attr/colorPrimary"
    app:theme="@style/ToolbarTheme" >
</android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar>

edited Aug 23 '18 at 05:15

answered Oct 26 '15 at 05:41

Rajen Raiyarela

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Worked like a charm, and sounds most appropriate. – Vijay Kumar Kanta May 19 '18 at 06:59
1

Darn. It works. Now I just need something equivalent for iOS. Thanks! – Ernesto May 30 '18 at 21:27
Would be better to call it ToolbarTheme though – Leo DroidCoder Aug 01 '18 at 20:33
1

For me – Yar Aug 31 '18 at 14:32
3

It worked. This is more appropriate than the accepted answer. – Domenico Jan 16 '19 at 21:25
rifado, gracias – Fernando Torres Oct 02 '19 at 22:15
1

Adding this attribute `@color/toolbar_color_control_normal` to the app's main theme also works for me. You just need to ensure the Toolbar declaration uses the app's main theme – Seun Matt Jun 11 '23 at 12:07

score 99 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 26 '15 at 05:39

99

use this style

<style name="Theme.MyFancyTheme" parent="android:Theme.Holo">
    <item name="android:homeAsUpIndicator">@drawable/back_button_image</item>
</style>

answered Oct 26 '15 at 05:39

Akhil Jayakumar

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i am using this style. what i have to change in this style? – Nazima Kauser MMF Oct 26 '15 at 08:42
you can use custom image files for back button.just call it in `@drawable/your_image' – Akhil Jayakumar Oct 26 '15 at 09:27
This is the best way to do it. Because using R.drawable.abc_ic_ab_back_mtrl_am_alpha to change color has risks, as support version changes the drawable resource frequently. – Mostafa Imran Mar 13 '16 at 06:12

ch3tanz · Answer 3 · 2018-08-01T18:45:16.530

96

Here is the simplest way of achieving Light and Dark Theme for Toolbar.You have to change the value of app:theme of the Toolbar tag

For Black Toolbar Title and Black Up arrow, your toolbar should implement following theme:

app:theme="@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.Light"

For White Toolbar Title and White Up arrow, your toolbar should implement following theme:

app:theme="@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat"

edited Aug 01 '18 at 18:45

answered Oct 26 '15 at 06:53

ch3tanz

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For white Toolbar Title and White Up arrow, use following theme: android:theme="@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.Dark.ActionBar" – Amol Patil Dec 13 '15 at 10:24
1

I am trying to understand, why is it named ThemeOverlay? Why can't I use just simple Theme.AppCompat.Dark.ActionBar here? – Gaket Nov 09 '16 at 07:08
@ch3tanz Are you using ActionBar or Toolbar? Why do you use ActionBar styles? – f470071 Mar 30 '17 at 17:45
@f470071 I am using Toolbar. It's just style which will support in all the versions. You can use Material Design styles if your app is targeting above Lollipop. – ch3tanz Mar 31 '17 at 02:01
1

`Theme.AppCompat.Light.DarkActionBar` in my case. – Evi Song Jul 29 '18 at 22:50

score 44 · Answer 4 · edited Dec 24 '19 at 14:42

44

Use this:

<style name="BaseTheme" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light.NoActionBar">
  <item name="colorControlNormal">@color/white</item> 
</style>

edited Dec 24 '19 at 14:42

Malwinder Singh

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answered Aug 23 '18 at 05:33

Sabin Acharya

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This should be accepted. Every answer here is just to replace icon, not it's color. – Michał Jabłoński Jul 17 '19 at 11:25
This is the only working answer in this whole list – Vijay Jul 02 '21 at 05:57

score 40 · Answer 5 · answered Jul 18 '17 at 05:35

40

For white Toolbar Title and White Up arrow, use following theme:

android:theme="@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.Dark.ActionBar"

answered Jul 18 '17 at 05:35

Pankaj Talaviya

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score 15 · Answer 6 · answered May 29 '20 at 11:00

Just use the MaterialToolbar and override the default colors:

    <com.google.android.material.appbar.MaterialToolbar
        style="@style/Widget.MaterialComponents.Toolbar.Primary"
        android:theme="@style/MyThemeOverlay_Toolbar"
        ..>

with:

  <style name="MyThemeOverlay_Toolbar" parent="ThemeOverlay.MaterialComponents.Toolbar.Primary">
    <!-- color used by navigation icon and overflow icon -->
    <item name="colorOnPrimary">@color/...</item>
  </style>

If you are using the androidx.appcompat.widget.Toolbar or the MaterialToolbar with the default style (Widget.MaterialComponents.Toolbar) you can use:

<androidx.appcompat.widget.Toolbar
    android:theme="@style/MyThemeOverlay_Toolbar2"

with:

  <style name="MyThemeOverlay_Toolbar2" parent="ThemeOverlay.MaterialComponents.Toolbar.Primary">
    <!-- This attributes is used by title -->
    <item name="android:textColorPrimary">@color/white</item>

    <!-- This attributes is used by navigation icon and overflow icon -->
    <item name="colorOnPrimary">@color/secondaryColor</item>
  </style>

Can you give a precise example of how you achieved the colour in your image? — Just The Highlights, Jun 19 '23 at 06:15

score 10 · Answer 7 · answered Jan 27 '19 at 08:50

10

You don't have to change style for it. After setting up your toolbar as actionbar, You can code like this

android.getSupportActionBar().setDisplayHomeAsUpEnabled(true);
android.getSupportActionBar().setHomeAsUpIndicator(R.drawable.back);
//here back is your drawable image

But You cannot change color of back arrow by this method

answered Jan 27 '19 at 08:50

Nevil Ghelani

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thank you so much. this is the only solution that worked for me! – Sam Dec 07 '21 at 20:40

score 7 · Answer 8 · answered Dec 19 '18 at 17:30

7

You can use your own icon by using app:navigationIcon and for the title color app:titleTextColor

Example:

<android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar
        android:id="@+id/toolbar"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="?actionBarSize"
        android:background="@color/colorPrimary"
        app:navigationIcon="@drawable/ic_arrow_back_white_24dp"
        app:titleTextColor="@color/white" />

answered Dec 19 '18 at 17:30

Mohamed Nageh

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This worked for me just set any icon using this line `app:navigationIcon="@drawable/ic_back_black"` – Abhishek Feb 04 '19 at 07:06
glade it helped. – Mohamed Nageh Mar 29 '19 at 13:15
didnt work for me. The color of back button or navigation icon stayed the same – coolcool1994 May 08 '21 at 02:51

score 7 · Answer 9 · answered Oct 01 '20 at 13:39

To style the Toolbar on Android 21+ it's a bit different.

<style name="DarkTheme.v21" parent="DarkTheme.v19">
        <!-- toolbar background color -->
        <item name="android:navigationBarColor">@color/color_primary_blue_dark</item>
        <!-- toolbar back button color -->
        <item name="toolbarNavigationButtonStyle">@style/Toolbar.Button.Navigation.Tinted</item>
    </style>

    <style name="Toolbar.Button.Navigation.Tinted" parent="Widget.AppCompat.Toolbar.Button.Navigation">
        <item name="tint">@color/color_white</item>
    </style>

score 6 · Answer 10 · edited Sep 30 '16 at 16:02

6

I think if theme should be generated some problem but its dynamically set black arrow.So i Suggested try this one.

Drawable backArrow = getResources().getDrawable(R.drawable.abc_ic_ab_back_mtrl_am_alpha);
backArrow.setColorFilter(getResources().getColor(R.color.md_grey_900), PorterDuff.Mode.SRC_ATOP);
getSupportActionBar().setHomeAsUpIndicator(backArrow);

edited Sep 30 '16 at 16:02

Karolis Koncevičius

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answered Sep 29 '16 at 08:56

Siddharth Makadiya

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How your solution differs from @Parth Bhayani? – CoolMind Dec 24 '18 at 10:12

phatnhse · Answer 11 · 2019-09-12T09:15:38.513

If you want white back button (←) and white toolbar title, follow this:

<android.support.design.widget.AppBarLayout
        android:id="@+id/app_bar"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:theme="@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.Dark.ActionBar">

        <android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar
            android:id="@+id/toolbar"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="?attr/actionBarSize"
            android:background="?attr/colorPrimary"
            app:popupTheme="@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.Light" />
    </android.support.design.widget.AppBarLayout>

Change theme from Dark to Light if you want black back button (←) and black toolbar title.

score 6 · Answer 12 · answered Feb 04 '20 at 06:49

6

I am using <style name="BaseTheme" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light.NoActionBar> theme in my android application and in NoActionBar theme, colorControlNormal property is used to change the color of navigation icon default Back button arrow in my toolbar

styles.xml

<style name="BaseTheme" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light.NoActionBar">
  <item name="colorControlNormal">@color/your_color</item> 
</style>

answered Feb 04 '20 at 06:49

Shreeya Chhatrala

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not working to me – famfamfam Nov 08 '21 at 12:44
1

not working with daynight – noveleven Nov 09 '21 at 09:15

score 5 · Answer 13 · answered Jan 31 '20 at 22:56

5

I did it this way using the Material Components library:

<style name="AppTheme" parent="Theme.MaterialComponents.DayNight.NoActionBar">
    <item name="drawerArrowStyle">@style/AppTheme.DrawerArrowToggle</item>
</style>

<style name="AppTheme.DrawerArrowToggle" parent="Widget.AppCompat.DrawerArrowToggle">
    <item name="color">@android:color/white</item>
</style>

answered Jan 31 '20 at 22:56

Sam

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this works: it allows you to change the color of the hamburger menu icon. – lnaie Feb 23 '20 at 10:30

score 4 · Answer 14 · answered Sep 24 '21 at 07:04

Programmatically we can achieve using below code. No need to add our own back icon as suggested by many others.

private void initToolBar(String title) {
    toolbar = findViewById(R.id.toolbar);
    toolbar.setTitle(title);
    toolbar.setTitleTextColor(getResources().getColor(R.color.gold));
    setSupportActionBar(toolbar);


    // add back arrow to toolbar
    if (getSupportActionBar() != null) {
        getSupportActionBar().setDisplayHomeAsUpEnabled(true);
        getSupportActionBar().setDisplayShowHomeEnabled(true);
        Drawable nav = toolbar.getNavigationIcon();
        if(nav != null) {
            nav.setTint(getResources().getColor(R.color.gold));
        }
    }
}

Please note toolbar.getNavigationIcon() if requested before getSupportActionBar().setDisplayHomeAsUpEnabled(true); it won't work.

score 3 · Answer 15 · edited Feb 04 '20 at 13:38

3

You can add this code into your java class. But you must create a vector asset before, so you can customize your arrow back.

actionBar.setHomeAsUpIndicator(R.drawable.ic_arrow_back_black_24dp);

edited Feb 04 '20 at 13:38

Bernardo Duarte

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answered Feb 04 '20 at 13:03

Mochamad Fandi

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score 2 · Answer 16 · edited May 24 '19 at 23:18

Simple and no Worries

 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
    <android.support.design.widget.CoordinatorLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
        xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
        xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent">

        <android.support.design.widget.AppBarLayout
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:theme="@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.Dark.ActionBar">

            <android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar
                android:id="@+id/toolbar"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="?attr/actionBarSize"
                android:background="?attr/colorPrimary"
                app:titleTextColor="@color/white"
                app:popupTheme="@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.Light" />

        </android.support.design.widget.AppBarLayout>

        <include layout="@layout/testing" />

    </android.support.design.widget.CoordinatorLayout>

score 0 · Answer 17 · edited Oct 14 '21 at 09:29

0

For white Toolbar Title and White Up arrow, use following theme:

android:theme="@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.Dark.ActionBar"

edited Oct 14 '21 at 09:29

Stefano Sansone

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answered Oct 14 '21 at 06:43

084_SAKSHAM GUPTA

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score 0 · Answer 18 · answered Jul 27 '22 at 15:46

I am using navigationIconTint property is used to change the color of navigation icon default Back button arrow in my toolbar

styles.xml

<style name="AppTheme.ToolbarStyle" parent="Widget.MaterialComponents.Toolbar.Surface">
      <item name="titleCentered">true</item>
      <item name="titleTextColor">?attr/colorOnSurface</item>
      <item name="navigationIconTint">?attr/colorOnSurface</item>
</style>

score -1 · Answer 19 · answered Sep 19 '19 at 08:29

If you want system back color in white then you can use this code

<com.google.android.material.appbar.AppBarLayout
        android:id="@+id/appbar"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        app:elevation="0dp"
        android:theme="@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.Dark.ActionBar"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent">

        <androidx.appcompat.widget.Toolbar
            android:id="@+id/toolbar_notification"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="?attr/actionBarSize"
            app:contentInsetLeft="0dp"
            app:contentInsetStart="0dp"
            app:contentInsetStartWithNavigation="0dp">

            <include layout="@layout/action_bar_notification" />
        </androidx.appcompat.widget.Toolbar>
    </com.google.android.material.appbar.AppBarLayout>

Note:- android:theme="@style/ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.Dark.ActionBar" is key

The paste is in your activity where you want to show back button on action bar

final Toolbar toolbar = (Toolbar) findViewById(R.id.toolbar_notification);
setSupportActionBar(toolbar);
getSupportActionBar().setDisplayHomeAsUpEnabled(true);
getSupportActionBar().setDisplayShowHomeEnabled(false);

How to change color of Toolbar back button in Android?

19 Answers19

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