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

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?

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" />

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);

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.

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>

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);

You can do like this to get text centered

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

Did you try this way?

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

android:gravity="centre" 

This would help you to centre the textview.

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)

Here is solution.

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

<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);

 <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>

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.

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)

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" />

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

android:layout_centerInParent= true

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

<TextView
    android:gravity="center" />

You can also set it up dynamically using:

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

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"
    />

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.

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>

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);

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

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>

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" />

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"

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>

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

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" />

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

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").

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

Here is solution.

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

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" />

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"

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);

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"

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

textview.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER)

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"
    />

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"
         />

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" />

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

<TextView
    android:gravity="center" />

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>

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);

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);

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" />

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

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>

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>

You can also set it up dynamically using:

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

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>

 <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>

android:layout_centerInParent="true"

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

Try this:

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

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"        
/>

You can do like this to get text centered

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

android:gravity="center" 

This will do the trick

You must set the Gravity like this:

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

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>

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>

android:gravity="center" 

This will do the trick

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"
    />

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/>

Use this for relative layout

android:layout_centerInParent="true"

and for other layout

android:gravity="center" 

try this :

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

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" />

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

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>

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"

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"
    />

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>

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

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>

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"        
/>

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

<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" />

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" />

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

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

Try this:

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

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/>

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);

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

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>

<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);

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

android:gravity="center"

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);

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"/>

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);

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.

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);

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

android:layout_centerInParent="true"

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

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

textview.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER)

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"
/>

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);

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"
/>

<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

Did you try this way?

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

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"/> 

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" />

<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

<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" />

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"/> 

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);

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

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>

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.

There are 2 ways to do this :

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

2. From Java class
    use : 

     [textview].setGravity(Gravity.CENTER);

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

android:layout_centerInParent= true

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"/>

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

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

android:gravity="center"

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

You must set the Gravity like this:

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

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"

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

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.

Use this for relative layout

android:layout_centerInParent="true"

and for other layout

android:gravity="center" 

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>

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"
         />

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" />

android:gravity="centre" 

This would help you to centre the textview.

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").

try this :

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

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" />

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>

There are 2 ways to do this :

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

2. From Java class
    use : 

     [textview].setGravity(Gravity.CENTER);

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.

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>