
6 June 2024 Leave a comment Tech-Help
When designing an Android application, you might encounter a situation where the default cursor color in an EditText
component doesn’t fit well with your app’s theme. This issue is especially prevalent when using themes like Android’s Holo Light, where the cursor may become nearly invisible against a light background. This article will guide you through several methods to change the cursor color of an EditText
in Android.
Method 1: Using android:textCursorDrawable
Attribute
One of the simplest ways to change the cursor color is by setting the android:textCursorDrawable
attribute to @null
. This forces the cursor to use the android:textColor
as its color.
<EditText
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:textCursorDrawable="@null"
/>
Note: This attribute is available in API level 12 and higher.
Method 2: Custom Drawable
If you want more control over the cursor’s appearance, you can create a custom drawable and set it as the cursor.
Step 1: Define the Drawable
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:shape="rectangle">
<size android:width="1dp" />
<solid android:color="#000000"/>
</shape>
Save this drawable XML as res/drawable/black_cursor.xml
.
Step 2: Apply the Drawable to EditText
<EditText
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:textCursorDrawable="@drawable/black_cursor"
/>
Method 3: Using AppCompat Themes
If you are using AppCompat themes, you can change the cursor color by modifying the colorAccent
attribute in your app theme.
<style name="AppTheme" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light.DarkActionBar">
<item name="colorAccent">#0091BC</item>
</style>
Apply this style to your application or activity.
Method 4: Programmatically Changing the Cursor Color
For dynamic scenarios where you need to change the cursor color programmatically, you can use reflection to modify the cursor drawable.
try {
Field f = TextView.class.getDeclaredField("mCursorDrawableRes");
f.setAccessible(true);
f.set(yourEditText, R.drawable.black_cursor);
} catch (Exception ignored) {
}
Conclusion
Changing the cursor color in an EditText
can significantly improve the user experience by making the cursor more visible and enhancing the app’s overall aesthetics. Choose the method that best suits your project’s requirements.
For further guidance on Android development, you may find our other articles helpful:
- Creating a RecyclerView with Multiple View Types
- Setting Text Color of a TextView Programmatically
- Preventing Reverse Engineering of an Android APK
Additionally, for mobile developers looking to streamline their testing processes, consider using Repeato. Repeato is a no-code test automation tool for iOS and Android that helps you create, run, and maintain automated tests for your apps. Its computer vision and AI capabilities allow you to quickly edit and run tests, freeing up time to focus on creating a great product. Repeato also enables non-technical colleagues or QAs to handle test automation, making it a versatile solution for your team’s needs.
Learn more about Repeato and how it can benefit your development process by visiting our documentation.