How do I create a transparent Activity on Android?

Question

I want to create a transparent Activity on top of another activity.

How can I achieve this?

Answer 1

Note 1:In Drawable folder create test.xml and copy the following code

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:shape="rectangle" >

    <stroke android:width="2dp" />

    <gradient
        android:angle="90"
        android:endColor="#29000000"
        android:startColor="#29000000" />

    <corners
        android:bottomLeftRadius="7dp"
        android:bottomRightRadius="7dp"
        android:topLeftRadius="7dp"
        android:topRightRadius="7dp" />

</shape>

// Note: Corners and shape is as per your requirement.

// Note 2:Create xml:

    <?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"
        android:background="@drawable/test"
        android:orientation="vertical" >

        <LinearLayout
            android:layout_width="fill_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_weight="1.09"
            android:gravity="center"
         android:background="@drawable/transperent_shape"
            android:orientation="vertical" >
     </LinearLayout>
    </LinearLayout>

Answer 2

Just add the following line to the activity tag in your manifest file that needs to look transparent.

android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Translucent"

Answer 3

Declare your activity in the manifest like this:

 <activity   
     android:name=".yourActivity"    
     android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Translucent.NoTitleBar.Fullscreen"/>

And add a transparent background to your layout.

Answer 4

You can remove setContentView(R.layout.mLayout) from your activity and set theme as android:theme="@style/AppTheme.Transparent". Check this link for more details.

Answer 5

I achieved it on 2.3.3 by just adding android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Translucent" in the activity tag in the manifest.

I don't know about lower versions...

Answer 6

All those answers might be confusing, there is a difference between Transparent activity and None UI activity.

Using this:

android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Translucent.NoTitleBar"

Will make the activity transparent but will block the UI.

If you want a None UI activity than use this:

android:theme="@android:style/Theme.NoDisplay"