Text on spinner is white on a white background

Question

The text on my spinners is white, and I have no idea why.

This is my xml, nothing special

 <Spinner
     android:id="@+id/spinner_date"
     android:layout_width="0dp"
     android:layout_height="wrap_content"
     android:layout_weight="1" />

And my code

dateSpinner = (Spinner) findViewById(R.id.spinner_date);
selectedDate = calendar.getTime();
List<String> list = new ArrayList<String>();
list.add(formatter.format(selectedDate));
dateAdapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(mContext,
            android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item, list);
dateSpinner.setAdapter(dateAdapter);

What could be the reason that my text is displayed in white?

EDIT: I've found the reason, I replaced the mContext parameter which was set in my onCreate.

mContext = getApplicationContext();

Now I use d

ateAdapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(this,
                android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item, list);

and it works.

Answer 1

I have same problem and have found the answer. You dont use application context, instead, just use getActivity() (if you are in fragment) or this (if you are in activity), it will work

 dateAdapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(**this**,
        android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item, list);

Answer 2

I solved this problem using

getBaseContext()

instead of

getApplicationContext()

Answer 3

i change it from

new ArrayAdapter<String>(getApplicationContext(), android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item, some_list);

to new ArrayAdapter<String>(this, android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item, list);

it's fixed, although i don't want to use "this"

Answer 4

I also had same problem it was because of my application theme. Which I solved by replacing the

android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item

with

android.R.layout.simple_list_item_1

in my ArrayAdapter . I hope this may solve your problem

Answer 5

Maybe you have a white android:textColor="@android:color/white" attribute in your simple_spinner_item.xml in the layout folder of your project.

Better use a custom spinner item layout with a good android:textColor="@android:color/COLOR_YOU_WANT_TO_USE" attribute.

Answer 6

You can easily style the Spinner. Use this in style.xml :

 <style name="SpinnerThemeLight" >
    <item name="android:colorBackground">@color/black</item>
    <item name="android:textColorPrimary">@color/black</item>
    <item name="android:textColorSecondary">@color/black</item>
    <item name="android:textColorTertiary">@color/black</item>
    <item name="android:textColorPrimaryDisableOnly">@color/black</item>
</style>

In the above xml file, I have simply given black color for time sake. Just play with it and sort out your preferred color.

Define the Spinner in the activity.xml as follows :

 <android.support.v7.widget.AppCompatSpinner
   android:id="@+id/spinner"
   android:layout_width="wrap_content"
   android:layout_height="match_parent"
   android:entries="@array/countrys"
   android:spinnerMode="dropdown"
   android:theme="@style/SpinnerThemeLight"/>

Answer 7

I've changed the text color of that spinner's textview without creating a new layout. I know it's been a long time but it's what worked for me, just thought of sharing it. Best part is you can use it on any default adapter.

Here's the code : (this for Activity & requireActivity for Fragments)

1) Java

arrayAdapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(this,android.R.layout.simple_list_item_1,groups){
        @NonNull
        @Override
        public View getView(int position, @Nullable View convertView, @NonNull ViewGroup parent) {
            View view = super.getView(position, convertView, parent);
            TextView listItem = view.findViewById(android.R.id.text1);
            listItem.setTextColor(Color.WHITE);
            listItem.setTextSize(20);
            listItem.setElevation(18);
            return view;
        }
    };

2) Kotlin

arrayAdapter = object : ArrayAdapter<String>(requireActivity(), android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item, spinnerCategoriesList) {
        override fun getView(position: Int, @Nullable convertView: View?, parent: ViewGroup): View {
            val view = super.getView(position, convertView, parent)
            val listItem = view.findViewById<TextView>(android.R.id.text1)
            listItem.setTextColor(Color.BLACK)
            listItem.textSize = 16f
            return view
        }
    }

Answer 8

I assume you have created your own TextView for your Spinner, eg

<TextView
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:textSize="14sp"
    android:textColor="@color/white"
    android:padding="5dip"
    />

and glued it to your Adapter via a call like that

String[] spinnerItems = getResources().getStringArray(R.array.my_array);
ArrayAdapter<String> adapter = new ArrayAdapter<>(this, R.layout.spinner_text, spinnerItems);

This should result in having the selection-text of your spinner including its items within the dropdown view painted in white. Now the background of your dropdown view will be influenced by your app theme, which in most cases, will lead your white text to be rendered on a white background. To avoid this android allows you to set a resource for your spinner dropdown view. You can set your own view or simply use the default drop-down view, which will overwrite your custom textview within the dropdown menu through the call

 adapter.setDropDownViewResource(android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item);

The complete code could look like this

this.spinner = findViewById(R.id.spinnerView);
String[] spinnerItems = getResources().getStringArray(R.array.my_array);
ArrayAdapter<String> adapter = new ArrayAdapter<>(this, R.layout.spinner_text, spinnerItems);
adapter.setDropDownViewResource(android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item);
this.spinner.setAdapter(adapter);