How to center the content inside a linear layout?

Issue

I'm trying to center an ImageView inside a LinearLayout horizontally and vertically, but I just can't do it. The main reason why I'm not using a RelativeLayout for that is because I need the layout_weight (my Activity consists of four columns that should be equally divided, and also responsive to different screen widths, each column having an ImageView centered and unstretched).

Here is my xml so far:

<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:background="#000"
    android:baselineAligned="false"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    tools:context=".Main" >

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="center"
        android:layout_weight="1" >

        <ImageView
            android:id="@+id/imageButton_speak"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:background="@drawable/image_bg"
            android:src="@drawable/ic_speak" />
    </LinearLayout>

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="center"
        android:layout_weight="1" >

        <ImageView
            android:id="@+id/imageButton_readtext"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:background="@drawable/image_bg"
            android:src="@drawable/ic_readtext" />
    </LinearLayout>

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="center"
        android:layout_weight="1" >

        <ImageView
            android:id="@+id/imageButton_edit"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:background="@drawable/image_bg"
            android:src="@drawable/ic_edit" />
    </LinearLayout>

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="center"
        android:layout_weight="1" >

        <ImageView
            android:id="@+id/imageButton_config"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:background="@drawable/image_bg"
            android:src="@drawable/ic_config" />
    </LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>

Solution

android:gravity handles the alignment of its children,

android:layout_gravity handles the alignment of itself.

So use one of these.

<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:background="#000"
    android:baselineAligned="false"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    tools:context=".Main" >

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_weight="1"
        android:gravity="center" >

        <ImageView
            android:id="@+id/imageButton_speak"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:background="@drawable/image_bg"
            android:src="@drawable/ic_speak" />
    </LinearLayout>

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_weight="1"
        android:gravity="center" >

        <ImageView
            android:id="@+id/imageButton_readtext"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:background="@drawable/image_bg"
            android:src="@drawable/ic_readtext" />
    </LinearLayout>

    ...
</LinearLayout>

(Every node except leaf nodes should have android:gravity="center".)

or

<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:background="#000"
    android:baselineAligned="false"
    android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    tools:context=".Main" >

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="center"
        android:layout_weight="1" >

        <ImageView
            android:id="@+id/imageButton_speak"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_gravity="center"
            android:background="@drawable/image_bg"
            android:src="@drawable/ic_speak" />
    </LinearLayout>

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="center"
        android:layout_weight="1" >

        <ImageView
            android:id="@+id/imageButton_readtext"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_gravity="center"
            android:background="@drawable/image_bg"
            android:src="@drawable/ic_readtext" />
    </LinearLayout>

    ...
</LinearLayout>

(Every node except the root node should have android:layout_gravity="center".)

Answered By - Naetmul