How do I specify different layouts for portrait and landscape orientations?

Question

I've seen references to being able to specify two separate layout xml files for an activity, one for Portrait and one for Landscape. I've not been to find any information on how to do that though. How do I specify for each activity which xml file is it's portrait layout and which is the Landscape layout?

Is it also possible to specify different layouts for different screen sizes? If so, how is this done?

Solution 1

Create a layout-land directory and put the landscape version of your layout XML file in that directory.

Solution 2

You just have to put it under separate folders with different names depending on orientation and resolution, the device will automatically select the right one for its screen settings

More info here:

http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens_support.html

under "Resource directory qualifiers for screen size and density"

Solution 3

For Mouse lovers! I say right click on resources folder and Add new resource file, and from Available qualifiers select the orientation :

---

But still you can do it manually by say, adding the sub-folder "layout-land" to

"Your-Project-Directory\app\src\main\res"

since then any layout.xml file under this sub-folder will only work for landscape mode automatically.

Use "layout-port" for portrait mode.

Solution 4

Just a reminder:

Remove orientation from android:configChanges attribute for the activity in your manifest xml file if you defined it:

android:configChanges="orientation|screenLayout|screenSize"

Solution 5

Fastest way for Android Studio 3.x.x and Android Studio 4.x.x

1.Go to the design tab of the activity layout

2.At the top you should press on the orientation for preview button, there is a option to create a landscape layout (check image), a new folder will be created as your xml layout file for that particular orientation

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Comments

[Jay Askren]

Does that mean all activities need to define both a landscape and a portrait view if I do this?

[Mark B]

No, if no layout-land definition exists it just uses the XML layout in the standard layout directory.

[SMBiggs]

Only works for OS versions 1.6 or higher. If you want to support 1.5, you need this link: developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens-support-1.5.ht‌​ml

[itsaboutcode]

@Silvio Donnini - links no longer have the required information.

[Danation]

@itsaboutcode Yes it does: Go down to "Using configuration qualifiers"

[Tushar Pandey]

in my case , layout-land is not working when i am using , android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden|screenSize‌​"

[Ushal Naidoo]

Remove orientation from android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden|screenSize‌​"

[Smitty-Werben-Jager-Manjenson]

This worked for me. I added a new layout file as instructed with the same name as the portrait version. Android Studio automatically created a folder for that layout. One layout for portrait and another for landscape. The new layout automatically gets displayed when rotating screen.

[monK_]

Incorrect. You are not using the folder view mode (like "Project"). You are probably using "Android" view mode, which groups files together like in your screenshot in virtual folders, but the actual folder structure is still how every other post here describes.

[natansalda]

what if I need to have android:configChanges="orientation|screenLayout|screenSize" in my manifest, as some of my fragments can be in both orientation and some don't, but still need separate layouts for landscape and portrait for those fragments that can change orientation dynamically?

[Nikunjkumar Kapupara]

One of the easiest and Shortest way to deal with landscape layout

[pvd]

This answer should be chosen

[Luis A. Florit]

If I remove the orientation from android:configChanges the activity is destroyed when the orientation changes.

[Luis A. Florit]

When I change the orientation the activity does not switch the layout, staying with the layout when the activity is created. If I remove orientation from android:configChanges, the activity is destroyed.