Add “options menu” to an AppCompatActivity (Android App Development)


Adding an “options menu” to an Android app’s Activity is quite simple.

This is an example of what an Android options menu looks like. Look at the icon that looks like 3 dots vertically stacked.

android options menu

My dev environment status as of writing this

Android Studio version: v. 2.1
OS: Mac OS X El Capitan v. 10.11
My Android app build status:

  • compileSdkVersion: 24
  • buildToolsVersion: 24.0.2
  • minSdkVersion: 16
  • targetSdkVersion: 24

Add “options menu” to an Android AppCompatActivity

#1 Create menu layout file

Create res/menu/main.xml, creating the menu folder if not yet existing.

Add the following to res/menu/main.xml:

#2 Enable menu by adding MenuInflater to the Activity

Add the following overriding method to your AppCompatActivity:

#3 Add listener for selected options menu item

Again, add the following overriding method to your AppCompatActivity. Replace the Toasts with whatever you need to do upon menu item selection:

That’s it! Your Android Activity should now have an options menu on the actionbar

My resources for adding my options menu to Activity

Adding the App Bar
Android SDK: Implement an Options Menu

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Catzie

An odd human being who happens to have a variety of ever-changing interests, but right now they are programming, making up silly song/rap lyrics, K-pop, drawing, creating unique dessert/drink flavors, obsessing about finding out how some things works, automation, anime, video games... Ran online dessert shops Cookies PH and Catzie's Cakery in her past life.

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