Android EditText error message popup text not showing

Question

I'm having an issue in my app where the error popup on EditTexts shows but the text is not visible. It looks something like this:

This happens with all the EditTexts in my app. Here's an example layout XML

Layout:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<android.support.design.widget.CoordinatorLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:id="@+id/main_content"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:background="@drawable/gradient"
    android:fitsSystemWindows="true"
    tools:context=".ui.onboarding.profile.OnboardingUserProfileActivity">
    <ImageView
        android:id="@+id/imageView"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:scaleType="fitXY"
        app:srcCompat="@drawable/shapes_background" />

    <ProgressBar
        android:id="@+id/login_progress"
        style="?android:attr/progressBarStyleLarge"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="8dp"
        android:visibility="gone" />

    <ScrollView
        android:id="@+id/form"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:layout_marginLeft="20dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="20dp"
        android:layout_marginBottom="20dp">

        <LinearLayout
            android:id="@+id/linearLayout"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
            android:layout_marginBottom="80dp"
            android:orientation="vertical">

            <android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout
                android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:layout_gravity="center"
                android:layout_marginTop="40dp"
                android:layout_marginBottom="20dp">

                <ImageView
                    android:id="@+id/profileImageView"
                    android:layout_width="160dp"
                    android:layout_height="160dp"
                    android:scaleType="fitXY"
                    android:src="@drawable/user_profile_placeholder"
                    app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"
                    app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
                    app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
                    app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent"/>


                <android.support.design.widget.FloatingActionButton
                    android:id="@+id/cameraImageButton"
                    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:layout_gravity="bottom|end"
                    app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"
                    app:layout_constraintRight_toRightOf="parent"
                    app:srcCompat="@android:drawable/ic_menu_camera" />
            </android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout>

            <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
                android:id="@+id/firstnameTvLayout"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="0dp"
                android:layout_marginBottom="20dp"
                android:layout_weight="0.33"
                android:textColorHint="@color/colorVeryLightGray"
                android:theme="@style/AppTheme.WhiteColorAccent"
                app:errorTextAppearance="@style/error_appearance">

                <android.support.design.widget.TextInputEditText
                    android:id="@+id/firstnameTv"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:hint="@string/prompt_firstname"
                    android:inputType="textPersonName"
                    android:maxLines="1"
                    android:nextFocusDown="@id/lastnameTv"
                    android:nextFocusForward="@id/lastnameTv"
                    android:singleLine="true"
                    android:textColor="@android:color/white"
                    android:textColorHint="@color/colorWhite"
                    android:theme="@style/AppTheme.WhiteEditText"/>

            </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

            <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
                android:id="@+id/lastnameTvLayout"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="0dp"
                android:layout_marginBottom="20dp"
                android:layout_weight="0.33"
                android:textColorHint="@color/colorVeryLightGray"
                android:theme="@style/AppTheme.WhiteColorAccent">

                <android.support.design.widget.TextInputEditText
                    android:id="@+id/lastnameTv"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:hint="@string/prompt_lastname"
                    android:inputType="textPersonName"
                    android:maxLines="1"
                    android:nextFocusDown="@id/usernameTv"
                    android:nextFocusForward="@id/usernameTv"
                    android:singleLine="true"
                    android:textColor="@android:color/white"
                    android:textColorHint="@color/colorWhite"
                    android:theme="@style/AppTheme.WhiteEditText" />

            </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

            <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
                android:id="@+id/usernameTvLayout"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="0dp"
                android:layout_weight="0.33"
                android:textColorHint="@color/colorVeryLightGray"
                android:theme="@style/AppTheme.WhiteColorAccent">

                <android.support.design.widget.TextInputEditText
                    android:id="@+id/usernameTv"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:hint="@string/prompt_username"
                    android:imeActionId="6"
                    android:imeActionLabel="@string/action_sign_in_short"
                    android:imeOptions="actionUnspecified"
                    android:maxLines="1"
                    android:nextFocusDown="@id/nextBtn"
                    android:nextFocusForward="@id/nextBtn"
                    android:singleLine="true"
                    android:textColor="@android:color/white"
                    android:textColorHint="@color/colorWhite"
                    android:theme="@style/AppTheme.WhiteEditText" />

            </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

        </LinearLayout>
    </ScrollView>

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/nextBtn"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="10dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="50dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="50dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:text="@string/next"
        android:textStyle="bold"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme.PrimaryButton"
        app:layout_anchor="@+id/form"
        app:layout_anchorGravity="bottom|center_horizontal" />

</android.support.design.widget.CoordinatorLayout>

And the styles:

<style name="AppTheme.WhiteColorAccent">
    <item name="colorAccent">@color/colorWhite</item>
</style>
  <style name="AppTheme.WhiteEditText" parent="Widget.AppCompat.EditText">
    <item name="android:textColor">@color/colorWhite</item>
    <item name="colorControlNormal">@color/colorVeryLightGray</item>
    <item name="colorControlActivated">@color/colorWhite</item>
    <item name="colorControlHighlight">@color/colorWhite</item>
</style>

Setting error in the activity using firstnameTv.error = "This field can not be empty" (Kotlin)

Answer 1

You need to use style="@style/AppTheme.WhiteEditText"

Instead of android:theme="@style/AppTheme.WhiteColorAccent"

Now question is why need to use style Instead of android:theme

When you use style it apply will apply only to that view

and When you use android:theme it apply will apply view as well as all of its children.

Read more about What is the difference between style and android:theme attributes?

SAMPLE CODE

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<android.support.design.widget.CoordinatorLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:id="@+id/main_content"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:fitsSystemWindows="true"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:background="@color/colorPrimary">

    <ImageView
        android:id="@+id/imageView"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:scaleType="fitXY"
        android:visibility="gone" />

    <ProgressBar
        android:id="@+id/login_progress"
        style="?android:attr/progressBarStyleLarge"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="8dp"
        android:visibility="gone" />

    <ScrollView
        android:id="@+id/form"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:layout_marginLeft="20dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="20dp"
        android:layout_marginBottom="20dp"
        android:fillViewport="true">

        <LinearLayout
            android:id="@+id/linearLayout"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
            android:layout_marginBottom="80dp"
            android:orientation="vertical">

            <android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout
                android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:layout_gravity="center"
                android:layout_marginTop="40dp"
                android:layout_marginBottom="20dp">

                <ImageView
                    android:id="@+id/profileImageView"
                    android:layout_width="160dp"
                    android:layout_height="160dp"
                    android:scaleType="fitXY"
                    android:src="@color/colorNavBar"
                    app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"
                    app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
                    app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
                    app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent" />


                <android.support.design.widget.FloatingActionButton
                    android:id="@+id/cameraImageButton"
                    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:layout_gravity="bottom|end"
                    app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"
                    app:layout_constraintRight_toRightOf="parent"
                    app:srcCompat="@android:drawable/ic_menu_camera" />
            </android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout>

            <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
                android:id="@+id/firstnameTvLayout"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="0dp"
                android:layout_marginBottom="20dp"
                android:layout_weight="0.33"
                android:textColorHint="@color/colorVeryLightGray"
                style="@style/AppTheme.WhiteColorAccent"
                >

                <android.support.design.widget.TextInputEditText
                    android:id="@+id/firstnameTv"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:hint="First Name"
                    android:inputType="textPersonName"
                    android:maxLines="1"
                    android:imeOptions="actionNext"
                    android:nextFocusDown="@id/lastnameTv"
                    android:nextFocusForward="@id/lastnameTv"
                    android:textColor="@android:color/white"
                    android:textColorHint="@color/colorWhite"
                    style="@style/AppTheme.WhiteEditText" />

            </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

            <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
                android:id="@+id/lastnameTvLayout"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="0dp"
                android:layout_marginBottom="20dp"
                android:layout_weight="0.33"
                android:textColorHint="@color/colorVeryLightGray"
                style="@style/AppTheme.WhiteColorAccent">

                <android.support.design.widget.TextInputEditText
                    android:id="@+id/lastnameTv"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:hint="Last Name"
                    android:inputType="textPersonName"
                    android:maxLines="1"
                    android:nextFocusDown="@id/usernameTv"
                    android:nextFocusForward="@id/usernameTv"
                    android:singleLine="true"
                    android:textColor="@android:color/white"
                    android:textColorHint="@color/colorWhite"
                    style="@style/AppTheme.WhiteEditText" />

            </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

            <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
                android:id="@+id/usernameTvLayout"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="0dp"
                android:layout_marginBottom="20dp"
                android:layout_weight="0.33"
                android:textColorHint="@color/colorVeryLightGray"
                style="@style/AppTheme.WhiteColorAccent">

                <android.support.design.widget.TextInputEditText
                    android:id="@+id/usernameTv"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:hint="user Name"
                    android:imeActionId="6"
                    android:imeActionLabel="AB"
                    android:imeOptions="actionUnspecified"
                    android:maxLines="1"
                    android:nextFocusDown="@id/nextBtn"
                    android:nextFocusForward="@id/nextBtn"
                    android:singleLine="true"
                    android:textColor="@android:color/white"
                    android:textColorHint="@color/colorWhite"
                    style="@style/AppTheme.WhiteEditText" />

            </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

        </LinearLayout>
    </ScrollView>

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/nextBtn"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="10dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="50dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="50dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:text="Next"
        android:textStyle="bold"
        app:layout_anchor="@+id/form"
        app:layout_anchorGravity="bottom|center_horizontal" />
</android.support.design.widget.CoordinatorLayout>

style

<style name="AppTheme.WhiteColorAccent">
    <item name="colorAccent">@color/colorWhite</item>
</style>

<style name="AppTheme.WhiteEditText" parent="Widget.AppCompat.EditText">
    <item name="android:textColor">@color/colorWhite</item>
    <item name="colorControlNormal">@color/colorVeryLightGray</item>
    <item name="colorControlActivated">@color/colorWhite</item>
    <item name="colorControlHighlight">@color/colorWhite</item>
</style>

OUTPUT

Answer 2

You need to set the error in TextInputLayout, NOT in TextInputEditText

firstnameTvLayout.setError("Error goes here");

Also make sure you have done

firstnameTvLayout.setErrorEnabled(true);

See the documentation here for more details https://developer.android.com/reference/android/support/design/widget/TextInputLayout