Android search widget How to hide the close button in search view by default?

Question

I have implemented an android SearchView in ActionBar. When the SearchView gains focus, the close button [x] at the right shows up. I took a look at other android native apps, like Contacts and Gmail. The close button is not shown when the SearchView gains focus.

How to set my SearchView behave like that?

Answer 1

Posting for future visitors. Previous answers are old and not easy. All you have to do is to set null to app:closeIcon this way app:closeIcon="@null"

  <androidx.appcompat.widget.SearchView
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    app:closeIcon="@null"   <!-- This simple solution -->
    app:iconifiedByDefault="false" />