How to add an image to the "drawable" folder in Android Studio?

Question

I need to add an image to the res/drawable folder...

When I choose new > Image Asset, it comes out a dialog to choose Asset Type...

How can I add an image to res/drawable folder?

Electrotechnology

Why is it a problem if it is inside the mipmap folder? You just need to access it va R.mipmap.[...] rather than R.drawable.[...] Also, you can drag and drop images directly into the drawable folder in Android Studio - just make sure that your Project Structure is set to Project, and not Android, at the top left of the screen. – Clean

Android Studio uses mipmap folder to load launcher icon in project. as android says It's best practice to place your app icons in mipmap- folders (not the drawable- folders) because they are used at resolutions different from the device's current density. For example, an xxxhdpi app icon can be used on the launcher for an xxhdpi device. take a look at this answer https://mcmap.net/q/67924/-mipmap-drawables-for-icons – Positive

See link:[#28701093 [1]: #28701093 – Trophoplasm

simply drag and drop to drawable folder – Keijo

Hi Alan! As you can see my answer to this question is recommanded as a better one by comments and number of votes. You can accept it as the best answer if you think so too. – Rehm

@Keijo - I'm using Android Studio 3.0. It is not allowing me to drag and drop image files on drawable folder. It seems this behavior has changed in later versions. – Showily

Related post - Android splash screen image sizes to fit all devices – Showily

Answer 1

For Android Studio 1.5:

1. Right click on res -> new -> Image Asset
2. On Asset type choose Action Bar and Tab Icons
3. Choose the image path
4. Give your image a name in Resource name
5. Next->Finish

Update for Android Studio 2.2:

1. Right click on res -> new -> Image Asset

2. On Icon Type choose Action Bar and Tab Icons

3. On Asset type choose Image

4. On Path choose your image path

5. Next->Finish

The image will be saved in the /res/drawable folder.

Warning! If you choose to use images other than icons in SVG or PNG be aware that it could turn grey if the image is not transparent. You can find an answer in comments for this problem but none of these are verified by me because I never encountered this problem. I suggest you to use icons from here: Material icons

Rehm

Hi. I followed the steps and it did save the image in that drawable folder. Now in my case, I´m not able to see the image preview the wizard presents when doing those steps. Anyone had that same problem? – Ronnieronny

@Ronnieronny Try Invalidate Caches / Restart from File menu. If the problem persists open a new question. Maybe someone faced the same problem. – Rehm

@Cristi This didn't work for me because a lot of the details of the image were stripped away – Fp

It doesn't work correctly for me either. A portion of the edge (all sides) are cropped out, and the image itself is re-sampled considerably. Android Studio 1.5.1 – Petrify

This just doesn't work. The resulting images are just useless gray shapes. – Depredation

Unless you are going to add to actionbar and it turns grey. Use as a launcher icon – Exploit

@bradley4 It seems that the color problem appears only to some developers. I think it is from the size of the icon. Choosing Launcher Icons will put the icons in the wrong folder, not drawable. A similar problem about the grey background is discussed here: #28807621 and more info about icons size here iconhandbook.co.uk/reference/chart/android – Rehm

@Depredation is right. This method will change the icon color. Relevant information can be found at #41011570. – Anneliese

This doesn't works for raw images (not added as icons). See here #34367964 – Forster

In case someone checked this response, the image should be transparent to fix the gray issue – Fluster

I think it's really strange that a regular image is categorised in Action Bar and Tab Icons. – Carlacarlee

This just doesn't work. The resulting images are just useless gray shapes. +1 – Neldanelia

@Osgux #29048402 – Rehm

Thanks! I saw a video when only copy the image to drawable it was really easy – Neldanelia

So if you copy-pasted your pngs into your res directory, delete copy-pasta files and just do this solution instead. Worked like a charm, thank you very much! – Malaco

@Osgux can u share the video – Arlberg

Why is dealing with images in Android still a nightmare? It's 2019! – Stalder

Answer 2

For Android Studio 3.4+:

You can use the new Resource Manager tab Click on the + sign and select Import Drawables.

From here, you can select multiple folders/files and it will handle everything for you.

The result will look something like this:

Click the import button and the images will be automatically imported to the correct folder.

Burble

@abdu you can find about more at developer.android.com/studio/write/resource-manager – Burble

This answer was the most beneficial for me as a new android developer using version 3.5.3 – Brotherton

This is a great method, however the Next button in the wizard does nothing. Even when importing a single image the wizard will not continue past the first screen. – Bad

Never knew about this. Finally a better way to handle resource files in general. Thanks! – Bremen

Where is Resource manager located though? – Wabble

@Wabble you can find it in the left tabs in Android Studio, if you read one of the previous comments you can see there's a link detailing everything about the Resource Manager. – Burble

If the Resource Manager would work reliably this would be the way to go, but maybe that's just the case for me (using v2021.3.1) – Lashawnda

Answer 3

Copy *.png image and paste to drawable folder.

After adding the image, you can use the added image asset in code:

You can either add image by using xml file

<ImageView
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:src="@drawable/image_name" /> 

OR You can set image by using program:

ImageView iv = (ImageView)findViewById(v);  
iv.setImageResource(R.drawable.image_name);

Mcneal

but that still doesnt solve the problem. The question here is about the mage truning grey or blank. When you copy the mage in the folder directly the image re-sizing is not done – Brandonbrandt

you shouldnt have to resize the image ..android studio does it for you and puts it in various folders accordingly – Brandonbrandt

I think you have to change to "project view mode", and then create a drawable-hdpi folder under res folder. Then, if you change to "android view mode" and try to paste a resource in drawable folder, ask you about where to put the image (I choose always drawable-hdpi) – Romans

@Romans No need to create the folder first. It will create the folder if it does not exist. See Kundan's answer. – Aboriginal

can u explain what is v inside findViewById(v); in ImageView iv = (ImageView)findViewById(v); – Scandalmonger

Answer 4

Do it through the way Android Studio provided to you

Right click on the res folder and add your image as Image Assets in this way. Android studio will automatically generate image assets with different resolutions.

You can directly create the folder and drag image inside but you won't have the different sized icons if you do that.

Theophilus

Which tool you use to make this? – Stormproof

It is a gif file format. You can get tons of tools on internet to create a gif file while performing various actions on your computer. – Showily

The problem is I have a size for each of the types hdpi, mdpi, etc and I don't want it to auto generate them from one image. – Austere

This doesn't generate the image with many colors correctly. – Farrel

Answer 5

For Example, I've to add list.png in drawable folder..

And now I'll paste it in drawable folder. Alternatively you can do it Ctrl + C/V, as we programmers do it. :)

Uncinariasis

Answer 6

It's very simple. Just copy your image and paste it in the drawable folder. One more thing. When you paste an image in the drawable folder, a popup window will appear asking for a folder name. Add xxhdpi,xhdpi,hdpi or mdpi according to your image, like in the image below:

If you are still having problems, check out this link: Drawable folder in android studio

Gaillard

And this method automatically creates the folder if it does not exist. – Aboriginal

Best and easiest method. – Illbehaved

Answer 7

You can just copy and paste an image file(.jpg at least) into your res/drawable. It worked for me!

Egomania

Answer 8

1. Open your project in Android Studio

2. Click on res

3. Right click on drawable

4. Click on Show in Explorer

5. Double click on drawable folder.

6. Copy your image file in it and rename as your wish.

7. Now write your image file name after @drawable/ .

It will show the image you've selected.

Unpeople

Answer 9

Install and use the Android Drawable Importer plugin:

https://github.com/winterDroid/android-drawable-importer-intellij-plugin

Instructions on how to install the plugin are on that page. It's called "Android Drawable Importer" in the plugin search results.

Once installed:

1. right click on "res" folder and select New -> Batch Drawable Import
2. hit the + and select your source image
3. choose what resolution you want it considered and which other sizes to auto-generate for

Seems kind of ridiculous that Android Studio doesn't support this directly.

EDIT: But Xcode doesn't either so.... :-(

Rigamarole

This is the only solution that allows you to use the image as intended. Nice and simple. Thank you – Cassaba

Answer 10

You need to use a third party plugin like AndroidIcons Drawable Import to install this. Goto Android Studio > Prefrences > Plugins > and browse for AndroidIcons Drawable You can do things like

1. AndroidIcons Drawable Import
2. Material Icons Drawable Import
3. Scaled Drawable
4. Multisource-Drawable

Restart android studio. If you do not have the drawables folder created, create it by importing any image as -"Action Bar and Tab Icons" & "Notification Icons",. Then right clink on the file explorer and you can see 4 options in the new tab. Use any one according to your need.

Brandonbrandt

Answer 11

Android Studio 3.0:

1) Right click directory 'drawable'.
2) Click on: Show in Explorer

Now you have an explorer opent with a few directories in it, one of then is 'drawable'.

3) Go in the directory 'drawable'.
4) Place the image you want in there.
5) Close the explorer again.

Now the image is in Android Studio under 'res/drawable'.

Effy

Answer 12

Simplest way is to just drag and drop the image into the drawable folder. The important thing to keep in mind if you are using Android Studio 2.2.x version make sure you are in PROJECT VIEW else it will not allow to drag and drop the image.

Raindrop

Answer 13

Tutorial Source Link

Android Studio 3.2

Blazingly fast :P

Just Copy and Paste in this folder

Campney

Answer 14

My way of exporting/importing image assets. I use Sketch design.

Step 1. Sketch: export using Android preset

Step 2. Finder: Go to the export folder > Cmd+C

Step 3. Finder: Go to your project's /res folder > Cmd+V > Apply to all > Merge

OK, the images are in your project now.

Celestyna

Answer 15

Its quite simple

1) just copy your images and paste in drawable folder.

2) when you paste image(for eg"mdpi) in drawable folder a popup window will appear asking folder name add -mdpi .

3)Do it for all(hdpi,xhdpi,xxhdpi).

I just added one link that you can check out if have any doubt.

http://www.androidwarriors.com/2015/07/android-studio-drawable-folders.html

Ardine

Answer 16

In Android Studio, you can go through following steps to add an image to drawable folder:

1. Right click on drawable folder
2. Select Show on Explorer
3. Paste image you want to add

Hypoglossal

Answer 17

Just copy your images and select drawable then on the option of Paste or press shortcut ctrl v. images are added

Franglais

Answer 18

Example without any XML

Put your image image_name.jpg into res/drawable/image_name.jpg and use:

import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.widget.ImageView;

public class Main extends Activity {
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        final ImageView imageView = new ImageView(this);
        imageView.setImageResource(R.drawable.image_name);
        setContentView(imageView);
    }
}

Tested on Android 22.

Electioneer

Answer 19

Copy the image then paste it to drawables in the resource folder of you project in android studio.Make sure the name of your image is not too long and does not have any spacial characters.Then click SRC(source) under properties and look for your image click on it then it will automatically get imported to you image view on you emulator.

Manille

Answer 20

Adding images to the drawable folder is pretty simple. Just follow these steps:

1. Download the required image and save it on desktop.
2. Now, go to Android Studio and right click on drawable inside res.
3. On right clicking you will see 'Show in Explorer' or 'Reveal in Finder'.
4. Click on 'Show in Explorer' or 'Reveal in Finder' and then drag or simply copy your downloaded image into drawable folder.

Your image will be saved inside drawable and you can use it.

Kick

Answer 21

go to
https://hotpot.ai/icon-resizer and resize your stock png(!) image to a batch as zip. Put e.g. _ before their names ( otherwise it seems wont be accepted by A S (who knows why) )

Then go to AS's Resource Manager on the left panel and then hit + on its top-left and import images you've gotten one-by-one. Dont use unofficial plug-ins.

Maori

It generated terrible names for images. Also, why not use unofficial plug-ins? what else we can do if Google does not provide any tools for this – Sponsor

@George Shalvashvili e.g. you can lose your employer – Maori

Answer 22

new > image asset > asset TYPE. works for me very well. thanks.

Seymourseys

Answer 23

In Android Studio

1. Select Drawable folder, do Ctrl N Screenshot

2. Select Image asset

3. Select Action Bar & Tab icons in asset type

4. Click Next

5. Select size

6. You're done!

Tomblin