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AdMob ad doesn't show until I reopen the app

I'm trying to put an AdMob banner into my app but half the time it doesn't show any content.
The AdListener even receives an call to onAdLoaded and I never get any error.
I noticed that if the ad isn't showing and I put the app in the background somehow the ad starts to show. For example if I:
close and reopen the app
start an fullscreen interstitial ad
start the in-app purchase overlay
All these actions trigger an update that somehow redraws/remeasures the views.
I tried many different things to simulate this in onAdLoaded.
Is it possible that AdMob can't find a matching ad even if I don't get any errors? According to the website the match rate is 98%. The number of impressions is about a third of the requests.
I found more posts with similar issues (all from ~7 years ago) but none of their answers worked in my case:
Admob not showing up until phone is locked
AdMob won't show the banner until refresh or sign in to google plus
Android AdMob: addView doesn't show ad until return to activity
Admob ads appear only after first refresh
I tried to get this to work for over two days. Please take a look at my code, I annotated it with explainations:
MainActivity:
private AdView adView;
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
binding = ActivityMainBinding.inflate(getLayoutInflater());
setContentView(binding.getRoot());
if(privacyPolicyAcceptedAndHasNoPremium()){ //at first i check the shared preferences
binding.adPlaceholder.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE); //the adPlaceholder starts as GONE when i set it to VISIBLE the rest of the content slides up
List<String> testDevices = Arrays.asList(AdRequest.DEVICE_ID_EMULATOR, "...");
RequestConfiguration requestConfiguration = new RequestConfiguration.Builder().setTestDeviceIds(testDevices).build();
MobileAds.setRequestConfiguration(requestConfiguration);
MobileAds.initialize(MainActivity.this, initializationStatus -> {});
adView = new AdView(this); //i create the adView programmatically but using the xml view element causes the same problem
adView.setAdSize(AdSize.LARGE_BANNER);
adView.setAdUnitId("...");
adView.setAdListener(new AdListener() {
#Override
public void onAdLoaded() { // this gets called so i think the ad is successfully downloaded from the google server. i put all kinds of code in here to force the adView to show
//setContentView(binding.getRoot());
//binding.adPlaceholder.addView(new View(MainActivity.this));
//binding.adPlaceholder.forceLayout();
//binding.constraintLayout.requestLayout();
//adView.invalidate();
//adView.bringToFront();
//adView.setVisibility(AdView.GONE);
//adView.setVisibility(AdView.VISIBLE);
//adView.setBackgroundColor(Color.TRANSPARENT);
}
}
AdRequest.Builder adRequestBuilder = new AdRequest.Builder();
binding.adPlaceholder.addView(adView); //i add the adView into the empty LinearLayout. i tried to add it directly to binding.constraintLayout too.
adView.loadAd(adRequestBuilder.build());
}
activity_main.xml:
<androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout
android:id="#+id/constraintLayout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
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">
<!-- this is the empty container into which i load the ads. it sits at the bottom of the screen and is not visible before an ad is showing -->
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/adPlaceholder"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="100dp"
app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"
app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:visibility="gone" />
<!-- this MotionLayout contains the rest of the app (except the toolbar). it slides up when an ad is showing -->
<androidx.constraintlayout.motion.widget.MotionLayout
android:id="#+id/motionLayout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
app:layoutDescription="#xml/activity_main_scene"
app:layout_constraintBottom_toTopOf="#+id/adPlaceholder"
app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent"
tools:context=".MainActivity">
...
</androidx.constraintlayout.motion.widget.MotionLayout>
</androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>
Manifest:
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<application ...>
<meta-data
android:name="com.google.android.gms.ads.APPLICATION_ID"
android:value="..." />
...
</application>
Edit:

I finally found a way that works for me.
I'm just setting the window background color to the color that it already has. This is really fast and doesn't recreate the activity.
However I don't know why this works and why only this worked for me. I guess it updates the views in a similar way to the many other solutions from the other questions.
adView.setAdListener(new AdListener() {
#Override
public void onAdLoaded() {
super.onAdLoaded();
getWindow().setBackgroundDrawableResource(R.color.background);
}
}

Removing Android Titlebar is not working (android studio)

Good morning. I've been using android studio to try to make an activity/whole app fullscreen.
There are two methods I have tried, one is in the manifest:
<activity android:name=".ActivityName"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:theme="#android:style/Theme.Black.NoTitleBar.Fullscreen">
</activity>
(and another attempt in the manifest)
android:theme="#style/FullscreenTheme" >
(and another attempt in the manifest)
android:theme="#android:style/Theme.NoTitleBar">
And the other is in code (onCreate)
ActionBar actionBar = getActionBar();
actionBar.setDisplayShowTitleEnabled(false);
Time and time again the bar at the top appears in all my activities as seen in the image below.
Does anyone know how to make that dissapear so its fullscreen please.

1) Add theme for Activity
<activity
android:name=".MyActivity"
android:theme="#android:style/Theme.NoTitleBar"/>
OR
2) Handle in Activity
this.requestWindowFeature(Window.FEATURE_NO_TITLE);
this.getWindow().setFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_FULLSCREEN, WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_FULLSCREEN);
this.setContentView(R.layout.main_layout);

In the onCreate of your activities, use
getActionBar().hide();

I think this will work android:theme="#android:style/Theme.Holo.NoActionBar"

I usually do this:
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
requestWindowFeature(Window.FEATURE_NO_TITLE);
.
.
.

Trying to call an activity with a button onClick

I've been racking my brain for the past two days trying to get a button to work.
Basically I want my button to call 'add a password function'.
If you like to view my entire code, its at github.com/servingbaby/UPM-Epassafe .
Here is my main.xml (The button shows up succesfully however when pushing it nothing happens)
main.xml
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent">
<TextView
android:id="#android:id/empty"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="2dp"
android:gravity="center"
android:text="#string/no_accounts" />
<Button android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:layout_gravity="center"
android:text="#string/add_account" android:id="#+id/add" android:minWidth="125dip"></Button>
<ListView android:id="#android:id/list"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"/>
</LinearLayout>
Here is my AndroidManifest slimmed down to the parts I believe are where I am going wrong.
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
package="com.epassafe.upm"
android:versionCode="3"
android:versionName="1.2">
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"></uses-permission>
<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="3" android:targetSdkVersion="16"/>
<application android:icon="#drawable/upm"
....>
<activity android:name=".AppEntryActivity">
</activity>
<activity android:name=".FullAccountList">
<meta-data android:name="android.app.default_searchable"
android:value=".SearchResults" />
</activity>
<activity android:name=".AddEditAccount">
</activity>
</application>
</manifest>
Here is my MainActivity.Java, where I believe I should be calling the correct code.
public abstract class MainActivity extends Activity implements OnClickListener{`
#Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.main);
final Button countButton = (Button) findViewById(R.id.add);
countButton.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
public void onClick(View v) {
Intent intent = new Intent(MainActivity.this,AddEditAccount.class);
MainActivity.this.startActivity(intent);
}
});
}
}
But pushing the button nothing happens like I expect. No errors or force close, so Im really at a loss at the moment. Thankyou!
**Edit
Thank you all how attempt to help me. I have tried many of the suggested solutions and still haven't figured it out just yet. I have uploaded my files to github with some of the attempted edits I have made as commented. Basically I am just trying to figure out how to add a button and get it to run the necessary code to add an account. (The original code works well, but I would like to improve upon it. Sorry my competence level is still low, but trying to learn my best :) I would really appreciate if anyone could help me with this! Thank you^^
**Edit 2
Again Thankyou all for the advice and suggestions. I figured out a simple solution. I ended up using a Menu Wrapper to create a button click event, and also it turned out I was editing the wrong Java document, when I was suppose to be trying to add the correct code to another one that seem to almost be doing the same thing. Learn something new everyday.

I don't understand why you're implementing OnClickListener to your activity. Remove the implements OnClickListener from your activity. It should work fine.
But since you're doing this for don't-know-what reason, you should make your button clickable like this.
countButton.setOnClickListener(this);
public void onClick(View view)
{
Intent intent = new Intent(MainActivity.this,AddEditAccount.class);
MainActivity.this.startActivity(intent);
}

First of all you dont need to implement OnClickListener to set a a listner in your button. But maybe you have it for another reason, if not, remove it.
You are declaring wrong the names of the id of your xml i think, take a look at this:
Difference between "#id/" and "#+id/" in Android
May be because of the #android:id instead of #+id.

use this way call Intent
Intent intent = new Intent(MainActivity.this, AddEditAccount.class);
startActivity(intent);

look at your list view
<ListView android:id="#android:id/list"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"/>
you have given width and height as fill parent so your ListView is on your button so on the screen when you click on the button you are not actually clicking on the button. when you click a button the button color changes for a sec that is not happening in your case see it for your self. so remove the listview or set the height below the button and then check your button click will work

android oval shape dialog

i have an application , it has a button , when pressed it will fire a dialog with the default dialog shape , i wonder if i can change the default shape of dialog to an oval shape and also to apply special style to it ,
as explained in the images attached below :
1- the Default Dialog Shape:
2-The Oval Dialog Shape (which i try to achieve):
my dialoge code :
final Dialog dialog = new Dialog(context);
dialog.requestWindowFeature(Window.FEATURE_NO_TITLE);
dialog.setContentView(R.layout.custom_dialog);
TextView text = (TextView) dialog.findViewById(R.id.dialog_text);
text.setText(Html.fromHtml(getString(R.string.text_4)));
ImageView image = (ImageView) dialog.findViewById(R.id.image);
image.setImageResource(R.drawable.pic);
Button dialogButton = (Button) dialog.findViewById(R.id.dialog_Button);
dialogButton.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
public void onClick(View v) {
dialog.dismiss();
}
});
dialog.show();
}
});
}
style code of default dialog:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:shape="rectangle">
<stroke android:width="2dp" android:height="2dp" android:color="#B22222" />
<solid android:color="#FCE6C9" />
<padding android:left="2dp" android:top="2dp" android:right="2dp"
android:bottom="2dp" />
<corners android:radius="5dp" />
</shape>
i hope to have this done by code rather than using 9-patch image so it will be easy to control the dilaoge dimensions and adjust the text inside it as i neeed ,
Any advice will be appreciated , thanks .

Not exactly sure how to do this on android, but the approach I use in java is make the JFrame or JDialog rendered surface transparent and then draw my own custom shape inside. To make them transparent I use AWTUtilities.setWindowOpacity
On this article you will find another ideas, like capturing the desktop before the frame or dialog is rendered and using it to patch your frame:
http://today.java.net/pub/a/today/2008/03/18/translucent-and-shaped-swing-windows.html
More information:
http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/GUI/translucent_shaped_windows/
Here you have an implementation, not for android but it may help:
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/java/shaped-transparent-jframe.aspx

Neat idea. On Android, to give an activity a transparent background, put this in your manifest file:
<activity android:name=".MyActivity" android:theme="#android:style/Theme.Translucent.NoTitleBar" />
Then, in your layout file for that activity, add this
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent" >
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/myImageView"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:src="#drawable/myRoundBackground" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/myImageViewText"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignLeft="#+id/myImageView"
android:layout_alignTop="#+id/myImageView"
android:layout_alignRight="#+id/myImageView"
android:layout_alignBottom="#+id/myImageView"
android:layout_margin="1dp"
android:gravity="center"
android:text="Hello"
android:textColor="#000000" />
</RelativeLayout>
Then you can programmatically set the text on the TextView with the id myImageViewText .

Have a look at this quick action menu totorial. Try applying this tutorial with shape = oval background. I think you will get what you are trying to achieve.

I think a transparent background with image sliced in oval for will work for you. and place the button to left of the oval image.

THis method is similar to the one you are currently trying :
In your custom_dialog.xml give the relative layout an android:background="#drawable/ovaldialog" .
And in the ovaldialog.xml try giving the same parameters you are giving to edit the style by giving android:shape="oval" and also give the parameters to corners such as android:topLeftRadius="8dp" and android:bottomRightRadius="10dp" and play with those values until you get a desired kind of shape. To give the red color to the dialog give it a stroke of width 2/3dp and an android:color value.
Hope this helps

Styling tabs in android like the google open source contacts

I'm having troubles trying to style my tabs in android.
I want to make them look exactly the same as whats in the open source android contacts list (see https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Contacts
).
Problem is that when they display on the screen it looks a bit different to the contacts app.
When it should look like this:
Notice how the background colors are a little bit different and the text colors are different.
Not sure why this is the case as its basically the same code and icons.
My tab layout code is the following:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<TabHost xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="#android:id/tabhost"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent">
<LinearLayout
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:padding="0dp">
<TabWidget
android:id="#android:id/tabs"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<FrameLayout
android:id="#android:id/tabcontent"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:padding="0dp" />
</LinearLayout>
</TabHost>
Which doesn't contain anything special there.. and the TabActivity is as follows:
public class TabbedActivity extends TabActivity implements
TabHost.OnTabChangeListener {
private TabHost tabHost;
#Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
final Intent intent = getIntent();
requestWindowFeature(Window.FEATURE_NO_TITLE);
setContentView(R.layout.tab);
tabHost = getTabHost();
tabHost.setOnTabChangedListener(this);
setupLatestTab();
setupSavedTab();
tabHost.setCurrentTab(0);
}
private void setupLatestTab() {
Intent intent = new Intent().setClass(this, ResultsActivity.class);
tabHost.addTab(tabHost
.newTabSpec("latest")
.setIndicator("Latest",
getResources().getDrawable(R.drawable.ic_tab_recent))
.setContent(intent));
}
private void setupSavedTab() {
Intent intent = new Intent().setClass(this, ResultsActivity.class);
tabHost.addTab(tabHost
.newTabSpec("saved")
.setIndicator("Saved",
getResources().getDrawable(R.drawable.ic_tab_starred))
.setContent(intent));
}
#Override
public void onTabChanged(String tabId) {
// Because we're using Activities as our tab children, we trigger
// onWindowFocusChanged() to let them know when they're active. This may
// seem to duplicate the purpose of onResume(), but it's needed because
// onResume() can't reliably check if a keyguard is active.
Activity activity = getLocalActivityManager().getActivity(tabId);
if (activity != null) {
activity.onWindowFocusChanged(true);
}
}
}
I am using the same images from the drawable folders too.
I know i can set the background of tabs manually by doing something like this in the tabactivity
tabHost.getTabWidget().getChildAt(index).setBackgroundColor(Color.parseColor("#ff202020"));
But the contacts app isn't doing this sort of thing anywhere (most of the top tab code is in DialtactsActivity), so just want to do what the open source app is doing when displaying tabs - i'm not sure how and why the contacts application tabs look much better when im basically using the same code and resources.
I guess im just missing something trivial??

This turned out to be a problem with my minimum android version not being specified ..
Added:
<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="8" />
to the androidmanifest and it worked fine. I guess it was reverting to the old tabs look and feel in earlier versions of android.