You can use the setCompoundDrawables method to do this. See the example here. I used this without using the setBounds and it worked. You can try either way.

UPDATE: Copying the code here incase the link goes down

Drawable img = getContext().getResources().getDrawable(R.drawable.smiley);img.setBounds(0, 0, 60, 60);txtVw.setCompoundDrawables(img, null, null, null);

or

Drawable img = getContext().getResources().getDrawable(R.drawable.smiley);txtVw.setCompoundDrawablesWithIntrinsicBounds(img, null, null, null);

or

txtVw.setCompoundDrawablesWithIntrinsicBounds(R.drawable.smiley, 0, 0, 0);

Simply you can try this also

txtVw.setCompoundDrawablesWithIntrinsicBounds(R.drawable.smiley, 0, 0, 0);

• Kotlin Version

Use below snippet to add a drawable left to the button:

val drawable = ContextCompat.getDrawable(context, R.drawable.ic_favorite_white_16dp)button.setCompoundDrawablesWithIntrinsicBounds(drawable, null, null, null)

.

• Important Point in Using Android Vector Drawable

When you are using an android vector drawable and want to have backward compatibility for API below 21, add the following codes to:

In app level build.gradle:

android {    defaultConfig {        vectorDrawables.useSupportLibrary = true    }}

In Application class:

class MyApplication : Application() {    override fun onCreate() {        super.onCreate()        AppCompatDelegate.setCompatVectorFromResourcesEnabled(true)    }}