Android - Center Textview in LinearLayout

You have the gravity and layout_gravity reversed. You can have multiple values on the gravity attribute separated by "|". Try this:

 <LinearLayout        android:orientation="vertical"        android:layout_width="320dp"        android:layout_height="50dp"        android:background="@drawable/rectblack"        android:layout_marginTop="10dp"        android:layout_gravity="center_horizontal"        android:gravity="center_vertical|left"        android:minWidth="25px"        android:minHeight="25px">        <TextView            android:text="Explode a Vin"            android:layout_width="wrap_content"            android:layout_height="wrap_content"            android:id="@+id/tvExVin" />    </LinearLayout>

For clarification:

android:layout_gravity="center_horizontal" will center the LinearLayout horizontally in its parent.

android:gravity="center_vertical|left" will center the TextView (and any other children) vertically inside the LinearLayout and align it to the left.

Try to change your gravity to

android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"

gravity is used to position the content inside your View and layout_gravity is used to position the View within its parent.

But I'm confused by "In the end I would like it to be centered vertically to the left of the Linearlayout". But from the way it sounds, my answer should give you what you want.

Also, unless there is a very good reason, you shouldn't need to use a LinearLayout, or any parent, for a single child. If you can give a better explanation of what you want or even a screenshot then we may be able to help with a better solution.

This will give you your desired effect

<LinearLayout    android:layout_width="320dp"       <!-- removed orientation (horizontal by default)  -->    android:layout_height="50dp"    android:background="@drawable/rectblack"    android:layout_marginTop="10dp"    android:layout_gravity="center"    android:minWidth="25px"    android:minHeight="25px">    <TextView        android:text="Explode a Vin"        android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"       <!-- changed gravity here  -->        android:layout_width="fill_parent"        android:layout_height="wrap_content"           <!-- change to wrap_content -->        android:id="@+id/tvExVin" /></LinearLayout>

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"    android:layout_width="match_parent"    android:layout_height="match_parent"    android:layout_gravity="center_horizontal|center_vertical"    android:gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal"    android:orientation="vertical" >    <TextView        android:layout_width="wrap_content"        android:layout_height="wrap_content"        android:text="AppLock Demo"        android:textSize="30dp" /></LinearLayout>