How to Add Icons in Navigation Drawer in Android?

Last Updated : 28 Apr, 2025

Android navigation drawer is a user interface that shows the app's main navigation menu. It appears when the user touches the drawer icon in the app bar or when the user swipes their fingers or does some kind of action on the screen. It is not visible by default and it needs to open either by sliding from the left or clicking its icon in the ActionBar. It shows all the internal of the app and its functionalities.

Android Icons

Android icons represent our app on a device's Home and All Apps screens. They are the symbolic representation of all functions present in the app.

Step-by-Step Implementation

Step 1: Create a New Project in Android Studio

To create a new project in Android Studio please refer to How to Create/Start a New Project in Android Studio.

Step 2:

In your res folder make a menu folder. In it add xml file name nav_menu. Add this below code.

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <menu xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"     xmlns:tool="http//schemas.android. com/tools"     tool:showIn ="navigation_view">     <group         android:checkableBehavior="single">         <item             android:id="@+id/nav_home"             android:title="Home"             android:icon="@drawable/home">         </item>          <item             android:title="Attendance Track"             android:id="@+id/attend_track"             android:icon="@drawable/baseline_how_to_reg_24">         </item>          <item             android:title="QR Scan"             android:id="@+id/scan_qr"             android:icon="@drawable/baseline_qr_code_scanner_24">         </item>     </group>      <item android:title="General">         <menu>                 <item android:title="Profile"                     android:id="@+id/profile"                     android:icon="@drawable/user"/>              <item android:title="Settings"                 android:id="@+id/settings"                 android:icon="@drawable/baseline_settings_24"/>         </menu>     </item>      <item android:title="Communicate">         <menu>                 <item                     android:title="How To Use"                     android:icon="@drawable/baseline_emoji_people_24"                     android:id="@+id/use"/>                 <item                     android:title="Suggestions"                     android:icon="@drawable/question"                     android:id="@+id/sugg"/>                 <item android:title="Share App"                     android:icon="@drawable/baseline_share_24"                     android:id="@+id/share"/>         </menu>     </item> </menu>

Step 3:

In your layout folder add nav_header.xml. Add the below code

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <LinearLayout      xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"     android:layout_width="match_parent"     android:layout_height="176dp"     android:orientation="vertical"     android:gravity="top"     android:padding="10dp"     android:background="@drawable/grad">      <TextView         android:layout_marginTop="10dp"         android:layout_width="wrap_content"         android:layout_height="wrap_content"         android:text="Navigation Bar"         android:layout_marginLeft="9dp"         android:fontFamily="@font/regular"         android:textSize="20sp"         android:textColor="@color/white"         android:textStyle="bold"/>    </LinearLayout>

Step 4:

In your drawable folder make a grad.xml .Add this code to it.

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">     <item>         <shape             android:shape="rectangle">             <corners                 android:bottomLeftRadius="15dp"                 android:bottomRightRadius="15dp">             </corners>             <gradient                 android:startColor="#615EE8"                 android:endColor="#7F6CEF"/>         </shape>     </item> </selector>

Step 5:

Go to your main activity and add the code given below.