How to set menu to Toolbar in Android

You need to override this code in your Activity:

@Override
public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
    // Inflate the menu, this adds items to the action bar if it is present.
    getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.main2, menu);
    return true;
}

and set your toolbar like this:

Toolbar toolbar = (Toolbar) findViewById(R.id.toolbar);
setSupportActionBar(toolbar);

Here is a fuller answer as a reference to future visitors. I usually use a support toolbar but it works just as well either way.

1. Make a menu xml

This is going to be in res/menu/main_menu.

• Right click the res folder and choose New > Android Resource File.
• Type main_menu for the File name.
• Choose Menu for the Resource type.

Paste in the following content as a starter.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<menu xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto">
    <item
        android:id="@+id/action_add"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_add"
        app:showAsAction="ifRoom"
        android:title="Add">
    </item>
    <item
        android:id="@+id/action_settings"
        app:showAsAction="never"
        android:title="Settings">
    </item>
</menu>

You can right click res and choose New image asset to create the ic_add icon.

2. Inflate the menu

In your activity add the following method.

@Override
public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
    getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.main_menu, menu);
    return true;
}

3. Handle menu clicks

Also in your Activity, add the following method:

@Override
public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) {
    // Handle item selection
    switch (item.getItemId()) {
        case R.id.action_add:
            addSomething();
            return true;
        case R.id.action_settings:
            startSettings();
            return true;
        default:
            return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item);
    }
}

Further reading

• Android Menu Documentation

Don't use setSupportActionBar(toolbar)

I don't know why but this works for me.

toolbar = (Toolbar) findViewById(R.id.main_toolbar);
toolbar.setSubtitle("Test Subtitle");
toolbar.inflateMenu(R.menu.main_menu);

For menu item click do this:

toolbar.setOnMenuItemClickListener(new Toolbar.OnMenuItemClickListener() {
    @Override
    public boolean onMenuItemClick(MenuItem item) {
        if (item.getItemId() == R.id.item1) {
            // do something
        } else if (item.getItemId() == R.id.filter) {
            // do something
        } else {
            // do something
        }

        return false;
    }
});

Will update the why part of this answer when I find a proper explanation.

just override onCreateOptionsMenu like this in your MainPage.java

@Override
public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
    // Inflate the menu; this adds items to the action bar if it is present.
    getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.main_menu, menu);
    return true;
}