How to set selected item of Spinner by value instead of by position on Android?

This example demonstrates how do I set the selected item of Spinner by value instead of by position on Android.

Step 1 − Create a new project in Android Studio, go to File ⇒ New Project and fill all required details to create a new project.

Step 2 − Add the following code to res/layout/activity_main.xml.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
xmlns:android="https://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   xmlns:tools="https://schemas.android.com/tools"
   android:layout_width="match_parent"
   android:layout_height="match_parent"
   android:padding="16dp"
   tools:context=".MainActivity">
   <Button
      android:id="@+id/button"
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_centerInParent="true"
      android:onClick="SelectSpinnerValue"
      android:text="Select Cristiano Ronaldo" />
   <Spinner
      android:id="@+id/spinner"
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_below="@id/button"
      android:layout_centerInParent="true"
      android:layout_marginTop="10dp" />
   <TextView
      android:layout_width="match_parent"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_marginTop="40dp"
      android:text="Set selected item of Spinner by value instead of by position on Android"
      android:textAlignment="center"
      android:textSize="24sp"
      android:textStyle="bold|italic" />
</RelativeLayout>

Step 3 − Add the following code to src/MainActivity.java

import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter;
import android.widget.Spinner;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.List;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
   Spinner spinner;
   String[] FootBallPlayers = new String[]{"Lionel Messi", "Eden Hazard", "Cristiano Ronaldo", "Neymar Jr", "Gareth Bale", "David Bekham"};
   @Override
   protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
      setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
      spinner = findViewById(R.id.spinner);
      final List<String> plantsList = new ArrayList<>(Arrays.asList(FootBallPlayers));
      final ArrayAdapter<String> spinnerArrayAdapter = new ArrayAdapter<>(this, R.layout.support_simple_spinner_dropdown_item, plantsList);
      spinnerArrayAdapter.setDropDownViewResource(R.layout.spinner_value);
      spinner.setAdapter(spinnerArrayAdapter);
   }
   public void SelectSpinnerValue(View view) {
      spinner.setSelection(2);
   }
}

Step 4 − Create a layout resource file (spinner_value.xml) and add the following code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<TextView
   xmlns:android="https://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   android:layout_width="match_parent"
   android:layout_height="wrap_content"
   android:padding="10dp"
   android:textStyle="italic"
   android:fontFamily="sans-serif-medium" />

Step 5 − Add the following code to androidManifest.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="https://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" package="app.com.sample">
   <application
      android:allowBackup="true"
      android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
      android:label="@string/app_name"
      android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
      android:supportsRtl="true"
      android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
      <activity android:name=".MainActivity">
         <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
         </intent-filter>
      </activity>
   </application>
</manifest>

Let's try to run your application. I assume you have connected your actual Android Mobile device with your computer. To run the app from android studio, open one of your project's activity files and click Run icon from the toolbar. Select your mobile device as an option and then check your mobile device which will display your default screen −