I am currently just starting to learn android development and have created a basic "Hello world" app that uses "activity_main.xml" for the default layout. I tried to create a new layout xml file called "new_layout.xml" with a text view, a text field and a button and did the following changes in the MainActivity.java file: setContentView(R.layout.new_layout); I did nothing else expect for adding a new_layout.xml in the res/layout folder, I have tried restarting and cleaning the project but nothing. Below is my activity_main.xml file, new_layout.xml file and MainActivity.java activity_main.xml: <FrameLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools" android:id="@+id/container" android:layout_width="match_parent" android:layout_height="match_parent" tools:context="org.example.androidsdk.demo.MainActivity" tools:ignore="MergeRootFrame" /> new_layout.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="match_parent" android:orientation="horizontal" > <TextView android:id="@+id/textView1" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:text="TextView" /> <EditText android:id="@+id/editText1" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:layout_weight="1" android:ems="10" > <requestFocus /> </EditText> <Button android:id="@+id/button1" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:text="Button" /> MainActivity.java file package org.example.androidsdk.demo; import android.app.Activity; import android.app.ActionBar; import android.app.Fragment; import android.os.Bundle; import android.view.LayoutInflater; import android.view.Menu; import android.view.MenuItem; import android.view.View; import android.view.ViewGroup; import android.os.Build; public class MainActivity extends Activity { @Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); setContentView(R.layout.new_layout); if (savedInstanceState == null) { getFragmentManager().beginTransaction() .add(R.id.container, new PlaceholderFragment()) .commit(); } } @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); return true; } @Override public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) { // Handle action bar item clicks here. The action bar will // automatically handle clicks on the Home/Up button, so long // as you specify a parent activity in AndroidManifest.xml. int id = item.getItemId(); if (id == R.id.action_settings) { return true; } return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item); } /** * A placeholder fragment containing a simple view. */ public static class PlaceholderFragment extends Fragment { public PlaceholderFragment() { } @Override public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container, Bundle savedInstanceState) { View rootView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_main, container, false); return rootView; } } }