BitmapFactory.decodeResource() returns null for shape defined in xml drawable

I looked through multiple similar questions, although I haven't found a proper answer to my issue.

I have a drawable, defined in shape.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:shape="rectangle" >

    <solid android:color="@color/bg_color" />
</shape>

I want to convert it to Bitmap object in order to perform some operations, but BitmapFactory.decodeResource() returns null.

This is how I'm doing it:

Bitmap bmp = BitmapFactory.decodeResource(getResources(), R.drawable.shape);

What am I doing wrong? Is BitmapFactory.decodeResource() applicable for xml defined drawables?

Since you want to load a Drawable, not a Bitmap, use this:

Drawable d = getResources().getDrawable(R.drawable.your_drawable, your_app_theme);

To turn it into a Bitmap:

public static Bitmap drawableToBitmap (Drawable drawable) {

    if (drawable instanceof BitmapDrawable) {
        return ((BitmapDrawable)drawable).getBitmap();
    }

    Bitmap bitmap = Bitmap.createBitmap(drawable.getIntrinsicWidth(), drawable.getIntrinsicHeight(), Config.ARGB_8888);
    Canvas canvas = new Canvas(bitmap); 
    drawable.setBounds(0, 0, canvas.getWidth(), canvas.getHeight());
    drawable.draw(canvas);

    return bitmap;
}

Taken from: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3035692/how-to-convert-a-drawable-to-a-bitmap

Android KTX now has an extension function for converting drawable to bitmap

val bitmap = ContextCompat.getDrawable(context, R.drawable.ic_user_location_pin)?.toBitmap()

if (bitmap != null) {
    markerOptions.icon(BitmapDescriptorFactory.fromBitmap(bitmap))
}

public static Bitmap convertDrawableResToBitmap(@DrawableRes int drawableId, Integer width, Integer height) {
	Drawable d = getResources().getDrawable(drawableId);

	if (d instanceof BitmapDrawable) {
		return ((BitmapDrawable) d).getBitmap();
	}

	if (d instanceof GradientDrawable) {
		GradientDrawable g = (GradientDrawable) d;

		int w = d.getIntrinsicWidth() > 0 ? d.getIntrinsicWidth() : width;
		int h = d.getIntrinsicHeight() > 0 ? d.getIntrinsicHeight() : height;

		Bitmap bitmap = Bitmap.createBitmap(w, h, Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888);
		Canvas canvas = new Canvas(bitmap);
		g.setBounds(0, 0, w, h);
		g.setStroke(1, Color.BLACK);
		g.setFilterBitmap(true);
		g.draw(canvas);
		return bitmap;
	}

	Bitmap bit = BitmapFactory.decodeResource(getResources(), drawableId);
	return bit.copy(Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888, true);
}

//------------------------

Bitmap b = convertDrawableResToBitmap(R.drawable.myDraw , 50, 50);

it is a drawable, not a bitmap. You should use getDrawable instead

You may have put .xml into directory:.../drawable-24, and try to put it into .../drawable instead.

it works for me, hope this can help someone.