How to align title at center of ActionBar in default theme(Theme.Holo.Light)

You can create a custom layout and apply it to the actionBar.

To do so, follow those 2 simple steps:

1. Java Code

   getSupportActionBar().setDisplayOptions(ActionBar.DISPLAY_SHOW_CUSTOM);
   getSupportActionBar().setCustomView(R.layout.actionbar);
   

Where R.layout.actionbar is the following layout.

2. 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="wrap_content"
       android:layout_gravity="center"
       android:orientation="vertical">
   
   <TextView
       android:layout_width="wrap_content"
       android:layout_height="wrap_content"
       android:layout_gravity="center"
       android:id="@+id/action_bar_title"
       android:text="YOUR ACTIVITY TITLE"
       android:textColor="#ffffff"
       android:textSize="24sp" />
   </LinearLayout>
   

It can be as complex as you want. Try it out!

EDIT:

To set the background you can use the property android:background in the container layout (LinearLayout in that case). You may need to set the layout height android:layout_height to match_parent instead of wrap_content.

Moreover, you can also add a LOGO / ICON to it. To do so, simply add an ImageView inside your layout, and set layout orientation property android:orientation to horizontal (or simply use a RelativeLayout and manage it by yourself).

To change the title of above custom action bar dynamically, do this:

TextView title=(TextView)findViewById(getResources().getIdentifier("action_bar_title", "id", getPackageName()));
title.setText("Your Text Here");