//TabActivity.onCreate() TabHost tabHost = getTabHost(); TabHost.TabSpec spec; Intent intent; intent = new Intent().setClass(this, YourClass.class); spec = tabHost.newTabSpec("tab_name").setIndicator("Tab Text", getResources().getDrawable(R.drawable.ic_tab_dialer)) .setContent(intent); tabHost.addTab(spec); Then, you need to add ic_tab_dialer.xml to res/drawable/ directory with this content: