Launch Main Activity only one time on Android
Use android:launchMode="singleTop" to make sure that a new instance of MainActivity isn't spawned when you press the back button. Spawning a new instance of MainActivity is not memory efficient. Then, in the actual SettingsActivity you should override the home button to act like the back button: if (id == android.R.id.home) { onBackPressed(); } and you should display home as up, to allow up navigation : this .getSupportActionBar().setDisplayHomeAsUpEnabled( true );