 <p>try wrapping it in <code>onCreateOptionsMenu</code></p> <pre><code> win.activity.onCreateOptionsMenu = function(e) { actionBar = win.activity.actionBar; if (actionBar) { alert("ACTIVITY"); actionBar.backgroundImage = "/images/bg_top.png"; actionBar.title = "New Title"; actionBar.onHomeIconItemSelected = function() { Ti.API.info("Home icon clicked!"); }; } else { alert('missing action bar'); } }); </code></pre>