Okay so you need to set the layout to a custom one. The only requirement for the custom layout is to have a list view with id of android:id/list
Like this :
<?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:minHeight="?android:attr/listPreferredItemHeight"
android:gravity="center_vertical"
android:background="@drawable/DRAWABLE HERE"
>
<ListView android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:id="@android:id/list"
android:layout_marginLeft="50dp"
android:layout_marginRight="50dp"
/>
</LinearLayout>
Than in your onCreate of the PrefActivity:
this.setContentView(R.layout.pref_act);