JButton() only working when mouse hovers

Solution 1:

add Icon/ImageIcon directly to the JButton instead of paint() for AWT or paintComponent() for Swing JComponents

Contructor JButton(Icon) knows Icon or ImageIcon

from code

import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;

public class ButtonsIcon extends JFrame {

    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
    private ImageIcon errorIcon = (ImageIcon) UIManager.getIcon("OptionPane.errorIcon");
    private Icon infoIcon =  UIManager.getIcon("OptionPane.informationIcon");
    private Icon warnIcon =  UIManager.getIcon("OptionPane.warningIcon");

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {

            @Override
            public void run() {
                ButtonsIcon t = new ButtonsIcon();
            }
        });
    }

    public ButtonsIcon() {
        setLayout(new GridLayout(0, 2, 4, 4));

        JButton button = new JButton();
        button.setBorderPainted(false);
        button.setBorder(null);
        button.setFocusable(false);
        button.setMargin(new Insets(0, 0, 0, 0));
        button.setContentAreaFilled(false);
        button.setIcon((errorIcon));
        button.setRolloverIcon((infoIcon));
        button.setPressedIcon(warnIcon);
        button.setDisabledIcon(warnIcon);
        add(button);

        JButton button1 = new JButton();
        button1.setBorderPainted(false);
        button1.setBorder(null);
        button1.setFocusable(false);
        button1.setMargin(new Insets(0, 0, 0, 0));
        button1.setContentAreaFilled(false);
        button1.setIcon((errorIcon));
        button1.setRolloverIcon((infoIcon));
        button1.setPressedIcon(warnIcon);
        button1.setDisabledIcon(warnIcon);
        add(button1);
        button1.setEnabled(false);

        setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        pack();
        setVisible(true);
    }
}

Solution 2:

Likely you have a layout problem where you're trying to add JButtons with absolute bounds into a container that uses a non-null layout manager. Suggestions

• Do not use setBounds and absolute positioning to size and place your components.
• Read up on and use the layout managers to do this heavy lifting for you: Lesson: Laying Out Components Within a Container
• Don't forget to call pack() on your JFrame after adding all components
• Call setVisible(true) after calling pack() and again call both only after adding all components to your GUI.
• A null layout is available if you absolutely need to use absolute positioning of components, but regardless, you should strive to avoid using it.

Solution 3:

It looks like you're never repainting after you add your buttons.

I would add a repaint in there after you add them.