This article teaches you how to reset your Android home screen to default settings and how to remove or reset app icons, widgets, and other parts of the home screen. 

What to Know

  • With a custom launcher installed, tap Settings > Select Default Launcher or similar to reset back to your original home screen.Remove apps and widgets by holding your finger to them and tapping Uninstall or Remove.Reset your wallpaper by holding a finger to the home screen and tapping Wallpaper.

The instructions may vary slightly depending on the Launcher you have installed, and the Android OS installed, but they should be similar regardless of what you are using.

How to Get Your Old Android Theme Back 

If you’ve installed different launchers for your Android phone and your home screen is entirely different from how it was before, you may wish to switch back to the stock settings from time to time. Here’s how to reset your Android home screen and get your old original Android theme back. 

  • On your Android phone, tap Settings for your launcher theme.
  • Tap Select Default Launcher.
  • This may be phrased differently depending on the launcher you’re using.
  • Tap System Launcher.
  • Your phone is now restored to the home screen you first had.

How to Remove App Icons on Your Android

If your Android home screen is messy because there are too many app icons, you can also remove them from your home screen. Here’s how to do it.

On your Android phone, tap Settings for your launcher theme.

Tap Select Default Launcher.

This may be phrased differently depending on the launcher you’re using.

Tap System Launcher.

Your phone is now restored to the home screen you first had.

  • On the Android home screen, hold your finger to the app you wish to remove.
  • Tap Uninstall.
  • Tap Uninstall to confirm you wish to uninstall the app.
  • Drag surrounding app icons over to cover the gap that has been created on your home screen.

How to Remove or Reset Widgets on Your Android

If you have plenty of widgets installed on your home screen, things can look quite messy. Here’s how to remove widgets from the screen. 

Doing so will remove the app in question but you can also drag them into a folder to tidy them up.

On the Android home screen, hold your finger to the app you wish to remove.

Tap Uninstall.

Tap Uninstall to confirm you wish to uninstall the app. 

Drag surrounding app icons over to cover the gap that has been created on your home screen.

  • Hold your finger to the widget you wish to remove.
  • Tap Remove.
  • The widget is now removed.

How to Keep Your Android Home Screen Cleaner

There are a few different ways you can make sure you keep your Android home screen clean and tidier without having to maintain it regularly. Here are a few suggestions.

If you want to add widgets, you can do so by holding your finger to the screen and tapping widgets.

Hold your finger to the widget you wish to remove.

Tap Remove.

The widget is now removed.

  • Only install apps you plan on using. It’s easy with a new phone to install a lot of different apps at once. Try only to install the ones you will use. Delete them when you’ve finished using them. Tidy up the layout. Tidy up the layout of your phone by holding a finger to the home screen then tapping Icons, Wallpaper, or Layout to adjust how things look. Use widgets sparingly. Widgets are great, but they can take up a lot of room. Don’t be afraid to resize them or cut back on the number you use. Create folders. Creating folders for your apps tidies up the screen without removing anything. It’s a handy method.

  • How do I get my Home screen back on Android?

  • If your phone opens to the wrong screen, you likely swiped to another page or the Apps screen. Swipe up or down again on the Apps screen, or swipe left or right on another Home screen. Alternatively, tap the Home or Back button.

  • How do I put a picture on my Android Home screen?

  • Press and hold a blank area of the Home screen and select Wallpapers or Add Wallpaper. Then select the location of the photo you want to use, such as Gallery or My Photos. Next, choose the image and tap Done.

  • How do I make a folder on my Android Home screen?

  • To make an app folder on Android, press and hold an app, drag it onto another app, and enter a folder name. You can drag a folder from another screen to the Home screen.

  • How do I put an app on my Android Home screen?

  • Tap the Apps drawer, drag the app you want to use to the Home screen, and lift your finger when the app is where you want it on the Home screen.

If your phone opens to the wrong screen, you likely swiped to another page or the Apps screen. Swipe up or down again on the Apps screen, or swipe left or right on another Home screen. Alternatively, tap the Home or Back button.

Press and hold a blank area of the Home screen and select Wallpapers or Add Wallpaper. Then select the location of the photo you want to use, such as Gallery or My Photos. Next, choose the image and tap Done.

To make an app folder on Android, press and hold an app, drag it onto another app, and enter a folder name. You can drag a folder from another screen to the Home screen.

Tap the Apps drawer, drag the app you want to use to the Home screen, and lift your finger when the app is where you want it on the Home screen.

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