Android phones are highly customizable, and one of the easiest ways to make your phone more user-friendly is to add your most frequently used apps to your home screen.

But if you've recently switched to Android or are unfamiliar with the process, it can be challenging to figure out how to add and remove apps from your home screen. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step.

What Is the Difference Between the App Drawer and the Home Screen?

Person pointing to app icons on an Android phone home screen

The app drawer—which you access by swiping up from the bottom of your home screen—is where all your installed apps are on your Android device. It's essentially a list of all the apps you have available to use.

On the other hand, the home screen is the screen you see when you unlock your device. You can add app shortcuts, widgets, and folders to your home screen for quick access to your favorite apps and information.

How to Add Apps to Your Home Screen on Android

Customizing your home screen is right up there with creating custom-themed app icons when it comes to personalizing your Android device. The steps for adding an app to your home screen may vary slightly depending on your Android device and version, but the basic idea is always the same. Here's how to do it:

  1. Swipe up from the bottom of your home to open the app drawer, then locate the app you want to add to your home screen.
  2. Press and hold the app icon until it appears on your home screen.
  3. Drag the app icon to the desired location, then release the icon to place it on your home screen.

Once you've added an app to your home screen, you can move it around, resize it, or remove it. You can group apps in folders by dragging one on top of another. You can also add an app to your home screen by holding it down and tapping Add to Home.

How to Remove Apps From Your Home Screen on Android

You can easily remove an app from your home screen if you no longer need it. Here's how to do it:

  1. Touch and hold the app that you want to remove.
  2. Select Remove from the pop-up menu, or drag it up to Remove at the top of the screen.
Image showing how to remove apps from home screen

Removing an app from the home screen does not uninstall it. The app will still be available on your device in the app drawer. If you want to uninstall the app altogether, select Uninstall from the options, or drag it up to Uninstall at the top of the screen, depending on what device you're using.

Access Your Favorite Apps Quickly

Customizing your Android home screen can be a fun and useful way to make your device work best for you. Adding and removing apps from your home screen is a straightforward process that can help you declutter your device and access your favorite apps quickly. Follow the steps above to add and remove apps on your Android home screen.