The fastest way to change your Samsung home screen

To change your Samsung home screen, long-press an empty area of your current home screen, then tap Home screen settings or Wallpapers from the menu that appears. From there you can choose a new wallpaper image, adjust grid layout, or switch between different home screen panels. The exact menu names vary slightly by Samsung model and Android version, but the long-press method works on all recent Samsung phones.

You have three main things you can change: the background image (wallpaper), the arrangement and size of your app icons, and which home screen panel appears first when you unlock your phone. Each takes less than a minute once you know where to find it.

Key Takeaways

  • Long-press any empty area of your home screen to open the customization menu — this is the fastest entry point on all Samsung phones.
  • You can change your wallpaper from built-in Samsung images, your photo gallery, or third-party apps like Google Wallpapers.
  • The home screen grid setting controls how many app icons fit on each row, and you can adjust this from the same menu.
  • If you have multiple home screen panels, you can set which one appears when you first unlock your phone.
  • Settings names differ slightly between Samsung One UI versions, so look for words like "Wallpaper," "Layout," or "Home screen settings" if the exact menu name differs.

Step 1: Open the home screen customization menu

Unlock your Samsung phone and go to your home screen. Find any empty space — an area with no app icons — and press and hold your finger on it for about two seconds. Do not tap and release; hold steady until a menu appears at the bottom of the screen.

If no menu appears, you may have tapped an app icon or widget instead of empty space. Try again in a clearer area, or swipe left or right to a home screen panel that has more empty room. The long-press must happen on the background itself, not on any icon.

Step 2: Choose what you want to change

Once the menu appears, you will see several options. The most common are Wallpapers, Widgets, Home screen settings, and sometimes Themes. Tap whichever matches what you want to do. If you want to change the background image, tap Wallpapers. If you want to adjust icon size or grid layout, tap Home screen settings.

On some Samsung models running older versions of One UI, the menu might say Edit home screen or Customize instead. The function is the same — you are entering the customization panel.

Changing your wallpaper

After you tap Wallpapers, you will see a gallery of options. Samsung includes built-in wallpapers organized by category — landscapes, abstract, colors, and so on. Scroll through and tap any image to preview it on your home screen. The preview updates in real time, so you can see exactly how it will look before you commit.

Once you have found one you like, tap Set as wallpaper or explore. You will then see a choice: Home screen, Lock screen, or Both. Choose which screen or screens should display this image, then confirm. The change takes effect when ready.

If you want to use your own photo instead of a Samsung wallpaper, look for a Gallery or My photos option in the wallpaper menu. Tap it, navigate to the photo you want, and follow the same set-as-wallpaper process. You can also read wallpapers from Google Wallpapers or other apps — long-press your home screen again and choose Wallpapers to see all installed wallpaper sources.

Adjusting home screen layout and icon size

To change how many app icons fit on each row, or to make icons larger or smaller, tap Home screen settings from the long-press menu. Look for an option called Grid, Icon size, or Layout. The exact name depends on your Samsung model and One UI version.

Tap the grid or layout option and you will see choices like 4x5, 4x6, or 5x6 — these numbers mean how many columns and rows of icons fit on one screen. A 4x5 grid is wider and shorter; a 5x6 grid is narrower and taller. Choose the layout you prefer and tap explore or Done. Your home screen will rearrange when ready, and any icons that no longer fit will move to the next panel.

Some Samsung phones also let you hide app icons entirely from the home screen while keeping them in your app drawer. In Home screen settings, look for Hide apps or App visibility. This is useful if you want a cleaner home screen but still want quick access to those apps through the drawer.

Setting your default home screen panel

If you have swiped left or right and created multiple home screen panels, you can choose which one appears first when you unlock your phone. Long-press your home screen again and tap Home screen settings. Look for an option called Default home screen, Main screen, or Home screen order.

Tap that option and you will see thumbnails of all your home screen panels. Tap the one you want to be your default — it will usually show a checkmark or highlight. From now on, when you unlock your phone or press the home button, that panel will appear first. You can still swipe to other panels at any time.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is tapping an app icon or widget instead of empty space when trying to open the customization menu. If the menu does not appear, swipe to a home screen panel with more blank area and try again. You can also try long-pressing the home screen button at the bottom of your phone instead, though the long-press method is faster.

Another mistake is changing your wallpaper to a very bright or very dark image, which can make it hard to read your app icons or see notifications. If this happens, go back to Wallpapers and choose a different one. You can change your wallpaper as many times as you want with no penalty.

If you accidentally hide an app and cannot find it, go to Home screen settings and look for Hidden apps or Show hidden apps. Tap the app name to unhide it and it will reappear on your home screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a live wallpaper on my Samsung home screen?

Yes. Some Samsung phones come with built-in live wallpapers — animated backgrounds that move or respond to touch. In the Wallpapers menu, look for a Live wallpapers section or category. You can also read live wallpapers from the Google Play Store. Note that live wallpapers use more battery than static images.

What if the long-press menu does not appear?

Make sure you are pressing on empty space, not on an app icon or widget. If your home screen is completely full, swipe left or right to create a new panel, then try long-pressing there. If the menu still does not appear, restart your phone and try again.

Can I have different wallpapers on different home screen panels?

No. Your wallpaper is the same across all home screen panels on Samsung phones. However, you can use widgets and different app arrangements on each panel to make them look distinct.

How do I get back to the default Samsung home screen layout?

Long-press your home screen, tap Home screen settings, and look for a Reset or Restore default option. Tap it and your home screen will return to Samsung's default layout and wallpaper. Your apps will not be deleted — only their arrangement will change.

Can I change the home screen on my Samsung tablet the same way?

Yes. The long-press method and menu options work the same way on Samsung tablets running One UI. The grid layout options may differ slightly because tablets have larger screens, but the process is identical.