Remove Now Brief from Your Home Screen

The Now Brief is a widget that Samsung adds to the home screen by default on many phones. It shows weather, news, and calendar information in a card format. You can remove it by long-pressing the widget, then tapping the trash or remove icon that appears—the exact button depends on your phone model and Android version.

If you do not see a remove option after long-pressing, try swiping the widget upward or to the side. Some Samsung phones require you to drag the widget to a trash zone at the bottom of the screen. The widget will disappear from your home screen when ready, though the app itself remains installed on your phone.

Key Takeaways

  • Long-press the Now Brief widget on your home screen to bring up removal options.
  • Tap the trash, remove, or delete icon when it appears; the exact label varies by phone model.
  • Removing the widget does not uninstall the app, so you can add it back later if you change your mind.
  • If the widget is locked to your home screen, you may need to unlock it first through your phone's settings or by pressing and holding longer.
  • The Now Brief app itself can be disabled through Settings > Apps if you want to prevent it from running in the background.

Long-Press and Hold the Widget

Start by touching and holding your finger on the Now Brief widget for two to three seconds. Your phone will vibrate or show a visual response—usually the widget will highlight or a menu will pop up. Do not lift your finger too quickly; Samsung phones require a full long-press to set up the edit mode.

Once the menu appears, look for a trash icon, delete button, remove option, or an X symbol. The label and location change between Samsung models and Android versions. On newer phones, you may see "Remove" or "Delete" as text. On older models, it might be a small icon at the top or bottom of the screen.

Drag the Widget to the Trash Zone

Some Samsung phones show a trash or delete zone at the bottom of the home screen when you long-press a widget. If you see this zone, drag the Now Brief widget downward toward it while still holding your finger down. The zone usually turns red or shows a trash icon to indicate it is active.

Release your finger when the widget is over the trash zone. The widget will disappear from your home screen. If the zone does not appear, try the remove button method instead—not all Samsung models use the drag-to-trash approach.

Unlock the Widget If It Is Locked

On some Samsung phones, widgets come locked to the home screen to prevent accidental removal. If you long-press the Now Brief and see no remove option, the widget may be locked. Look for a lock icon on the widget itself or in the menu that appears.

Tap the lock icon to unlock the widget, then long-press it again. The remove option should now appear. Alternatively, go to Settings > Home Screen > Lock Home Screen and toggle it off, which unlocks all widgets at once. After unlocking, you can remove the Now Brief and then re-lock your home screen if you want.

Disable the Now Brief App in Settings

If you want to prevent the Now Brief from running in the background or from being suggested to you, you can disable the app itself through your phone's settings. Open Settings, then go to Apps (or process Manager on older phones). Search for "Now Brief" or look under Samsung apps.

Tap the app, then select "Disable" or "Turn Off." On some phones, you will see "Uninstall Updates" instead—this removes recent updates and reverts the app to its original state. Disabling the app prevents it from sending notifications and using battery, though you cannot fully remove it from a Samsung phone because it is part of the system software.

Add the Widget Back If You Change Your Mind

Removing the Now Brief widget does not delete the app, so you can add it back to your home screen anytime. Long-press an empty area of your home screen, then tap "Widgets" or the plus icon. Search for "Now Brief" in the widget list and tap it to add a new instance to your screen.

You can also add it by going to Settings > Home Screen > Widgets, finding Now Brief, and selecting "Add to Home Screen." The widget will appear in the same size and style as before, with your existing settings intact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I remove the Now Brief widget?

The widget may be locked to your home screen. Check for a lock icon on the widget or in the menu that appears when you long-press it. If you see a lock, tap it to unlock the widget first, then try removing it again. You can also unlock all widgets at once through Settings > Home Screen > Lock Home Screen.

Will removing the widget delete my calendar or news data?

No. Removing the widget only hides it from your home screen. Your calendar events, news preferences, and all other data remain on your phone. The Now Brief app itself stays installed, and you can add the widget back anytime without losing anything.

What is the difference between removing the widget and disabling the app?

Removing the widget takes it off your home screen but leaves the app running. Disabling the app stops it from running in the background and prevents notifications. You can do both—remove the widget and disable the app—if you want to fully stop Now Brief from using your phone's resources.

Can I hide the Now Brief without removing it?

Not directly, but you can move it to a home screen page you do not use often. Swipe to a different page, long-press an empty area, add the widget there, and then delete it from your main page. Alternatively, create a folder on your home screen and move the widget into it to keep it out of sight.

Does removing Now Brief affect Samsung's other features?

No. The Now Brief is a standalone widget. Removing it does not affect your calendar app, weather app, news app, or any other Samsung feature. All of these apps continue to work normally whether the widget is on your home screen or not.