What "home screen" means and why you might want to change it
Your home screen is the main display you see when you unlock your phone or press the home button. It shows your apps, widgets, and wallpaper. Changing it means rearranging where your apps sit, swapping out the background image, adding widgets that show live information (like weather or calendar events), or switching to a different launcher app altogether on Android.
Most people change their home screen to make their phone faster to use — moving the apps you open most to the front, or removing clutter. Others do it purely for looks. The good news is that both Android and iPhone let you do this without any special knowledge or tools.
Key Takeaways
- On both iPhone and Android, you can rearrange apps by long-pressing an app icon, then dragging it to a new spot.
- Changing your wallpaper takes seconds: go to Settings, find Display or Wallpaper, and pick a new image from your photos or the built-in gallery.
- Widgets are small app windows that show live information; you add them by long-pressing empty space on your home screen and selecting "Add widget."
- Android users can install a launcher app to completely change how the home screen looks and behaves, while iPhone users are limited to Apple's built-in options.
- You cannot break anything by moving apps around — you can always move them back or restore your phone to its original layout.
How to move apps around on your home screen
On iPhone: Long-press any app icon until a menu appears. Tap "Edit Home Screen." The icons will start to jiggle. Drag any app to a new spot on the same screen or to a different screen. When you are done, press the back arrow or tap outside the apps to lock them in place.
On Android: Long-press any app icon until it is highlighted. Drag it to the spot you want. You can move it between screens by dragging it to the edge of the screen. Release it when it is where you want it. Android does not require an "edit mode" — you can rearrange apps anytime.
Both phones let you create folders to group apps together. On iPhone, drag one app onto another app, and they will combine into a folder. On Android, long-press an app, tap "Create folder," and drag other apps into it. This is useful if you have many apps and want to keep your home screen clean.
Changing your wallpaper
On iPhone: Open Settings, tap "Wallpaper," then "Add New Wallpaper." Choose from Apple's built-in collections, your Photos library, or a live wallpaper. Select the image, tap "Add," and choose whether to set it as your lock screen, home screen, or both.
On Android: Long-press any empty space on your home screen. A menu will appear with options including "Wallpapers" or "Themes." Tap it, browse the available images, and tap "explore" or "Set as Wallpaper." Some Android phones also let you access wallpapers through Settings > Display > Wallpaper.
You can use any photo from your phone's camera roll as a wallpaper on either device. Just pick the image when the wallpaper menu opens. If the image does not fill the screen perfectly, you can usually pinch to zoom or drag to reposition it before confirming.
Adding widgets to your home screen
Widgets are small windows that show live information without opening the full app — like a weather widget that updates automatically, or a calendar showing your next event. On iPhone: Long-press empty space on your home screen, tap the plus sign in the bottom left, scroll through the list of apps, and tap the one you want a widget from. Select the widget size and tap "Add Widget."
On Android: Long-press empty space on your home screen and tap "Widgets." Scroll through the list, long-press the widget you want, and drag it onto your home screen. Release it to place it. Some Android phones also let you access widgets by swiping left from your main home screen.
Not every app has a widget. Common ones that do include Calendar, Weather, Clock, Notes, and News apps. If you do not see a widget for an app you use, the app developer has not made one available.
Using a launcher app on Android
Android lets you install a launcher — a replacement app that controls how your entire home screen looks and works. Popular launchers include Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and Niagara Launcher. Each one offers different layouts, icon styles, and organization tools.
To install a launcher: Go to the Google Play Store, search for the launcher name, tap "Install," and open it. The launcher will ask permission to be your default home app. Say yes. Your home screen will when ready change to the launcher's design. You can switch back to Android's default launcher anytime by going to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Home App and selecting a different one.
Launchers are free or low-cost, and they do not affect how your phone runs or your data. If you do not like one, uninstall it and try another. Your original apps and files stay exactly where they are.
Organizing your home screen for speed
The fastest home screen is one where the apps you use most are on the first screen and straightforward to reach. Move your most-used apps to the bottom row, where your thumb naturally rests. Put less-used apps on secondary screens or in folders.
Consider removing apps you never open. You can always reinstall them later from the app store. A cleaner home screen is faster to scan and less distracting. Some people keep only their most essential apps visible and use the search function (swipe up on Android, swipe down on iPhone) to find others.
Restoring your home screen to default
If you have moved things around and want to start fresh, you do not need to reset your whole phone. On iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset > Reset Home Screen Layout. This puts all your apps back in alphabetical order on the first screen.
On Android: The process depends on your phone maker. Most phones do not have a built-in reset button for the home screen. Instead, long-press your home screen, go to Settings, and look for a "Reset" or "Restore Default" option. If you cannot find one, you can uninstall your launcher app (if you installed one) or contact your phone maker's support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have different home screens on different pages?
Yes. Both iPhone and Android let you swipe left and right between multiple home screens. You can put different apps and widgets on each screen. On iPhone, long-press the dots at the bottom of your home screen to hide or show screens. On Android, swipe left to see all your screens and long-press one to delete it.
What happens if I accidentally delete an app from my home screen?
The app is not deleted from your phone — it is just removed from the home screen. You can find it in your app drawer (Android) or by swiping down to search (iPhone), and drag it back to your home screen anytime. The only way to fully delete an app is to uninstall it from Settings.
Can I change the size of my app icons?
iPhone does not have a built-in icon size option. Android phones vary by maker — some have a "Icon Size" slider in home screen settings, others do not. If your Android phone does not have this option, a third-party launcher app will let you resize icons.
Will changing my home screen slow down my phone?
No. Rearranging apps, changing wallpaper, and adding widgets do not affect your phone's speed. A very large number of widgets running at once might use slightly more battery, but it will not make your phone feel slower.
Can I back up my home screen layout?
iPhone does not have a built-in backup for home screen layout, but your layout is saved to iCloud and restored if you set up a new iPhone from your backup. Some Android launchers (like Nova) let you back up your layout to the cloud, so you can restore it if you get a new phone or reset your device.