What "home screen" means and why you might change it
Your home screen is the first page you see when you unlock your phone or tablet — the one with your app icons, widgets, and wallpaper. Changing it means swapping out the background image, rearranging where your apps sit, adding widgets that show live information, or switching to a different launcher (on Android). Most people change their home screen to make their device faster to use, more visually appealing, or better organized for how they actually work.
The steps differ depending on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or tablet. Each system has its own menu structure and naming conventions, so this guide walks through the most common devices and what you'll actually see on your screen.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, long-press an empty area of the home screen, tap "Customize," and then tap the plus sign to add widgets or edit your app layout.
- On Android, long-press the home screen background, tap "Widgets" or "Home screen settings," and drag widgets or apps to new positions.
- Changing your wallpaper (background image) is separate from rearranging apps — do wallpaper first through your Settings app on most devices.
- You can create multiple home screen pages by dragging an app to the edge of the screen, then swipe between them.
- If you want a completely different layout style, Android lets you install a third-party launcher app, but iPhone does not.
Changing your wallpaper on iPhone
Open the Settings app and scroll down to find "Wallpaper." Tap it, then tap "Add New Wallpaper." You'll see options: "Photos" (your camera roll), "Suggested Photos" (Apple's curated images), or built-in collections like "Stills" and "Live." Choose one, select the image you want, and tap "Add." A menu will ask whether you want it on your lock screen, home screen, or both — pick "Home Screen" if you only want to change the home screen.
If you choose a photo from your camera roll, you can pinch and zoom to frame it the way you want before tapping "Add." The system will show you a preview of how it will look with your app icons on top, so you can see whether the image is too busy or too dark to read your apps clearly.
Changing your wallpaper on Android
The exact steps vary by manufacturer (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.), but the general path is: long-press an empty area of your home screen, then look for a "Wallpapers" or "Wallpaper" button at the bottom. Tap it and you'll see options like "Gallery" (your photos), "Wallpapers" (built-in images), or "Live Wallpapers" (animated backgrounds). Pick your image, preview it, and tap "explore" or "Set as Wallpaper."
Some Android phones also let you set wallpaper through Settings > Display > Wallpaper, which opens the same menu. If you don't see a wallpaper option when you long-press the home screen, try the Settings route instead.
Rearranging apps and adding widgets on iPhone
To move an app icon, long-press it until a menu appears. Tap "Edit Home Screen," and the icons will start jiggling. Drag the app to a new spot, or drag it to the edge of the screen to move it to a different home screen page. When you're done, press the Home button or swipe up from the bottom to lock in your changes.
To add a widget (a small window showing weather, calendar, news, or other live information), long-press an empty area of your home screen and tap the plus sign in the bottom left. Search for the app whose widget you want, tap it, choose the widget size, and tap "Add Widget." The widget will appear on your home screen and update automatically.
Rearranging apps and adding widgets on Android
Long-press an app icon until it lifts off the screen, then drag it to a new position. To move it to a different home screen page, drag it toward the left or right edge and hold it there — the screen will scroll to the next page, and you can drop it there. Release your finger to place it.
To add a widget, long-press an empty area of your home screen and tap "Widgets" (or "Add Widget" — the wording varies by phone). Scroll through the list, long-press the widget you want, and drag it onto your home screen. Some widgets let you resize them — if you see corner handles, drag them to make the widget bigger or smaller.
Creating multiple home screen pages
Both iPhone and Android let you have several home screen pages that you swipe between. On iPhone, when you're in Edit Home Screen mode (long-press and tap "Customize"), you'll see dots at the bottom showing how many pages you have. Drag an app to the rightmost dot to create a new page automatically.
On Android, drag an app to the far right edge of your screen and hold it there — the screen will scroll and create a new page. You can also long-press the home screen, tap "Home Screen Settings" or similar, and look for an option to add pages manually. The number of pages you can have varies by phone, but most allow at least five.
Using a custom launcher on Android (not available on iPhone)
If you want a completely different home screen layout — different grid sizes, icon styles, or organization — Android lets you install a third-party launcher app. Popular options include Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and Niagara Launcher. read one from the Google Play Store, open it, and follow its setup steps. The app will ask to be set as your default launcher, which means it becomes your home screen.
You can always switch back to your phone's default launcher by going to Settings > Apps > Default Apps (or similar) and changing your home screen app. iPhone does not offer this option — you're limited to Apple's built-in home screen customization.
Common mistakes to avoid
Don't assume your changes are saved automatically — on iPhone, you must press Home or swipe up to exit Edit mode, or your changes will be lost. On Android, changes usually save when ready, but if something doesn't look right, try long-pressing the home screen again to confirm.
If your wallpaper makes your app icons hard to read, try a darker or less busy image, or use a solid color. If you add too many widgets, your home screen will become cluttered and slow — start with one or two and add more only if you use them regularly. If you accidentally delete an app icon, you can long-press the home screen and search for the app to add it back without losing the app itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have different wallpapers on my lock screen and home screen?
Yes, on both iPhone and Android. When you set a wallpaper, you'll see an option to explore it to your lock screen, home screen, or both. Choose "Home Screen" to leave your lock screen unchanged. On Android, the exact menu wording varies by phone, but the option is always there.
What's the difference between a widget and an app icon?
An app icon is just a shortcut that opens the app when you tap it. A widget is a small window that shows live information — like today's weather, your calendar events, or unread messages — without opening the full app. Widgets update automatically throughout the day.
If I move an app to a different home screen page, does it still work?
Yes, completely. Moving an app icon doesn't change how the app works — it just changes where the shortcut appears. You can organize your apps however you want without affecting their function.
Can I delete an app icon from my home screen without deleting the app?
On iPhone, long-press the icon, tap "Remove App," and choose "Remove from Home Screen" (not "Delete App"). On Android, long-press the icon and drag it to "Remove" or "Uninstall" — if you see "Remove," the app stays on your phone; if you see "Uninstall," you're deleting it entirely. Choose carefully.
Why does my home screen look different after I restart my phone?
On iPhone, if you force-restart your phone, your home screen layout should stay the same. On Android, some phones reset the home screen to default after a restart if you haven't confirmed your changes — try long-pressing the home screen again and checking your settings. If the problem persists, restart once more.