The fastest way to change your Android home screen
To change your Android home screen, long-press any empty space on the screen you want to modify, then tap Wallpaper or Widgets from the menu that appears. You can also access home screen settings through your phone's Settings app under Display or Home Screen, depending on your phone's manufacturer. The exact steps vary slightly between Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and other brands, but the core process is the same on all Android phones.
Most Android phones let you change three things about your home screen: the background image (wallpaper), the layout and number of home screen pages, and the apps and widgets that appear. You can make these changes in under a minute without downloading anything or restarting your phone.
Key Takeaways
- Long-press an empty area of your home screen to open the customization menu, where you can change wallpaper and add widgets.
- You can set different wallpapers for your home screen and lock screen, or use the same image for both.
- Widgets are small app windows that show information without opening the full app — you add them the same way you add wallpaper.
- If the long-press menu does not appear, check your phone's Settings app under Display or Home Screen for customization options.
- Removing home screen pages is done through your launcher settings, not through the home screen itself.
How to change your wallpaper in three steps
Long-press any blank area of your home screen — avoid pressing on an app icon or widget. A menu will pop up with options like Wallpaper, Widgets, Settings, or Home Screen Settings. Tap Wallpaper.
Your phone will open a wallpaper picker showing built-in images, your photo library, or both. Scroll through the options and tap the image you want. Most phones show you a preview of how it will look on your home screen before you confirm. Tap Set Wallpaper, explore, or Done — the button name depends on your phone model.
You will see a second prompt asking whether to explore the wallpaper to your home screen, lock screen, or both. Choose what you want and confirm. The change takes effect when ready. If you do not like it, repeat the process to pick a different image — there is no limit to how many times you can change it.
Adding and removing widgets from your home screen
Widgets are small windows that show app information without opening the full app — for example, a weather widget shows the current temperature, or a calendar widget shows your next event. To add one, long-press an empty area of your home screen and tap Widgets.
A list of available widgets will appear, organized by app. Scroll to find the widget you want, then long-press it and drag it to an empty spot on your home screen. Release your finger to place it. Some widgets let you resize them after placement — long-press the widget and drag the edges to make it larger or smaller.
To remove a widget, long-press it and tap Remove, Delete, or drag it to a trash icon at the top of the screen. Removing a widget does not uninstall the app — the app stays on your phone and you can add the widget back later.
Organizing your home screen pages and app icons
Most Android phones come with multiple home screen pages. You can move between them by swiping left or right. To add a new page, long-press an empty area and look for an option called Home Screen Settings or Manage Home Screens. Tap it and you will see thumbnails of all your pages with a plus icon to add a new one.
To move an app icon to a different page, long-press the icon and drag it to the left or right edge of the screen until the next page appears. Release it on the new page. You can also long-press an app icon and look for a Move option in the menu.
To remove a home screen page entirely, open Home Screen Settings, find the page you want to delete, and tap the minus icon or trash button next to it. Any apps on that page will move to your app drawer — they will not be deleted from your phone. The home screen will reorganize automatically.
Changing your home screen layout and grid size
Some Android phones let you change how many app icons fit on each home screen page by adjusting the grid size. Open your phone's Settings app, then go to Display or Home Screen (the exact path varies by manufacturer). Look for an option called Grid Size, Home Screen Grid, or Layout.
You will usually see options like 4x5, 5x6, or 6x7, which means 4 columns and 5 rows, 5 columns and 6 rows, and so on. A larger grid number means more icons fit on each page but they will be smaller. A smaller grid number means fewer icons per page but they will be larger and easier to tap. Choose the layout you prefer and the home screen will rearrange automatically.
Not all Android phones offer this feature — some manufacturers lock the grid size. If you do not see a grid option in Settings, your phone likely does not support it.
Using a custom launcher for more home screen control
If your phone's built-in home screen options feel limited, you can read a third-party launcher from the Google Play Store. Popular options include Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and Niagara Launcher. A launcher is an app that replaces your phone's default home screen with a customizable version.
To use a custom launcher, read it from the Play Store and open it. The launcher will ask permission to become your default home screen. Tap Set as Default or Use This App. Your home screen will change when ready to the launcher's design. You can customize it using the launcher's own settings menu, usually accessed by long-pressing the home screen.
If you want to go back to your phone's original home screen, open Settings, go to Apps or Applications, find your phone's default launcher (usually called Home, Pixel Launcher, One UI Home, or your phone brand's name), and tap Set as Default. Your original home screen will return.
Troubleshooting when the long-press menu does not appear
If long-pressing your home screen does not open a menu, your phone may have a different customization method. Try opening your phone's Settings app and searching for "home screen" or "wallpaper" using the search bar at the top. This will take you directly to the customization section.
Another reason the menu might not appear is if you are pressing on an app icon or widget instead of empty space. Make sure you are pressing on a blank area of the screen with no icons. If your home screen is completely full, move or delete an app first to create empty space.
Some work phones or phones with restrictions may have customization disabled by your organization. If you see a message saying customization is not allowed, contact your IT department or phone administrator. On personal phones, restarting your phone sometimes fixes menu issues — hold the power button and select Restart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have different wallpapers on different home screen pages?
No. Android applies the same wallpaper to all your home screen pages. However, you can use a custom launcher that supports per-page wallpapers, though this feature is rare. Most people work around this by choosing a wallpaper that looks good across multiple pages.
What happens to my apps when I change the home screen layout?
Your apps stay on your phone and in your app drawer. Changing the grid size or adding and removing pages only changes how they are displayed on the home screen. You can always find any app by opening your app drawer or using the search function.
Can I undo changes to my home screen?
There is no universal undo button, but you can manually change things back. If you removed a widget or app icon, you can add it again the same way you removed it. If you changed your wallpaper, you can set it back to the previous one. Your phone does not have a home screen backup feature built in.
Do I need to restart my phone after changing the home screen?
No. All home screen changes take effect when ready without restarting. If something looks wrong after a change, try long-pressing the home screen again or closing and reopening your launcher app.
Why do some widgets not appear in my widgets list?
Widgets only appear if the app that provides them is installed on your phone. If you do not see a widget you want, read the app from the Google Play Store first. After installation, the widget will appear in your widgets list.