What You Can Change on Your Home Screen
Your home screen is the first thing you see when you unlock your device. You can rearrange app icons, add widgets, change the background image, and organize apps into folders — all without installing anything new or paying a fee. The exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or Windows computer, but the basic idea is the same: long-press or right-click to enter edit mode, then move things around.
Most people start by moving their most-used apps to the top or bottom of the screen where they are easier to reach. Others add weather or calendar widgets so information appears without opening an app. You can also hide apps you rarely use or change the wallpaper to match your mood or season.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, swipe left to reach the home screen, long-press an empty area, tap "Edit Home Screen," then drag apps and widgets to new positions.
- On Android, long-press an app icon or empty space, then drag it to move it; swipe up to see all apps and add new ones to the home screen.
- On Windows, right-click the taskbar or desktop to pin apps, unpin them, or change the background image.
- Wallpaper changes are separate from app rearrangement and take just a few taps or clicks.
- You can create folders by dragging one app onto another, which groups related apps together and saves space.
How to Rearrange Apps on iPhone
Start by swiping left from the right edge of your screen until you reach your home screen. If you are already on the home screen, look for an empty area — a spot with no app icon. Long-press that empty space for about two seconds until a menu appears. Tap "Edit Home Screen" at the bottom of the menu.
Once you are in edit mode, app icons will show a small minus sign in the corner and a plus sign will appear in the top-left corner. To move an app, press and hold it, then drag it to a new position. Other apps will shift out of the way as you move. When you are done, tap "Done" in the top-right corner. Your changes save when ready.
If you want to add an app that is not on your home screen, tap the plus sign in the top-left corner while in edit mode. A list of all your apps appears. Tap the app you want, choose which home screen page to add it to, then tap "Add" and confirm with "Done."
How to Rearrange Apps on Android
The steps vary slightly depending on your phone's manufacturer — Samsung, Google Pixel, and others have slightly different layouts — but the core method is the same. Long-press any app icon on your home screen. A menu will appear with options like "Remove," "Edit," or "App info." Tap and hold the app icon itself (not the menu), then drag it to a new position. Release it when you reach the spot you want.
To add an app to your home screen, swipe up from the bottom to open your app drawer. Long-press the app you want to add, then drag it onto your home screen. You can also create a folder by dragging one app directly onto another app. A folder will form, and you can rename it by tapping the folder and selecting "Rename."
If you want to remove an app from your home screen without deleting it, long-press the app and tap "Remove from Home Screen." The app stays on your phone but disappears from the home screen. You can still find it in your app drawer.
How to Change Your Wallpaper
On iPhone: Go to Settings, tap "Wallpaper," then tap "Add New Wallpaper." Choose "Photos" to pick an image from your camera roll, or select a built-in wallpaper collection. Tap the image to preview it, then tap "Add" and choose whether to set it as your lock screen, home screen, or both.
On Android: Long-press an empty area of your home screen, then tap "Wallpapers" or "Wallpaper." Browse the available images or tap "Photos" to use your own picture. Select the image, preview it, and tap "Set Wallpaper." Choose whether to explore it to your home screen, lock screen, or both.
On Windows: Right-click an empty area of your desktop and select "Personalize." Click "Background" in the left menu, then choose "Picture," "Solid Color," or "Slideshow." If you pick "Picture," click "Browse" to choose an image from your computer. Your change takes effect when ready.
How to Add Widgets to Your Home Screen
On iPhone: Long-press an empty area of your home screen and tap "Edit Home Screen." Tap the plus sign in the top-left corner. Scroll down and find the app whose widget you want to add — for example, "Weather" or "Calendar." Tap the app name, then tap the widget size you prefer. Tap "Add Widget" and choose which home screen page to place it on. Tap "Done" when finished.
On Android: Long-press an empty area of your home screen and tap "Widgets." Scroll through the list and long-press the widget you want. Drag it onto your home screen and release it in the position you prefer. Some widgets let you resize them — if so, long-press the widget and drag the corner handles to make it larger or smaller.
Widgets show live information without opening the app — a weather widget displays the current temperature, a calendar widget shows your next event, and a news widget displays headlines. You can add as many as you want, though they take up space on your home screen.
How to Create and Organize Folders
Folders let you group related apps together and reduce clutter. On iPhone, long-press an app in edit mode, drag it onto another app, and release. A folder forms automatically with a suggested name. Tap the folder to open it, then tap the name at the top to rename it to something more useful — for example, "Games," "Social," or "Utilities."
On Android, long-press an app and drag it onto another app. A folder appears with both apps inside. Tap the folder to open it and see the apps inside. Long-press the folder name to rename it. You can drag more apps into the folder by holding them and dragging them over the folder icon.
To remove an app from a folder, open the folder, long-press the app, and drag it out onto your home screen. If a folder becomes empty, it disappears automatically.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The most common mistake is accidentally deleting an app instead of just removing it from the home screen. On iPhone, if you see a minus sign next to an app in edit mode and tap it, you will be asked whether to "Remove from Home Screen" or "Remove App." Choose the first option if you want to keep the app but hide it. On Android, always tap "Remove from Home Screen" rather than "Uninstall" to keep the app on your phone.
Another mistake is adding too many widgets and running out of space. Widgets are useful, but each one takes up room. Start with one or two and add more only if you find yourself checking them regularly. You can always delete a widget by long-pressing it and selecting "Remove."
On Windows, do not confuse the taskbar (the bar at the bottom with pinned apps) with the desktop background. Pinning an app to the taskbar keeps it visible at the bottom of your screen, while changing the wallpaper only changes the background image. Both are useful, but they serve different purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo changes if I mess up my home screen?
Yes. On iPhone and Android, you can rearrange apps again at any time — there is no permanent damage. On Windows, right-click the taskbar and unpin apps you do not want, or right-click the desktop and choose "Personalize" to change the wallpaper back. Nothing you do to your home screen deletes your apps or files.
How do I hide apps I do not want to see?
On iPhone, remove them from your home screen by long-pressing, dragging them off, and tapping "Remove from Home Screen." They stay in your app library. On Android, long-press the app and tap "Remove from Home Screen." On Windows, right-click an app in the taskbar and select "Unpin from taskbar" to hide it from the bottom bar.
Can I have different home screens on my phone?
Yes. On iPhone, swipe left or right to move between home screen pages. You can have as many pages as you want. On Android, swipe left or right to switch between home screen panels. Both phones let you organize apps across multiple pages so you can keep frequently used apps on the first page and less-used ones on later pages.
What is the difference between a widget and an app shortcut?
A widget displays live information or a mini version of the app without opening it — a weather widget shows the temperature right on your home screen. An app shortcut is just an icon that opens the full app when you tap it. Widgets are more useful for information you check often, while shortcuts are better for apps you use less frequently.
Does changing my home screen use more battery or storage?
No. Rearranging apps, adding widgets, and changing wallpapers do not use extra battery or storage. Widgets do update their information periodically, which uses a tiny amount of battery, but the effect is negligible. You can add as many widgets as you want without worrying about your phone slowing down.