To put an app on home screen Android, open the app drawer, touch and hold the app you want, drag it to a Home screen panel, and lift your finger. This places a shortcut on your Home screen so you can open the app with one tap instead of opening the app drawer each time.
How to put an app on the home screen on Android
The single documented method from Google works on all Android phones, including Pixel devices. The home screen layout varies slightly depending on the device manufacturer and the version of the Android operating system. Open the app list (also called the app drawer) by swiping up from the bottom of the Home screen or tapping the app drawer icon. The app drawer icon typically looks like a grid of dots or squares and can usually be found at the bottom of the home screen or in the dock. Find the app you want, then touch and hold its icon. Without lifting your finger, drag the icon to any spot on a Home screen panel. Lift your finger to drop it in place. The app now appears on that Home screen and opens with a single tap.
How to add an app to the iPhone home screen
Apple documents two paths for managing apps on the iPhone Home screen. First, you can control where new apps appear after you download them. Go to Settings, tap Home Screen & App Library, then choose either Add to Home Screen (new apps appear on your Home screen and in the App Library) or App Library Only (new apps appear only in the App Library). Second, to move an existing app from the App Library to the Home screen, go to the App Library, touch and hold the app until the icons jiggle, swipe left while still holding the app, place it on the desired Home screen panel, and tap Done.
Rearrange or remove apps from your home screen
To move an app icon to a different position on the same Home screen, touch and hold the icon until the icons jiggle, then drag it to a new spot. To create a folder, drag one app icon onto another app icon; Android and iPhone will automatically create a folder that you can name. To move an app to a different Home screen panel, touch and hold the icon and drag it to the edge of the screen until the panel shifts. To remove a shortcut from the Home screen without uninstalling the app, touch and hold the icon and drag it to the Remove option (on Android) or tap Remove from Home Screen (on iPhone). The app remains installed and accessible from the app drawer or App Library. You can also customize your Home screen further by changing wallpapers and themes, which gives your device a fresh look while keeping your app shortcuts in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add an app to the Home screen directly from the Play Store?
The only documented method is using the app drawer.
What if the app I want is not in the app drawer?
If the app does not appear in the app drawer, it may not be installed. Open the Play Store, search for the app, and install it first. Once installed, it will appear in the app drawer and you can drag it to the Home screen.
How do I find an app that I downloaded but cannot see on my iPhone?
If you have a downloaded app not showing on iPhone? how to find apps iOS 16: open the App Library by swiping left on the Home screen until you reach the last panel. Use the search bar at the top or browse the alphabetical list to locate the app, then touch and hold it to move it to the Home screen.
Can I rearrange the apps on my Android home screen?
Yes. Touch and hold an app icon until you feel a vibration or see a menu, then drag it to a new spot on the same panel or to the edge of the screen to move it to a different panel. Release to place it.
Can I add a widget instead of an app icon to the Home screen?
Yes. On Android, touch and hold an empty spot on the Home screen, tap Widgets, then touch and hold the widget you want and drag it to the Home screen. On iPhone, touch and hold an empty spot, tap the + button, select a widget, choose a size, and tap Add Widget.
Will removing an app from the Home screen delete the app?
No. Removing the shortcut from the Home screen only removes the icon. The app stays installed and can be opened from the app drawer (Android) or App Library (iPhone). To fully uninstall the app, you must do so from the app’s settings or by touching and holding the icon and selecting Uninstall or Remove App.
