To arrange apps on Android, long-press an app icon on your Home screen and drag it to a new spot. You can also create folders by dragging one app onto another, then add more apps by dropping them onto the folder.
How to arrange apps on your Android home screen
Moving apps on your Home screen is done by touch and hold. Long-press any app icon until it lifts or the screen enters edit mode, then drag it to the desired location. Release your finger to place it. To create a folder, drag one app icon directly onto another app icon. A folder will appear containing both apps. To add more apps to an existing folder, drag additional app icons onto the folder. You can also move apps between different Home screen pages by dragging them to the edge of the screen until the page scrolls. The App Drawer is a central location where all your installed apps are stored, usually represented by an icon resembling a grid of small squares or a circle with dots inside.
What the official Android help page says about app arrangement
Google’s documented Android steps cover adding, moving, removing, and grouping apps, shortcuts, widgets, or groups on Home screens. The official page confirms you can make a folder by moving an app, shortcut, widget, or group. Some Android devices categorize apps in the App Drawer based on their type or function (e.g., communication apps grouped together).
Android vs. iPhone: how app arrangement differs
On iPhone, apps are arranged on the Home Screen and in the App Library. Apple documents that you can organize the Home Screen and App Library from iPhone and create folders by dragging one app onto another. To move an app on iPhone, touch and hold any app, then drag it to another spot; on iPhone X and later, tap Done to save. To create a folder, touch and hold an app until the apps jiggle, then drag the app onto another app. To add more apps to the folder, drag additional apps into it. To rename a folder, touch and hold the folder, tap Rename, type the name, then tap Done. To remove all apps from a folder, tap the folder and drag all the apps out onto the Home Screen. To move an app out of a folder, open the folder, touch and hold the app until the apps begin to jiggle, then drag it to the Home Screen. To use the App Library, swipe left from the Home Screen until you see it. Android focuses on Home screen customization without an equivalent App Library system, relying instead on the app drawer for a full list of installed apps.
Tips for keeping your home screen organized
Using widgets can give you quick access to information without opening an app. Long-press an empty area of your Home screen, select Widgets, and choose one to add. Searching for an app by swiping down on the Home screen and typing its name is faster than scrolling through multiple pages. Periodically review your Home screen layout and remove unused shortcuts by long-pressing and dragging them to Remove or Uninstall. This helps maintain a clean arrangement and supports effective phone data and storage management by clearing space from apps you no longer need. App Shortcuts are quick access icons that can be placed on the Home Screen to launch specific app functions directly. Using app organizers and launchers (like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, Lawnchair Launcher, Smart Launcher, Action Launcher, Apex Launcher) can provide advanced customization options such as custom app drawers, grid size changes, themes, gesture controls, and automatic categorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I move an app on Android?
Long-press the app icon until it becomes movable, then drag it to the new spot on your Home screen and release.
How do I create and rename a folder on Android?
Drag one app icon onto another to create a folder. To rename it, open the folder, tap the folder name field, type the new name, and tap outside the folder to save.
Can I rearrange apps inside a folder?
Yes. Open the folder, long-press an app icon until it lifts, then drag it to a new position within the folder and release.
Is there an automatic sort option for apps on Android?
Most devices require manual arrangement.
Can I hide apps from the app drawer?
Some third-party launchers offer this feature, but it is not part of the standard Android setup described by Google. To hide unwanted apps, long-press on the app icon in your app drawer, then drag it to the 'Hide' or 'Disable' option.
How can I arrange apps on my Android device?
Long-press an app, drag it to the desired position, release, and repeat for other apps. Tap the home button to save.
How can I rearrange the apps inside a folder?
Open the folder, long-press an app, drag it to a new position, release, and repeat. Tap outside the folder to save.
Can I arrange apps in the app drawer as well?
You cannot directly arrange apps within the app drawer, but you can rearrange their order on the home screen or in folders; some launchers may offer additional customization.
