How to Delete Icons on Android: 3 Easy Methods

To delete icons on Android, touch and hold the app icon on your home screen, then drag it to the Remove option that appears at the top of the screen and lift your finger. This removes the icon from your home screen without uninstalling the app, keeping it accessible in your app drawer.

How to delete icons on Android from your home screen

This is the primary, Google-documented method for clearing an icon from your home screen while keeping the app installed. Touch and hold the app icon you want to remove. A menu or editing mode will appear. Drag the icon to the Remove option displayed at the top of the screen, then lift your finger. The icon disappears from your home screen, but the app remains installed on your device. You can remove multiple icons at once by long pressing on one icon and then dragging the other icons onto the 'Remove' or 'Delete' option. The location of the 'Remove' or 'Delete' option may vary depending on your Android device and launcher. Repeat this process for any other icons you want to remove. Tap anywhere outside the editing mode or press the back button to exit. Method 4: Using a third-party launcher to delete icons and customize the home screen.

How to uninstall apps to delete their icons permanently

To fully delete an app and its icon from your device, use the Play Store path. Open the Play Store app, tap your profile icon, then select Manage apps & devices. Tap Manage to see a list of installed apps. Select the app you want to remove, then tap Uninstall. This permanently removes the app and its icon, freeing up phone storage space on your device. Note that some pre-installed system apps cannot be uninstalled this way.

How to disable or hide system app icons

For system apps that cannot be uninstalled, Samsung documents two methods to disable them. From a Home screen, swipe up or down to open the Apps screen, then touch and hold the app and tap Disable. Alternatively, go to Settings > Apps, choose the app, then tap Disable. Disabling a system app hides its icon from the home screen and app drawer, but the app remains deactivated on the device. Disabling essential system apps can cause stability issues or impact the functionality of other apps. A disabled system app can be re-enabled at any time. To hide apps without disabling them, Samsung also documents a method: touch and hold an empty space on the Home screen, tap Settings, then tap Hide apps on Home and Apps screens. Select the app(s) you want to hide and tap Done. The available action depends on the app; some critical system apps may not offer a disable option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I restore a deleted icon on Android?

Yes. Open the app drawer or the "All Apps" menu on your device. Find the app that corresponds to the icon you removed, touch and hold it, then drag it back to your home screen. This restores the icon to its original position.

Can I organize my icons into folders on Android?

Yes. Touch and hold an app icon and drag it on top of another app icon. This creates a folder containing both apps. You can then customize the folder's name and add more apps by dragging and dropping them into the folder.

Can I delete pre-installed icons on my Android device?

Pre-installed system app icons often cannot be deleted without rooting your device. However, you can disable or hide them using the methods described above. The ability to remove these icons varies by device and manufacturer.

Is there a way to hide icons instead of deleting them on Android?

Yes. On Samsung Galaxy phones, you can hide icons through Home screen settings without disabling the app. Select the apps you want to hide and tap Done.