How to change the main page of Yandex on an Android phone

Modern smartphone users often face a situation where the standard browser or widget interface on the home screen no longer meets their needs. Yandex main page on devices running Android by default it is oversaturated with news feeds, advertising blocks and recommendations, which can distract from quick access to necessary services. Changing this interface allows you to turn the start screen into a personalized control panel, where important information is in the foreground.

The customization process does not require special technical knowledge, but implies an understanding of the differences between the settings of the browser itself and the system settings of the operating system. Yandex Browser has a flexible widget system that allows you to remove unnecessary elements or, conversely, add useful tools such as weather, exchange rates or traffic jams. It is important to understand which aspect of the interface you want to change in order to apply the correct configuration method.

In this article we will analyze in detail all the available ways to transform the appearance of the start page. We will look at both the built-in browser functions and the capabilities of the operating system Android to integrate search engine services into the home screen of your device. You will learn how to disable the annoying “Zen”, change the background image and customize the display of frequently visited sites.

Differences between the browser and the system widget

Before you start setting up, you need to clearly understand where exactly you want to see the changed page. There are two main usage scenarios: launching the browser through the app icon and using the search widget directly on the system desktop. In the first case, we are talking about the internal configuration of the application Yandex, where the structure of tabs and content blocks changes.

In the second case, you interact with the system interface Android. A widget placed on the home screen may have its own set of settings, different from the settings of a full-fledged browser. For example, a widget can show only the search bar and the weather, ignoring the news feed, which will certainly appear when the application is fully launched.

Some users confuse these concepts when trying to configure the widget through the browser menu, and vice versa. This results in changes not being applied where needed. For effective personalization, it is important to prioritize: do you need a clean interface every time you start the Internet or a neat search bar on your home screen?

⚠️ Attention: Mobile application interfaces are updated regularly. The location of menu items in your version Yandex Browser may differ slightly from that described in the instructions due to A/B testing by the developers.

Setting up the interface inside the Yandex Browser

First, let's look at setting up the internal page that opens when you click on the application icon. Modern versions of the browser allow you to flexibly control the content of the scoreboard. Go to the application and click on the menu button, usually indicated by three dots or bars at the bottom or top of the screen.

In the list that opens, select the item Settings. Here you are interested in the section responsible for the appearance of the start page. In different versions it may be called “Home Page”, “Scoreboard” or “Screen Settings”. This is where the switches responsible for displaying news blocks and recommendations are hidden.

Disable options related to displaying news and entertainment content if they bother you. Often this function is integrated with the service Zen. Disabling recommendations will allow you to see only your bookmarks and frequently visited sites, which significantly speeds up access to the necessary resources and saves traffic.

• 📱 Click on the three dots in the corner of the screen to enter the menu.
• ⚙️ Go to the section Settings and find "Home Page" item.
• 🚫 Disable the "Show news" and "Recommendations" toggle switches.
• 🖼️ Select the "Background" option to set a static image instead of the feed.

After making changes, be sure to reload the page or close and reopen your browser. This is necessary for the application cache to be updated and the new settings to take effect. If the news feed continues to be displayed, check whether you are logged in to a profile that synchronizes settings from other devices.

Managing a widget on the Android desktop

If your goal is to change the search widget, which is located directly on the smartphone's desktop, the algorithm of actions will be different. Widgets in the system Android are controlled by a long press. Find the Yandex widget on the screen and hold your finger on it for 1-2 seconds.

A context menu or widget editing mode will appear. In some launchers (shells), when you click on the widget, the settings panel immediately opens, where you can select the block size and its contents. You can choose a compact option that contains only a search bar, or an expanded one that includes weather and exchange rates.

For deeper settings, click on the gear icon, if it is available in the corner of the widget, or go to the settings of the application itself through the phone system menu. In the section Widgets you can reset the current settings to factory settings if the interface is “broken” or is displayed incorrectly.

⚠️ Attention: On some custom firmware (for example, MIUI or EMUI), the system can aggressively clear memory, which is why the Yandex widget may disappear or stop updating data. Add the application to the list of power saving exceptions.

It is also worth considering that the size of the widget depends on the grid of your desktop. If you can't fit a large weather widget, you may not have enough free slots. Try removing unnecessary icons or changing the grid size in the launcher settings.

Changing the background image and theme

The visual component plays an important role in the perception of the interface. The standard background can get boring, so Yandex Browser offers an extensive gallery of themes. To change the background, open the browser and click on the profile icon or menu.

Select the “Themes” or “Background” section. Here you will find collections of images divided into categories: nature, cities, abstractions, cars. The system allows you to install both static pictures and a slide show, which will change daily or with each new tab opening.

For those who prefer individual solutions, it is possible to upload your own image from the phone gallery. Click the "Upload" button or the plus icon, select a photo in the desired resolution. The system will automatically crop the image to fit the screen format, but you can adjust the display area with your fingers.

Background type	Where to find	Features
Static	Theme Gallery	Does not consume battery, clear image
Slide show	Background settings	Automatic change every day
Your photo	Button downloads	Full personalization, any quality
Live wallpaper	Premium themes	Animation, increased battery consumption

The use of dark backgrounds is especially important for smartphones with AMOLED screens. This not only reduces eye strain in the dark, but also saves battery power, since the black pixels on such matrices are simply turned off.

⚠️ Attention: Installing “live” wallpaper or themes with complex animation can lead to increased battery consumption and heating of the device when the browser is running in the background for a long time.

Setting up “Frequently Visited” blocks and bookmarks

The central part of the main page is usually occupied by site tiles. Managing these elements allows you to create your own navigation hub. You can add your favorite resources, delete unnecessary ones, and fix important pages so that they do not move when you update visit statistics.

To pin a site, press and hold your finger on the corresponding tile. From the menu that appears, select the Pin option or the pin icon. Such sites will always remain in the first positions of the scoreboard, no matter how often you visit other resources.

To remove a site from the list of frequently visited ones, also use a long press. Select the cross or “Delete” option. If you clear your browser history, the list will automatically update, and new tiles will appear in place of the deleted tiles, based on your current activity.

• 📌 Long press on a tile opens the control menu.
• 🗑️ Use the cross to remove unwanted sites from the board.
• 🔒 The “Pin” function fixes an important resource in first place.
• ➕ The “Add site” button allows you to manually enter the address into the board.

It is also worth paying attention to folders. If you have a lot of bookmarks, the browser allows you to group them into folders directly on the board. This helps you maintain order and quickly find the resources you need without scrolling through an endless history feed.

How to restore a deleted tile?

If you accidentally deleted an important site from the scoreboard, you can quickly return it through your browsing history. Go to the “History” menu, find the site you need, click on the three dots next to it and select “Add to the board.”

Synchronization and reset settings

If you use several devices, it is useful to set up synchronization through your account Yandex. This will allow you to transfer your home page settings, bookmarks and passwords to a new phone or tablet without manually setting up each element.

To enable synchronization, log into your profile in the browser. Make sure the checkbox next to “Tableboard” or “Settings” is active. However, it is worth remembering that synchronization may lead to the settings of one device changing the appearance of the interface on another.

In cases where the interface does not work correctly, widgets are not updated or settings are not saved, a full reset may be required. This is a last resort, but it often solves problems with software bugs. Before resetting, make sure that your bookmarks are saved in the cloud.

Settings → System → Reset browser settings

After performing the reset, the application will return to the “as after installation” state. You will have to re-select a theme, configure widgets and add sites to the board. But this guarantees the absence of conflicts in the application configuration files.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Why after updating the application is the main page showing news again?

Developers often return default settings during major updates. Check the home page settings section and turn off the recommendations feed again. This can also happen when logging into a new account.

Is it possible to completely remove the Yandex logo from the start screen?

It is impossible to completely remove the logo using standard means, since this is a branding element. However, you can install a theme with a dark background, where the logo will be less noticeable, or use third-party launchers for Android.

The Yandex widget has stopped showing the weather, what should I do?

Check the application's permission to access geolocation. Without location detection, the widget cannot load up-to-date weather data. Also try deleting the widget and adding it again.

How to make the main page empty, without site tiles?

Remove all tiles from the scoreboard one by one using a long press. New sites will not appear automatically if you disable the collection of visit statistics in your browser's privacy settings.

Does changing the home page affect the speed of your phone?

Changing the background or turning off news in itself does not affect the speed. However, using heavy animated themes or a crowded board with hundreds of bookmarks can slightly increase the browser startup time.