The main screen Android 11 is the business card of your smartphone, which you see every time you unlock the device. Unlike previous versions, Android 11 offers more flexible tools for personalization: from changing wallpaper to deeply customizing widgets and animations. But many users still don't know how to make the most of these features.

In this article we will look at all the available ways to change the home screen - from basic settings to hidden functions that manufacturers (for example Samsung, Xiaomi or Google Pixel) often hide in the depths of the menu. You'll learn how to change the wallpaper to match the dark theme, add dynamic elements, adjust transitions between screens, and even return the classic look if the new interface seems awkward. And also how to avoid common mistakes that lead to launcher malfunctions.

Why you should change the home screen on Android 11

Interface Android 11 It has become more adaptive, but by default it often looks boring or overloaded. Personalizing the home screen not only improves aesthetics, but also increases productivity:

  • 🎨 Visual comfort: the right wallpapers and themes reduce eye strain, especially in the dark.
  • ⚡ Quick access: well-placed widgets and shortcuts save up to 30% of time searching for the necessary functions.
  • 🔄 Adaptation for tasks: home screen for business applications and a separate one for entertainment - just like on a computer.
  • 🛡️ Security: hiding sensitive widgets (for example, banking) from prying eyes.

In addition In addition, Android 11 introduced support for dynamic wallpapers that automatically adjust to the time of day or weather is a feature that many users do not notice, although it is available even on budget smartphones.

📊 How often do you change the wallpaper on your smartphone?
Once a week
Once a month
Only when buying a phone
Never

Basic wallpaper change: step-by-step guide

Let's start with the simplest thing - replacing the background image. In Android 11 this process is unified for most manufacturers, but there are nuances:

  1. Press and hold empty space on the main screen.
  2. In the menu that appears, select Wallpaper (or Style and wallpaper on Xiaomi).
  3. Select source:
    • 📱 Gallery —your photos;
    • 🌄 Standard wallpaper - built-in options;
    • 🎨 Live wallpaper - animated backgrounds (requires more battery).
  • Adjust the scale and position, then click Set wallpaper.

    • On devices Samsung (One UI 3.1+) an additional item is available Color palette, which automatically selects shades for icons and menus for the wallpaper. And on Google Pixel you can enable it. function Adaptive color in the display settings - it changes the interface theme depending on the wallpaper.

    Select an image with a resolution of at least Full HD (1080p)

    Take into account that dark wallpapers save battery power on AMOLED screens

    Disable animation if you choose live wallpaper (resource saving)

    Check whether the background hides important interface elements (time, notifications)

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    ⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, Huawei with EMUI 11), when installing live wallpapers, a warning about increased battery consumption may appear. If the smartphone discharges too quickly, return to static backgrounds.

    Customizing widgets: from clocks to weather

    Widgets in Android 11 have become more interactive. Now you can not only add them, but also change the size, transparency, and on some devices, even the color scheme:

    1. Press and hold an empty space on the screen → select Widgets.

    2. Scroll through the list and select the desired one. (for example Clock, Weather or Google Search).

    3. Drag the widget onto the screen and adjust its size by dragging the corners.

    On Samsung Galaxy with One UI widgets Samsung Free are available - they show news, exchange rates and even memes in real time. And on Pixel you can add a widget At a Glancethat displays the weather, calendar and reminders in a compact format. view.

    Widget type Useful functions Battery consumption
    Clock/Calendar Quick access to events, alarms Low
    Weather Automatic update, precipitation notifications Medium (depends on update frequency)
    Google Fit Tracking steps, heart rate, sleep High (constant synchronization)
    Music widgets (Spotify, YouTube Music) Control playback without opening the application Low
    ⚠️ Attention: Widgets, that update data in the background (for example, weather or stock quotes) can significantly reduce battery life. If the battery drains too quickly, check the synchronization settings in each widget.
    💡

    To keep the widget out of the way, reduce its transparency: tap it → "Settings" → "Transparency" (not available on all devices).

    Changing icons and themes

    Standard icons in Android 11 often look monotonous. Fortunately, they can be replaced using icon packs (for example, Nova Launcher, Icon Pack Studio) or built-in tools.

    On devices Samsung i Xiaomi:

    1. Go to Settings → Display → Icon style.

    2. Select one of the proposed packages (for example, Round, Minimalist).

    3. Apply the changes - the icons will update automatically.

    For deeper customization, you will need a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or Action Launcher). They allow you to:

    • 🎯 Change the shape of icons (circle, square, rounded corners);
    • 🎨 Apply themes from Google Play;
    • 🔍 Adjust the scale and indents;
    • 🔄 Add gestures (for example, swipe up to open an application).

    On Google Pixel with pure Android, access to these functions is limited, but you can enable Dark theme in display settings - it automatically adapts icons and menus to dark colors.

    How to get old icons back on Xiaomi

    If after updating to MIUI 12+ you don’t like the new icons, install the launcher POCO Launcher from Google Play. It imitates the style of older versions of MIUI and supports customization.

    Hidden functions of the main screen in Android 11

    Many users do not know that Android 11 there are hidden settings that allow you to:

    1. Disable application prompts:

      Go to Settings → Applications → Accessibility → Application tips and deactivate unnecessary ones.

    2. Customize transitions between screens:

      In Settings → System → Gestures → Transition animation You can select the speed at which screens change (on some devices).

    3. Add a second home screen:

      Tap and hold an empty space → Home screen settings → Add screen.

    4. Hide application names:

      In launchers like Nova this is done through Settings → Layout → App tags.

    On Samsung Galaxy One UI 3.1+ has a feature Secure Folderthat allows you to create a separate "secret" home screen with applications and widgets that are only accessible after authentication.

    And on Google Pixel can be activated Now Playing —a widget that automatically recognizes music around and shows it on the main screen (set in Settings → Sound → Now Playing).

    💡

    The "Secure Folder" function on Samsung allows you to create a second home screen with separate applications and settings - useful for separating work and personal data.

    How to return the classic view of the main screen

    If you do not like the new interface Android 11, you can return it to the look of previous versions. Methods depend on the manufacturer:

    On Samsung:

    1 Install the launcher Samsung One UI Home old version (for example 2.1) from the APK.

    2. Or switch to Simple mode in the screen settings (simplified version of the interface).

    On Xiaomi:

    1. Go to Settings → About phone and tap 7 times on MIUI Versionto unlock Additional settings.

    2. Enable Stable mode —this will disable some animations and new elements.

    On Google Pixel:

    1. launcher Lawnchair —it imitates the style Android 10 with the ability to fine-tune.

    2. Or disable navigation gestures in Settings → System → Gestures and return to three-button control.

    ⚠️ Attention: Installing older versions of launchers may lead to conflicts with system updates. Before changing, make a backup copy of your data via Settings → Google → Backup.

    Solving problems when changing the main one screen

    Sometimes after changing wallpaper, widgets or themes, crashes occur. Here are the most common problems and their solutions:

    Problem Possible cause Solution
    Widgets are not updated Background restrictions for the application Go to Settings → Applications → Widget → Battery → Optimization and disable restrictions.
    Wallpaper resets after reboot Launcher crash Clear the launcher cache in Settings → Applications → [Launcher name] → Memory.
    Icons have become blurry Incompatible icon package Remove the current package and install a supported one (for example, Whicons for round icons).
    Gestures stopped working Conflict with the launcher Return to the standard launcher or update it to the latest version.

    If after the changes the main screen starts to slow down, try:

    • 🔄 Reboot the device;
    • 🗑️ Clear the cache in Settings → Memory → Cached data;
    • 🛠️ Reset the launcher settings (in its menu).

    On devices Huawei with EMUI 11, if the interface fails, disabling the function Huawei Share in the settings can help (it sometimes conflicts with widgets).

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about setting up the main screen

    Is it possible to set video quality wallpaper?

    Yes, but this will require a third-party application, for example Video Live Wallpaper or Wallpaper Engine (the latter supports animated wallpapers with effects). Please note that this will significantly increase battery consumption - up to 15-20% per hour on AMOLED screens.

    How to remove the Google search bar from the main screen?

    Tap and hold the widget Google Search, then drag it up to the trash can that appears (DeleteIf the bar returns after a reboot, disable it in the application settings Google: Settings → Accounts and privacy → Search → Widgets.

    Why are changes not saved in Nova Launcher?

    This is due to optimization batteries. Go to Settings → Applications → Nova Launcher → Battery and select No restrictions. Also check if the administrator rights for the launcher have been reset.

    Is it possible to make a different wallpaper on each screen?

    Yes, but not in all launchers. In Nova Launcher this is done like this:

    1. Press and hold an empty space → Settings wallpaper.
    2. Select Scrolling wallpaper.
    3. Add different images for each screen.

    On standard launchers (for example, on Samsung or Pixel) this function is usually missing.

    How to return notification icons to the home screen?

    In Android 11 notification icons are hidden by default. To return them:

    1. Open Settings → Notifications → Screen icons.
    2. Enable the option Show application icons.
    3. If necessary, configure which notifications are displayed (Important, All or No).

    On Xiaomi this item may be called Floating notifications.