Modern smartphones from the South Korean giant offer users unprecedented flexibility in customizing the interface. The shell One UIinstalled on devices of the Galaxy S, A i Zseries allows you to turn a standard screen into a unique tool, adapted to the individual needs of the owner. However, many users are limited to only the basic installation of wallpaper, unaware of the depth of the system's capabilities.
The correct organization of space affects not only aesthetics, but also the speed of working with the gadget. Well-placed controls reduce the time it takes to find the functions you need and reduce cognitive load. In this material, we will analyze in detail all stages of personalization, from changing the density of icons to installing advanced modules for professional customization.
Basic setup of the grid and arrangement of elements
The first step in organizing space is choosing the optimal application grid. The standard layout may not suit everyone, especially owners of devices with large screen diagonals, such as Galaxy Ultra. Changing the number of rows and columns allows you to place more shortcuts on one screen or, conversely, increase their size for easier clicking.
To access these options, you need to hold down an empty space on the desktop until the settings menu appears. A toolbar will appear at the bottom of the screen, where you need to select Settings. Here you will see Screen Grid and Folder Grid options. By experimenting with these values, you can find a balance between minimalism and functionality.
It is worth considering that a too dense grid can make it difficult for your finger to hit the desired icon, especially when using the phone with one hand. The best option for most scenarios is a 5x5 or 5x6 configuration. This provides enough space for medium-sized widgets without losing the readability of the interface.
⚠️ Attention: When you change the grid density, some widgets may automatically resize or move. Check the operation of critical widgets (for example, calendar or weather) after applying the new settings.
Do not forget that the location of the dock panel (the bottom line with your favorite applications) can also be adjusted. You can add up to five shortcuts there or hide it completely to make room for content. This is especially true when watching a video or reading, when unnecessary elements distract from the main action.
Working with widgets and information blocks
Widgets are the hallmark of the shell One UI, providing quick access to information without launching applications. The Samsung platform offers a wide range of built-in widgets: from clocks and calendars to complex smart home control panels. Adding a new element is carried out by long pressing on a free area of the screen and selecting the item SmartThings. Adding a new element is carried out by long pressing on a free area of the screen and selecting the item Widgets.
Modern widgets support resizing. By holding the widget on the screen, you will see blue markers along the edges, allowing you to stretch or narrow the block. This makes it possible to create a unique layout, where, for example, the calendar takes up half the screen, and the weather is compactly located in the corner. Some widgets, such as Application Shortcuts, allow you to create a custom folder directly on the desktop.
- 📅 Calendar: Displays upcoming events and allows you to quickly create an appointment.
- 🔋 Device: Shows battery level, storage and RAM status.
- 🎵 Music: Controls playback of tracks from Spotify or YouTube Music without opening the player.
- 📰 News: Feed of current titles from selected sources.
Stack widgets deserve special attention. This feature allows you to combine multiple widgets into one stack by swiping up or down to switch between them. This is the perfect space-saving solution: you can combine weather, stock quotes and notes into one area of the screen. To create a stack, simply drag one widget on top of another when prompted.
Use the Widget Stack feature to combine informative but rarely used blocks. This will free up up to 70% of the space on the main screen for frequently launched applications.
Personalization of wallpapers and themes
The visual perception of the interface directly depends on the selected wallpaper and color scheme. The settings One UI implemented an automatic wallpaper change function, which updates the image daily from a preset collection or your gallery. This helps maintain a sense of newness without user intervention.
Technology-based Color Palette feature Material Youanalyzes the dominant colors in your wallpaper and automatically recolors system elements: notification bars, buttons, settings menu and keyboard. To activate this option, go to Settings → Wallpaper and style → Color palette. There are several palette options available that can be switched in real time.
For fans of dark mode, there is a separate schedule setting. You can turn on the dark theme automatically when the sun goes down or on a set timer. This not only reduces eye strain in the evening, but also saves battery power on type screens AMOLEDwhich are used in all flagships Samsung.
| Wallpaper type | Source | Features | Impact on battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static | Gallery / Settings | Minimum resource consumption | None |
| Live wallpaper | Theme store / Settings | Animation when touching or tilting | Medium / High |
| Video wallpaper | Third-party applications | Continuous video playback | High |
| Scheduled change | System function | Automatic update once a day | Minimum |
When using live wallpapers, you should remember the increased energy consumption. If device autonomy is critical to you, it is better to choose a high-quality static image with deep blacks. This will ensure maximum contrast on the screen Infinity-O and will extend the operating time of the smartphone.
Advanced customization through Good Lock
For those for whom standard capabilities are not enough, Samsung has developed an ecosystem of modules called Good Lock. This is a set of official utilities that allow you to change the interface at a level that is inaccessible to the average user. You can download the main module from the store Galaxy Store, after which additional plugins will become available.
The module Home Up is a key tool for customizing the desktop. It allows you to change the app minimization animation, hide the Google search bar, change the transparency of the Dock panel, and even disable the background blur effect. With its help, you can achieve an absolutely clean interface, removing all unnecessary visual noise.
Where to download Good Lock?
The Good Lock module is distributed exclusively through the Galaxy Store. If it is not available in your region, you can use the alternative Fine Lock application from Google Play, which downloads modules from Samsung servers.
Another powerful tool is Theme Park. This module allows you to create your own themes from scratch. You can set unique colors for each system element, change the shape of icons, customize the appearance of the quick settings panel and multitasking menu. The created theme can be exported and shared with other users.
⚠️ Attention: Good Lock modules require access rights to special system functions. When updating the Android version, some functions may temporarily stop working until the update of the module itself is released.
Using Good Lock opens access to customizing the lock screen, which is also part of the home experience. You can change the style of the clock, add custom widgets to your lock screen, and customize what you do when you double-tap. This turns your smartphone into a truly personalized device.
Organizing applications and folders
Chaos in the application list reduces productivity. Organizing your folders properly and using sorting features helps you stay organized. One UI there is the ability to automatically sort applications into categories, which eliminates the need to manually place shortcuts.
To activate this feature, go to your desktop settings and select the “Sort applications” option. The system will offer to group apps by type: social networks, games, utilities, finance. You can create your own categories or edit those proposed by the system. This is especially convenient on devices with a large amount of installed memory.
- 📁 Automatic folders: Created by the system based on the frequency of use and type of applications.
- 🎨 Color folders: You can change the background color of a folder by clicking on it and selecting the edit option.
- 📝 Name: Supports the use of emoji in folder names for better visualization.
- 🗑️ Cleaning: Regularly remove unused shortcuts from folders to maintain relevance.
An interesting feature is the ability to rename hidden shortcuts inside folders. If you remove the folder name completely, only a grid of icons will remain, which looks very stylish and minimalistic. You can also change the icon of the folder itself by replacing the standard preview grid with any image from the gallery through the module Theme Park.
☑️ Optimizing the application structure
Don't forget about the “Hidden Applications” function. It allows you to remove certain apps from the general list and access them through search. This is useful for storing confidential data or simply for unloading visual space from rarely used system utilities.
Navigation and control gestures
Desktop control is inextricably linked with the selected navigation system. Samsung offers two main options: classic control buttons and gestures. Switching to gesture controls frees up a significant portion of the screen at the bottom, making the content more immersive.
To enable gestures, go to Settings → Display → Navigation bar and select "Swipe Gestures". Here you can adjust the sensitivity of the edges of the screen so that accidental touches do not cause a jump back. There is also an option to hide the gesture prompt for an even cleaner look of the interface.
An important feature is customizing the Home button. In Gesture mode, double-tapping or holding the Home button area can launch voice assistant Bixby or Google Assistant. You can reassign this action to launch a specific application or disable it altogether to avoid accidental activations.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and available options may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and device model. Always check the current menus in the settings of your specific smartphone.
For fans of customization, it is possible to change the transition animation between screens. Through the module Home Up from the package Good Lock you can select different effects for scrolling through desktop pages, adding speakers to everyday use.
The combination of gesture controls and a disabled Google search bar gives maximum usable screen space for content and widgets.
Often asked questions (FAQ)
How to return the standard desktop view if all the settings are lost?
To reset the launcher settings, go to Settings → Applications, find “One UI Home” (or “One UI Home”) in the list. Click on "Storage" and select "Clear Data". This will return the grid, wallpaper and icon layout to the factory state without deleting the applications themselves.
Why are widgets from Google Play not installed on the Samsung desktop?
Some third-party widgets may conflict with optimization One UI. Make sure the application is fully installed and has the required permissions. Also check if the power saving mode is enabled, which may block background widget processes.
Is it possible to change the size of application icons without changing the launcher?
Yes, this is possible through the desktop settings menu. Hold down an empty space, select Settings and find the item “Application icon size”. There you can choose one of five sizes, from smallest to largest.
How to disable the Google Discover feed to the left of the home screen?
Swipe right on the home screen to open the feed. Click on the profile icon or three dots in the corner, go to settings and turn off the Google Feed switch. Alternatively, this can be done in the desktop settings by disabling the Move Right option.
Are Good Lock modules safe for the average user to use?
Yes, Good Lock is an official Samsung product designed for enthusiasts. It does not require root access and does not violate the device warranty. However, complex theme settings can sometimes cause visual bugs after major system updates.