Personalization of a mobile device has long ceased to be the privilege of advanced users. The standard operating system interface often seems boring or uninformative, especially if you have installed dozens of identical utilities or want to hide the real purpose of a certain app. The opportunity rename icons on Android opens up a lot of use cases for the smartphone owner: from putting things in order in the menu to creating “secret” folders, the names of which are clear only to you.
However, the operating system itself Android is “clean” version does not provide a direct button for renaming icons on the main screen. Smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung, Xiaomi or Realmeoften introduce their own add-ons that can either simplify or complicate this process. In this article we will analyze all existing methods for changing icon labels, from built-in shell functions to using third-party software.
It is worth noting right away that changing the name of a shortcut on the desktop does not change the name of the application itself in the system. This is just a visual mark created by the launcher. If you uninstall the app or reset the launcher, the custom name may disappear. However, for organizing the workspace, this is one of the most effective tools available to the user without obtaining root access.
Standard capabilities of manufacturers' shells
The first thing you need to do before installing additional software is to check the capabilities of your current firmware. Many manufacturers integrate the function of editing shortcuts directly into their launcher. For example, in the shell One UI from Samsung or MIUI from Xiaomi, the algorithms may differ, but the essence remains similar.
Usually the process begins with a long press on the application icon. In the context menu that appears, look for the “Edit” item or the pencil icon. If this option is not in the first menu, try dragging the icon to the top of the screen, where an editing area may appear. In some versions ColorOS of Oppo, you need to go to the desktop settings to activate the ability to change names.
It is important to understand that standard tools are often limited. You can change the name, but not the icon image itself, without using themes. In addition, on “pure” Android (as in Google Pixel or Motorola smartphones) this function is often missing completely, requiring the installation of third-party solutions.
⚠️ Attention: On some devices with heavily modified firmware (for example, older versions of MIUI), the renaming function may be hidden in deep theme settings or available only when using third-party themes from the official store.
Use of third parties launchers
If the built-in tools do not cope with the task, the most reliable solution is to install an alternative launcher. These are specialized applications that completely replace the standard desktop, providing advanced customization options. The leaders in this niche are Nova Launcher, Lawnchair and Microsoft Launcher.
The installation and configuration process is quite simple. After downloading the launcher from Google Play and activating it as the default application, you have full control over the desktop grid. To rename an icon, just hold it with your finger and select “Edit”. In the window that opens, you can enter any name, use special characters and even emoji.
One of the main advantages of using third-party launchers is saving settings. You can back up your configuration and transfer it to your new phone. In addition, many launchers allow you to hide applications from the menu, leaving only renamed decoy shortcuts on the desktop.
- 🚀 Nova Launcher - considered the gold standard, offering maximum flexibility in customizing gestures and the appearance of icons.
- 🌿 Lawnchair - a light and fast launcher that imitates the Pixel interface, but with the addition of shortcut editing functions.
- 📂 Smart Launcher —automatically sorts applications into categories, but also allows you to manually rename any interface elements.
When using a third-party launcher, be sure to disable the “Energy Saver” function for this application in the system settings so that the animations run smoothly and the settings are not reset.
Method for creating shortcut widgets
This method is universal and works on almost any device running Android, regardless of the system version or the installed shell. The essence of the method is to create a special widget that visually imitates a regular application icon, but allows you to give it any name.
To implement your plan, you need to hold down an empty space on the desktop and select “Widgets”. In the list, look for the section related to your current launcher (often called simply "Shortcuts" or with the launcher logo). From the available widgets, select the App Shortcut item. Drag it to the desktop.
The system will prompt you to select a specific application from the list. Once selected, a dialog box will open where you can enter a new name for this shortcut. Visually, it will be indistinguishable from a regular icon, but when pressed it will launch the desired app. This method is ideal if you need to create multiple copies of the same application with different names for sorting.
Function path: Desktop (long press) → Widgets → Shortcuts → Select application → Enter nameThe main disadvantage of this approach is that widgets may behave differently when the size of the desktop grid is changed. If you decide to change the number of icons in a row, the shortcut widget may move or change its size, disrupting the visual harmony.
Advanced customization through Shortcut Maker
For those who want to go beyond simple renaming and also change the icon, there is a specialized application Shortcut Maker. This is a powerful tool that allows you to create hybrid shortcuts by combining images from the gallery, icons from installed packages and custom text captions.
The application interface is intuitive. You choose the target application, the action (for example, launching a specific activity within the application), and the appearance. You can use rich formatting in the title field. The application also supports creating shortcuts for websites, contacts and even system settings that are usually hidden from the user.
| Function | Standard launcher | Shortcut Maker | Third-party launcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rename | Partly | Full | Full |
| Change icon | No (without themes) | Yes (any photo) | Yes (from packages) |
| Setting depth | Low | High | Medium/High |
| Complexity | Low | Average | Average |
How to create a shortcut for a hidden setting?
In the Shortcut Maker application, select the “Settings” or “Activities” category. Find a hidden item in the list (for example, the developer menu or GPS testing) and create a shortcut for it on the desktop with a name that you understand.
Use Shortcut Maker is especially relevant for creating minimalist desktops, where all icons are made in the same style, and the names are given in accordance with the personal system of the organization, and not the marketing names of the developers.
Features of working with application folders
Often users need to rename not a single icon, but an entire folder in which applications are grouped. In Android, creating folders is done by simply dragging one icon onto another. By default, the system assigns a name to the folder based on the names of the applications inside, or prompts you to enter your own.
To change the name of a folder, just click on it once to expand the contents, and then click on the text field with the name at the top of the folder that opens. You can enter any text here. Some launchers also allow you to change the background color of a folder or its shape, which, combined with a new name, makes the group of applications unique.
There is an interesting life hack: if you want to make the folder name invisible or very short, you can use special invisible characters copied from the Internet, or just a space (although many systems automatically remove spaces in folder names). This allows you to create a visual grouping without text noise on the screen.
⚠️ Attention: When renaming folders in some shells (for example, older versions of EMUI), the name may be reset when adding a new application to this folder. Always make sure that the name is preserved after modifying the folder composition.
☑️ Correct organization of folders
Technical limitations and nuances of the system
Despite the abundance of methods, there are system limitations that you should be aware of. First, the length of a shortcut name is limited. If you enter a name that is too long, the system will trim it and add an ellipsis. The optimal length is up to 10-12 characters to maintain readability.
Secondly, using fonts or symbols from other language groups may result in you seeing a set of squares or question marks instead of a beautiful name. This depends on the fonts installed on the system. To ensure display, use the standard Latin alphabet, Cyrillic alphabet and basic emoji.
It is also worth mentioning the impact of system updates. Major Android updates (for example, the transition from version 13 to 14) can reset the launcher settings or change the way widgets work. Therefore, if you have spent a lot of time on the perfect arrangement and renaming of icons, it makes sense to make a backup copy of the launcher settings, if such a function is provided by the developer.
Changing the name of a shortcut is a cosmetic interface edit that does not affect the performance of the smartphone, but significantly improves the ergonomics of using the device.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to rename the application itself in the list of all apps?
No, you cannot change the name of an APK file in the system application menu using standard means. Renaming only works for desktop shortcuts. Changing names globally requires system modification (root access and application re-signing), which is not recommended for ordinary users.
Why were the icon names reset after the phone was rebooted?
Most likely, you used a widget or a third-party launcher that was cleared by the system in order to save memory. Go to the battery settings and allow the selected launcher to run in the background without restrictions.
Is it safe to use apps to change icons?
Yes, apps like Shortcut Maker or Nova Launcher are safe if downloaded from the official Google Play store. They do not require access to your personal data, contacts or files, working only with the desktop interface.
Is it possible to make the icon name completely empty?
In most standard launchers, the system will not allow you to save an empty name. However, by using special filler characters (for example, a copied space from Unicode tables) or applications to create shortcuts, you can achieve the effect of no text under the icon.
Does renaming affect the operation of notifications?
No, notifications will come from the original name of the application, which is specified in the system. A renamed shortcut on the desktop changes only the visual display, but not the system identifier of the app.