Users are often faced with the need to change the location of icons on their smartphone immediately after purchase or after some time of use. The standard layout preset by the manufacturer is not always convenient for an individual work scenario. On smartphones Samsung Galaxy workspace management is implemented through a shell One UIthat offers flexible settings.
The process of moving elements is intuitive, but has its own nuances depending on the version of the operating system. You can rearrange apps on the Home screen, move them to folders, or hide them from public access. Understanding the logic of operation launcher will allow you to create the most ergonomic menu structure.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the ways to organize space. We'll cover both basic drag-and-drop techniques and hidden screen grid customization features. This will help you get rid of visual noise and gain access to the functions you need with one touch.
Basic principles of working with the desktop
The main method of changing the position of icons is to use the touch screen. You don't need additional tools or third-party apps. It is enough to hold your finger on the desired icon and hold it for a second.
As soon as the icon “comes unstuck” from its place and increases in size, the system will switch to editing mode. At this point, you can freely move the object around the available area. If you release your finger, the application will lock at the new point.
The shell One UI automatically adjusts neighboring elements. If you drag a shortcut into a space occupied by another app, they may switch places or move to free up space. This behavior depends on the current grid settings.
To move between pages of the main screen, simply drag the icon to the left or right edge of the display. The screen will automatically scroll, allowing you to place the application on any available page. This is especially useful when creating thematic groups.
⚠️ Attention: When dragging large widgets, make sure there is enough free space on the landing page. Otherwise, the system will not allow you to install the element and will return it to its original position.
Customizing the screen grid and application menu
The standard grid may not suit your needs if you want to place more icons on one screen or, conversely, make them larger. Changing the number of rows and columns affects the overall layout of the interface.
To change the grid settings, you need to go to the home screen settings. To do this, long press on an empty area of the desktop or pinch two fingers together on the screen. A button will appear in the bottom panel Settings.
In the menu that opens, select the item Screen grid. Here you will be offered several layout options, such as 4x5, 5x5 or 5x6. Choosing a higher density will allow you to fit more applications, but will make the icons themselves smaller.
Separately, you can customize the grid for the application menu if you use the classic display style. This allows you to independently control the structure of the main screen and the complete list of apps. This flexibility is typical for modern versions Android on devices Samsung.
Use the 4x5 grid if you have large fingers or vision problems. For experienced users who value compactness, the optimal choice will be 5x6.
After selecting a new configuration, the system will automatically redistribute the shortcuts. Some icons may move to other pages, so after changing settings, it is recommended to check the order of important apps.
Changing the screen grid is the first step to personalization, which directly affects the ease of navigation and the number of visible elements without scrolling.
Creating and managing application folders
Grouping applications into folders is the best way bring order if you have many apps installed. This allows you to free up space on the home screen and logically divide software into categories.
To create a folder, drag one shortcut directly on top of another. The system will automatically create a container and place both applications there. You can give the folder your own name by clicking on the name area above the icons.
You can also change the order of elements within the folder. Just hold down the desired icon and move it to another place within the group. You can move applications from the folder back to the main screen by dragging them outside the container.
- 📁 Thematic grouping: combine instant messengers, games or office apps into separate folders for quick access.
- 🎨 Change colors: click on the folder to open it, then click on the name and select the background color from the suggested one palettes.
- 📂 Folder within a folder: Some versions of One UI allow you to create nested structures, although this can complicate navigation.
Deleting a folder occurs automatically when you remove all applications from it. If at least one shortcut remains in the folder, it continues to exist. This prevents you from accidentally losing structure when clearing the menu.
Moving items in the App Drawer
Unlike the Home screen, the App Drawer often has a fixed sort order. By default, the system arranges icons in alphabetical order or by installation time.
However, you can enable manual editing mode. Go to Settings the main screen and find the item Sorting the application menu. Switch the mode from "Alphabetical" to "Custom".
Now in the full list of applications you can long press on any icon and drag it to any position in the list. This is useful for placing frequently used apps at the beginning of the list, even if their names begin with the last letter of the alphabet.
Settings → Home screen → Application menu sorting → CustomIt is worth noting that in manual sorting mode, newly installed applications will not automatically appear at the beginning or end of the list. You will have to manually find them and move them to the right place.
☑️ Optimizing the application menu
Adding and moving widgets
Widgets take up more space than regular shortcuts and provide advanced functionality right on the desktop. Moving widgets requires more precision due to their size and snapping to grid cells.
To add a new widget, long press on an empty area of the screen and select Widgets. In the list that opens, find the application you need and expand the available size options. Long-press the selected widget and drag it onto the screen.
Resizing the widget is not possible for all elements. If the widget supports zooming, a frame with handles will appear around it. By pulling these handles, you can stretch or shrink the widget within the available grid cells.
| Widget type | Resizability | Minimum size (cells) | Moving features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clock | Yes | 2x2 | Requires a lot of space, moves adjacent icons |
| Weather | Yes | 4x1 | Often stretches across the entire width of the screen |
| Calendar | Limited | 4x4 | Hardly tied to the grid, difficult to scale |
| Contact shortcut | No | 1x1 | Moves like normal application icon |
When you move a widget to a page where there is no free space of the appropriate size, the system will display a warning. You will have to either delete other elements or move the widget to a new page.
⚠️ Warning: Some third-party widgets may not display correctly when changing the screen grid. If the widget "moves" or is cut off, try returning to the standard 4x5 or 5x5 grid.
Hiding applications and restoring shortcuts
Sometimes there is a need to put certain applications out of sight without deleting them from the phone's memory. The function of hiding applications in One UI allows you to make icons invisible in the menu and on the desktop.
To activate this function, go to the home screen settings and select Hide applications. You will be offered a list of all installed apps. Check the boxes for those you want to hide and click Done.
Hidden applications can be found and launched through search. There is also a secret code for quick access to hidden content, which is configured in the same menu. To return the application to a prominent place, you need to go to the hide menu again and uncheck it.
If the shortcut disappeared by accident and you did not hide it intentionally, check whether it was deleted. When you remove a shortcut from the home screen, the application itself remains in the menu. If the icon disappears from the menu, the application may have been uninstalled or disabled in the settings.
How to find a completely hidden application?
If you forgot which apps were hidden, enter the name of the application in Google search or system search. Even hidden icons are indexed by the phone's search engine.
Deleted shortcuts are restored through the app menu. Find the desired app, hold it down and select option Add to home screen. If there is no such option, just drag the icon to the workspace.
Frequent problems when moving icons
Users sometimes encounter a situation where icons do not move or return to their original location. Most often this is due to the home screen lock feature being enabled or the launcher not working properly.
Check whether the Layout Lock mode is activated. This feature is intended to protect against accidental changes, but may interfere with intentional rearrangements. You can disable it in the main screen settings by unchecking the corresponding switch.
Another reason may be a lack of RAM. If the system is overloaded, the drag animation may not work correctly. In this case, it is recommended to restart the device before setting up the interface.
- 🔄 Resetting the launcher settings: if the problems are systemic in nature, clear the cache of the "One UI Home" application in the phone settings.
- 🔒 Check blocking: make sure the "Lock layout" slider is off position.
- 📉 Lack of space: Remove unnecessary widgets or move applications to other pages to free up space for maneuver.
In rare cases, the problem may be caused by a conflict with a third-party launcher. If you installed apps to replace the standard interface, try temporarily disabling them and checking the system.
Most problems with moving icons can be solved by checking the layout lock or simply rebooting the smartphone, which resets temporary interface errors.
Why do icons themselves return to their old places?
This can happen if synchronization with a Samsung or Google account fails if layout backup is enabled. Also check if you have installed an application to automatically sort your desktop.
Is it possible to move system application icons?
Most system applications can be moved and grouped into folders. However, some critical system components may be protected from being removed or moved to certain areas of the screen.
How to move a shortcut to the bottom panel (dock)?
Simply drag the icon to the very bottom line of the screen. The dock usually holds up to 4-5 applications, which remain visible on all pages of the main screen.
The ability to change the size of the widget has disappeared, what should I do?
Not all widgets support resizing. If this feature worked before, but now it doesn't, you may have updated the application that provides the widget, and the developer disabled this option in the new version.