Modern smartphones are overcrowded with dozens of utilities and entertainment services, which inevitably leads to chaos on the home screen. If you don't know how to make a folder on the Android home screen, navigating through the jungle of icons becomes a real challenge. Organizing space is not just aesthetics, but a way to increase the productivity of using a device by reducing the time spent searching for the right app.
Most users intuitively understand the principle of grouping, but often encounter technical nuances. Shell Android installed by the manufacturer can significantly influence the algorithm of actions. On “pure” Android from Google or in the interface Samsung One UI gestures and reactions to taps are different from what offers Xiaomi MIUI or ColorOS from Oppo.
In this article we will analyze in detail all possible ways to create containers for applications. We'll look at both the standard drag-and-drop methods and the specific settings available in the options menu. We will also pay attention to how to correctly name new groups and what to do if the standard functionality is for some reason unavailable or does not work correctly.
Basic method of grouping applications by dragging
The most common and universal way to organize space is the Drag-and-Drop method. You don't need third-party utilities or deep system knowledge. Just find two icons on your desktop that you want to combine. Click on one of them and, without releasing your finger, drag it directly over the second icon.
As soon as the top icon is above the bottom, the system will automatically create container. You will see an animation of the folder collapsing or appearing. Usually the system offers to automatically select a name based on the application categories inside (for example, “Social” or “Games”), but you can always change it manually.
This method works on almost all versions of the operating system, starting with Android 6.0. However, the visual representation of the process may vary. In some launchers, when you hover, a translucent frame appears, telling you where exactly you need to release the element.
⚠️ Attention: If, when dragging, the icon “bounces” back to its place, you may have the current screen full or the block changes mode in the launcher settings is activated.
After creating a group, you can add other applications there with the same way. Just drag any free icon onto the created folder. The number of elements within one group is theoretically unlimited, but excessive filling complicates visual search.
☑️ Check before creating a folder
Features of creating folders in different Android shells
Although the core of the system is the same, smartphone manufacturers often modify the interface. Understanding these differences will help avoid confusion. For example, in the shell One UI from Samsung you can create folders even inside the application menu, and not just on the desktop. This allows you to maintain order in the list of all apps.
Devices from Xiaomi i Redmi offer an interesting feature: when you drag one icon to another, a folder is created instantly, but if you hold your finger a little longer, a quick action menu may open. At the same time, on smartphones Pixel with pure Android, the process is as minimalistic as possible and devoid of unnecessary animations.
Some Chinese brands, such as Honor or Huawei, allow you to change the style of displaying folders. You can choose whether the icons inside will be shown large or in a compact grid. This setting is often hidden in the desktop design menu.
It is important to consider that in older firmware versions (for example, Android 8 or 9 on custom builds) the functionality may be reduced. In such cases, creating folders is sometimes only possible through the settings menu, rather than by direct drag-and-drop. Always check the latest software version in the section Settings → About phone.
Customizing the appearance and naming of folders
After you were able to make a folder on the Android home screen, it is logical to start customizing it. The default name is often too generic or does not reflect the essence of the content. To change the name, simply click on the folder to expand it, and then tap the text field with the name.
In the keyboard that opens, you can enter any convenient name. Many users use emojis for quick visual identification. For example, the name “✈️ Travel” for maps and air tickets is read by the brain faster than just text.
In advanced launchers, such as Nova Launcher or Smart Launcheradditional parameters are available. You can change the background color of the folder, the transparency of the background, or even the shape of the icons within the group. Standard Android tools are usually limited to changing the name only.
| Settings option | Standard Android | Custom launchers | Shells (Samsung, Xiaomi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change name | Available | Available | Available |
| Change background color | No | Yes | Partially |
| Icon size | Fixed | Flexible | Depends on the theme |
| Opening animation | Standard | Customizable | Branded |
You should not ignore the possibility of renaming. Chaotic names like “Folder” or a bunch of random characters make the voice assistant difficult to use. If you say “Open Finance”, the assistant will not find a folder called “Miscellaneous”, even if there are banking applications there.
Use short names of 1-2 words for folders. Long titles on the home screen are often cut off with ellipses, making them unreadable.
Adding widgets and removing unnecessary elements
A folder on Android is not only storage for applications. Modern versions of the system have integrated support for widgets. This means that you can place not only a launch icon inside the group, but also an interactive element, for example, a weather forecast or a task list.
To add a widget, (usually) you need to go into desktop editing mode, select the widget and drag it inside an existing folder. However, this feature does not work in all shells. In pure Android, widgets are often located separately on the desktop grid.
Removing applications from a folder is as easy as adding them. Open the group, long-press the desired icon and drag it outside the folder to an empty space on the screen. If you drag an application to the trash icon or to the top of the screen that says “Uninstall,” the app will be uninstalled.
There is a caveat with system applications. They cannot be completely deleted, but they can be removed from the folder. When you try to remove system software, the system will simply return the icon to the main screen or application menu, preventing a critical error.
⚠️ Attention: Do not place more than 15-20 applications in one folder. If there are a large number of elements, the folder interface may begin to slow down, and searching for the desired icon will take longer than if they were lying separately.
Problem solving: if the folder is not created
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the usual algorithm does not work. The icons do not stick together, or the system displays an error. The first reason could be that Layout Lock is enabled. In this state, any changes to the arrangement of elements are prohibited.
To check this, go to the desktop settings. Usually the path looks like this: long press on an empty area of the screen → Desktop Settings. Find the "Lock Layout" or "Lock Home Screen layout" switch and disable it.
Another reason could be low memory in the launcher cache. If your phone interface is unstable, try clearing the Desktop or Launcher app cache. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find your launcher and select “Clear cache.”
Reset launcher settings
If all else fails, you can reset your desktop settings to factory settings. This will delete all created folders and return the icons to their original position, but often solves software glitches. Path: Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Reset.
In rare cases, the problem lies in third-party themes. Some unofficial topics may conflict with standard grouping logic. Try temporarily switching to the standard system theme to see if the problem goes away.
Alternative ways to organize space
If standard folders don't suit you, there are alternatives. Third-party launchers from Google Play offer Smart Folder functionality. They automatically sort apps into categories without your intervention. For example, all messengers themselves gather into one group.
Another option is to use “App Drawers”. Instead of creating multiple folders on your desktops, you can keep all your icons in a common list, sorted alphabetically or by frequency of use. This frees up home screens for widgets and important information.
For advanced users, there is a method for creating shortcuts to actions within applications. A long press on an icon often opens a quick actions menu. Some of them can be placed on the desktop as separate mini-widgets, which allows you to completely abandon folders for frequently used functions.
The optimal desktop structure is 3-4 main folders with the most frequently used applications and free space for widgets. Don’t try to pack everything into containers.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to nest one folder inside another on Android?
You cannot nest a folder within a folder using standard means of most Android shells. The system allows you to create only a single-level structure. However, some custom launchers, such as Nova Launcher with certain plugins, can emulate this function or offer alternative deep nesting methods.
Why is the folder itself renamed after adding an application?
This is a feature of the algorithms of some shells (for example, MIUI or One UI). The system attempts to automatically categorize content. If you added an app that the AI thinks is changing the group's category, the name may change. To avoid this, rename the folder manually immediately after adding a new item.
How to delete an empty folder that does not disappear?
Usually an empty folder is deleted automatically. If it remains, try dragging it to the deletion area (the trash can icon or the top of the screen). If this does not work, add any application there, and then delete it - the folder should disappear after the last element.
Does the number of folders affect the speed of the phone?
The mere presence of folders does not affect the performance of the processor or RAM. However, if the folders contain widgets that constantly update data (weather, news, exchange rates), this can increase battery consumption and load on the system in the background.
Is it possible to change the size of a folder on the desktop?
In the standard interface, the folder size is fixed and occupies one grid cell. You can change the size only in third-party launchers, where you can change the desktop grid size or icon scale. In the phone display settings, you can also change the overall size of interface elements, which will indirectly affect folders.