Owners of Samsung flagships often value them for their high-quality screen, powerful hardware and the convenience of the One UI shell, but Apple's iOS design still remains the standard of minimalism and smoothness for many users. The desire to get the familiar and aesthetic interface of the Apple giant on your Androidsmartphone is quite feasible without the need to obtain root-rights or flashing the device. The modern application market offers tools that can radically change the visual perception of the system, while maintaining all the functionality of the native shell.
The transformation process is not limited to simply changing the wallpaper; it requires a comprehensive approach, including replacing the desktop, installing specific icon packs and customizing system fonts. Launchers (desktop shells) are the foundation of this change, since they are responsible for the arrangement of elements, the behavior of the dock panel and transition animations. It is important to understand that complete copying of iOS behavior at the system kernel level is impossible due to differences in architecture Android i iOS, but visual identity can be achieved with amazing accuracy.
Before making changes, it is recommended to back up your important data, although standard procedures for installing applications from Google Play are safe. Some settings may temporarily affect your usual workflow, so you should be prepared for an adaptation period. In this article, we will analyze in detail each stage of setup, from choosing the right software to finely calibrating gestures and widgets, so that your Samsung Galaxy looks and feels like the newest iPhone.
Selecting and installing the right launcher
The first and most critical step is choosing a launcher that will emulate the logic iOS home screen operation. Samsung's standard one has a lot of features, but its icon grid and dock layout are tightly tied to the Android philosophy. To achieve the desired result, you need to install a third-party application from the store One UI Home Samsung's has a lot of features, but its icon grid and dock layout are tightly tied to the Android philosophy. To achieve the desired result, you need to install a third-party application from the store Google Play, which specializes in simulating the Apple interface.
One of the most popular and stable solutions is the application Launcher iOS 17 or its analogues with similar names. These apps don’t just change the picture, they introduce specific ones, such as swiping down to search Spotlight or swiping right to access widgets, which is typical for the Apple ecosystem. After installation, the application will ask for permission to be used as the main desktop - this is a prerequisite for the changes to take effect. control gestures, such as swiping down to search Spotlight or swiping right to access widgets, which is typical for the Apple ecosystem. After installation, the application will ask for permission to use it as the main desktop - this is a prerequisite for the changes to take effect.
It is worth noting that free versions of launchers often contain advertising or have limited customization functionality. Paid versions usually offer smoother animations and no watermarks. When choosing, pay attention to the rating of the application and the date of the last update, since support for new versions Android is critical for stable operation.
⚠️ Attention: Some launchers may conflict with the "Protection against accidental clicks" function in Samsung. If you notice delays when unlocking the screen, try disabling this feature in the display settings or changing the launcher to a more optimized one.
After activating the new launcher, you will immediately notice changes: the icons will become rounded, the dock panel will move down and acquire a characteristic background blur (blur effect), and the application menu will begin to open with animation similar to iOS. However, at this stage, the interface will look raw, since the standard Samsung and Google application icons will not fit into the new style.
Customizing the icon grid and dock panel
The visual style of iOS is characterized by strict geometry and the absence of captions under the icons on the main screen (in some versions) or their minimalistic design. In the settings of the installed launcher you need to find the section responsible for desktop grid. For maximum similarity, it is recommended to set the value to 4x5 or 5x6, depending on the diagonal of your screen Samsung.
Particular attention should be paid to the dock panel - the bottom strip with four fixed applications. On iOS, it has a translucent background and slightly raised icons. In the launcher settings, activate the option Blur Effect (Blur effect) for the background of the dock panel. This will create a sense of depth and separate the panel from the main wallpaper, which is a signature Apple design feature.
It is also important to customize the behavior of the icons. In Android, it is common practice to sign every app, while in iOS, signatures may be hidden or in very small font. In the launcher settings menu, find the item Show Label (Show signature) and experiment with disabling it or changing the font size. This will give your desktop a cleaner, more airy look.
- 🍏 Set the icon size to 100% or slightly smaller so that they don't appear bulky.
- 📱 Enable the option to hide labels for icons in the dock for a clean style.
- 🎨 Activate adaptive icons if the launcher supports automatic rounding of any shapes.
- ⚙️ Disable Android-style notification badges if the launcher offers iOS notification style (red dots).
Don't forget that standard Samsung apps like Camera, Gallery and Phone, by default have icons in the One UI style. Without installing an additional icon pack, they will stand out from the overall picture, reminding you that you are still using Android.
Installing icon packs for complete similarity
Even the most advanced launcher will not be able to change the shape and design of the icons of pre-installed applications without the help of special packages. The store Google Play there are many icon packs designed specifically to imitate the iOS style. Popular titles include iOS Icon Pack, Cereal or Linebit with corresponding themes.
After downloading the icon pack, you need to apply it through the launcher settings. Usually in the launcher menu there is a section Look & Feel or Icon Stylewhere you can select the installed package. If automatic application doesn't work, many icon packs have their own application that offers a button Apply and a list of compatible launchers.
It is important to understand that not all icons can change automatically. The third-party apps you downloaded recently may not have equivalents in your iOS icon pack. In this case, they will remain in their original form or become white silhouettes. Some advanced packages allow you to manually map an icon from a set to any application, but this is a labor-intensive process.
Use the "Smart Icon Request" feature in icon pack applications. It allows you to send a request to the developer to add missing icons, and often they are released in the next updates.
For ideal results, it is recommended to look for packages that are updated regularly and contain thousands of icons. There are also apps that use artificial intelligence to generate iOS-style icons on the fly, adjusting colors and shapes to match the original, which can be a great compromise.
| Package name | Number of icons | Style | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS 17 Icon Pack | 2500+ | Realistic | Free / Pro |
| Control Center iOS | 150+ | System | Paid |
| Whicons (white) | 4000+ | Minimalism | Free |
| Linebit | 7000+ | Linear | Paid |
Remember that using heavy icon packs may slightly increase the load on the device’s RAM, especially on previous years’ models. If you notice stuttering when scrolling through the desktop, try the lighter versions of the packs.
Widgets and Apple-style lock screen
One of the most recognizable features of iOS is large, informative widgets and a specific lock screen with a large clock. Standard Android widgets are rectangular and often look different. To solve this problem, use the widgets built into the selected launcher, or install the application Widgetsmith (or its analogues for Android), which allows you to create widgets in Apple design.
The lock screen is a different story. On Samsung it is very functional, but visually different from iOS. To bring it closer to ideal, you can use applications like HiOS Lock Screen or settings inside advanced launchers that intercept the lock screen. The key element is the clock font: in iOS it is large, sans serif and located in the center or at the top.
In the launcher settings, find the section Lock Screen. There you can choose a watch style similar to the iPhone and customize the display of notifications. In iOS, notifications are grouped in a stack rather than a list, as in Android. Activating this option will significantly increase the recognition of the interface.
⚠️ Attention: Third-party lock screens may conflict with the fingerprint scanner built into the Samsung screen. Make sure your new lock screen settings include an option to quickly access the camera or flashlight, otherwise you'll have to unlock your phone every time to access them.
Don't forget about the Battery and Weather widget. On iOS, they have a characteristic translucent background and specific typography. Launcher applications often include a set of these widgets by default. Just long press on an empty area of the screen, select Widgets and find the section with the name of your launcher.
☑️ Setting up widgets
Control Center and Control Center
In Android, the iOS analogue of the Control Center is the quick settings panel, which is called up by swiping from top to bottom. However, visually they are completely different. To get the famous remote block with brightness and sound sliders, like on the iPhone, you will need to install a special application, for example, Control Center iOS 15.
After installing such an application, you will need to give it permission to display on top of other windows and access to Accessibility (Accessibility). This is necessary so that the application can intercept the swipe gesture from the upper right corner of the screen and open a custom panel instead of the standard Android curtain.
In the application settings, you can choose which switches will be displayed: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane mode, Flashlight and others. The interface will be almost identical to the original, including the characteristic appearance animation and a translucent background with blur. This is one of the most impressive elements of the transformation.
Settings → Accessibility → Installed services → Enable Control CenterPlease note that using third-party control centers may slightly increase battery consumption, since the service is constantly running in the background, waiting for a gesture. However, on modern processors Samsung Exynos or Snapdragon this impact is minimal and often unnoticeable in everyday use.
Customizing navigation gestures and animations
The control philosophy in iOS is based on gestures, not buttons. Android also has gesture navigation, but it works differently. To get the closest experience possible, go to your phone's settings along Settings → Display → Navigation bar and select mode Gestures.
However, standard Samsung gestures may differ from iOS. For example, going back in iOS is done by swiping from the left or right edge, and in Android sometimes you need to swipe from the very edge. Some launchers have the ability to customize the sensitivity of the edges of the screen to return, which makes the controls more similar to Apple.
Animations are something that Android often produces. They may be harsh or too fast. In the section For developers (which must be activated by clicking 7 times on the build number in the menu About the phone), you can change the scale of the animation. Try setting values 0.5x or 1.0x for windows, transitions, and animator duration to find a balance between the smoothness of iOS and the speed of Android.
How to enable the mode developer?
Go to Settings → About phone → Software information. Quickly click on "Build Number" 7 times in a row. A notification will appear indicating that developer mode has been activated. After this, a new section will appear in the main settings menu.
It is also worth checking the transition settings inside the launcher itself. Many of them allow you to choose the type of animation for opening folders and applications. Select option Cube, Fade or special mode iOS Styleif available. This will make the transition between the home screen and the application menu smoother and more natural.
Possible problems and solutions
Despite the abundance of tools, the process of turning a Samsung into an iPhone does not always go smoothly. The most common problem is gesture desynchronization. The swipe to call up the control center may conflict with the swipe to call up notifications or the standard curtain. In such cases, you have to look for a compromise in sensitivity settings or disable some Samsung system gestures.
Another common problem is the operation of widgets. Third-party launcher widgets may not update in real time or may disappear after you restart your device. The solution often lies in energy saving settings. You need to go to Settings → Applications, find your launcher and set the battery mode to Unlimited (Unrestricted).
Sometimes after updating the Android system or the One UI shell, the launcher may stop working correctly, resetting to the standard one. This is due to changes in Google's security policies. In this case, reinstalling the launcher and re-issuing all permissions will help.
⚠️ Attention: Interfaces and menu names in launcher applications may change with developer updates. What is called "Dock Settings" today may be moved to "Home Screen" tomorrow. Always check the current settings inside a specific application.
You should also be prepared for the fact that some Samsung system applications, such as a calculator or voice recorder, cannot be styled 100% due to deep integration into the system. In this case, the best solution would be to find their analogues on Google Play, which initially have an iOS-style design.
The stability of the custom interface directly depends on the energy saving settings. Do not let the system put the launcher to sleep, otherwise gestures and widgets will stop responding.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to install third-party launchers on Samsung?
Yes, installing launchers from the official store Google Play completely safe. They do not require root access and do not make changes to system firmware files. You can delete the launcher at any time, and the phone will return to the standard One UI interface.
Will changing the theme affect the speed of the phone?
Complex launchers with many animations and widgets can consume more RAM and battery power than the standard shell. This is not noticeable on flagship Samsung models, but on budget devices there may be a slight decrease in performance.
Is it possible to completely copy Siri to Android?
It is impossible to completely copy Siri functionality, since it is an Apple cloud service. However, you can install assistant applications with a similar visual style or use Google Assistant by changing its theme, but the operating logic will remain Android.
What to do if the icons do not change after installing the package?
Make sure that you have applied the icon package in the launcher settings, and not just installed the application. Go to the launcher settings, section "Appearance" or "Icons", and select the downloaded package from the list. If the icons are still old, try clearing the launcher cache.
Can I return everything back if I don’t like it?
Of course. Just go to your phone's settings, find the "Home screen" or "Default applications" section and select standard One UI Home. After that, delete downloaded launchers and icon packs to free up space.