Order on the desktop of a smartphone is not just an aesthetic preference, but a way to increase the efficiency of using the device. When the number of installed applications amounts to dozens, searching for the desired icon becomes a chore that takes up precious time. Modern shells, such as EMUI and Magic UI in smartphones Huawei i Honorprovide intuitive tools for organizing space, allowing you to structure content by category or frequency of use.
Creating a folder is a basic skill that It takes a few seconds to master, but opens up wide possibilities for customizing the interface. You can group banking apps, social networks or games, freeing up space for widgets and important shortcuts. In this article, we'll look at all the nuances of working with folders, from standard drag-and-drop to hidden appearance settings to make your screen look flawless.
The process of organizing icons does not require special rights or a connection to a computer. All actions are performed directly on the device’s touch screen. However, it is worth noting that depending on the operating system version Android and the specific firmware modification, some visual elements or menu item names may differ slightly. Let's look at the basic methods of creating containers for applications.
Standard method of dragging icons
The most common and intuitive way to create a new directory on the main screen is to simply move objects. First, you need to find two application icons that you want to combine. These can be any apps installed on your device, be it system utilities or downloaded from the store. AppGallery.
Press your finger on one of the icons and hold down until the icon increases in size and begins to “vibrate”, signaling the transition to editing mode. At this point, you can freely move the object around the desktop grid. Drag this icon directly on top of the second icon you selected for grouping. As soon as the top icon touches the bottom one, the system will automatically create a container.
After the folder is created, you will see that both icons are inside a new frame. Typically, the system assigns a default name to this group based on the application category (for example, "Tools" or "Social Networks"). You can immediately rename it by clicking on the text field above the icons inside the folder. Enter any name convenient for you using the on-screen keyboard.
⚠️ Attention: Do not release your finger too quickly while dragging if you see that the icon has not yet “stuck” to another. Otherwise, you will simply move the application to an adjacent cell, rather than creating a group.
If you accidentally drop the icon in the wrong place, the process can be easily reversed. Simply press the Home button or swipe up (depending on your navigation type) to exit editing mode. Then try again, trying to align the centers of the icons as accurately as possible. Accuracy plays a key role in this action.
Try creating a folder of three or more applications at once: simply drag one icon onto an existing pair, and a third app will automatically be added to the group.
Using the desktop editing mode
An alternative approach to managing screen space involves using a special layout mode. This method is especially useful when you want to carry out a large-scale reorganization of several elements at once. To activate it, pinch two fingers together on the Home screen as if you were zooming out. This action will instantly open an overview of all desktops and a toolbar at the bottom.
In the menu that opens, you will see options for adding widgets, changing wallpapers, and customizing settings. Select any app you want to move and drag it onto another app. The logic of the action remains the same as with the standard method, but the visual context changes: you see the entire grid, which makes navigation easier. This is especially true for owners of devices with a large screen diagonal, where it can be difficult to reach the opposite corner in normal mode.
In editing mode, the function of quickly deleting unnecessary shortcuts is also available. If, while creating folders, you realize that you don't want an app on your Home screen, you can drag it to the top of the screen, where a trash can icon or "Delete" message will appear. Please note that this action will only remove the shortcut from the desktop, but will not uninstall the application itself from the device memory.
- 📱 Pinch your fingers to activate the mode of viewing all desktop pages at once.
- 🗑️ Dragging the icon to the top of the screen removes the shortcut, but saves the application.
- 📂 Grouping in this mode allows you to quickly evaluate the overall menu structure.
After completing all manipulations, do not forget to exit the editing mode. To do this, press the "Home" button or tap on the empty area of the screen outside the icons. All changes made will be saved automatically. The system EMUI has a reliable mechanism for saving configurations, so the risk of losing the arrangement of icons if you accidentally exit is minimal.
Customizing the appearance and name of the folder
After creating the basic structure, many users wonder about personalization. The standard view of folders in the shell Huawei is quite minimalistic, but can be somewhat customized. The first thing to start with is naming. The folder name appears below the container on the main screen and inside it when opened. Click on the current name to change it to something more descriptive, for example, “Finance” instead of “Folder.”
In some firmware versions, a function is available to change the style of displaying contents inside a folder. When you open a group, you can see the apps in a grid or list view. Switching between these modes is carried out through the settings of the folder itself or the general desktop settings in the Settings → Home screen and wallpaper → Home screen stylesection. The choice of the appropriate style depends on the number of applications in the group and your navigation preferences.
It is also worth paying attention to the background color of the folder when opening it. Usually it is translucent and adapts to the current wallpaper, but in dark themes it can become denser for better text readability. If you use custom themes from the store Themes, the appearance of the folders may differ radically from the standard one, including animated backgrounds and unique icon shapes inside the container.
| Settings option | Where to change | Impact on the interface |
|---|---|---|
| Folder name | Tap on the text under the icon | Simplify the search for the desired category |
| Grid style | Work screen settings | Changes the density of the arrangement icons |
| Font size | Settings → Screen | Affects the readability of application names |
| Theme | Themes application | Completely changes the design of folders and icons |
Experiment with names using emoji. The shell Android on devices Huawei excellently supports displaying graphic characters in folder names. This not only makes the interface brighter, but also helps you quickly find the desired group visually, without reading the text. For example, a folder with navigators may be called "🗺️ Maps", and a folder with cameras - "📷 Photos".
The secret of quick sorting
If you want to sort applications inside a folder alphabetically, just open the folder, hold down any icon and drag it to the extreme position, and then return it back. In some versions of EMUI, this triggers automatic sorting of content.
Adding and removing applications from a folder
Managing the contents of an already created folder is as easy as creating it. To add a new application to an existing group, find its icon on the desktop or in the all applications menu. Long-press the icon and drag it directly onto an open folder or onto its minimized icon. The system will automatically place the object inside the container.
If the folder is full, the interface adapts by adding pages within the group itself. When you open such a folder, you can scroll through the contents with horizontal swipes. This allows you to store dozens of applications in one directory without cluttering the main desktop. However, you should not abuse this, since the depth of nesting can complicate access to frequently used apps.
To remove an application from a folder, open it, hold down the desired icon and drag it outside the container to a free space on the desktop. If you want to completely remove an application from your phone's memory, drag the icon to the top of the screen until the deletion area (trash) appears. Be careful: deleting system applications can lead to unstable operation of the device, so delete only what you are sure of.
⚠️ Attention: When you delete a shortcut from a folder through the "Delete" menu, the application itself remains installed on the system. You can find it in the general list of all apps, accessible by swiping up on the main screen.
Moving applications between different folders is also possible. Just open the first folder, hold the icon, drag it onto the second folder icon (without opening it), wait for the second folder to open and release your finger at the desired location. This operation requires some skill, but significantly speeds up the process of data reorganization without unnecessary intermediate steps on the main screen.
☑️ Checking the folder organization
Solving typical problems with folders
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where a folder is not created or icons are not dragged. Most often, the reason lies in the locking of the desktop layout. This feature is intended to protect against accidental changes to the arrangement of icons, but may interfere with intentional reorganization. Check your settings by long-pressing an empty space on the screen and selecting Settings or Layout Lock.
If the "Layout lock" option is active, switch the slider to the inactive position. After this, you will again be able to freely move objects and create groups. You should also make sure there is free space on your desk. If all the cells are occupied by widgets or icons, the system will not allow you to create a new folder, since there will be nowhere for it to be displayed.
In rare cases, a software failure of the launcher may occur, in which the icons “stick” or do not respond to long presses. The solution to this problem is to reboot the device. If the problem persists, try clearing the Home Screen application cache in the Settings → Applications → Home screen → Storage → Clear cachesection. This action will not delete your data, but will reset temporary interface settings.
- 🔒 Check if "Layout Lock" is enabled in the desktop settings.
- 🧹 Free up screen space by deleting unnecessary widgets or moving them to other pages.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone if the sensor does not respond correctly when dragging.
If you are using a third-party launcher instead of the standard shell EMUI, The operating logic may differ. In such cases, refer to the specific launcher documentation. However, most popular alternatives, such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, support a similar principle of creating folders using the drag-and-drop method.
90% of problems with creating folders are solved by disabling the "Lock Layout" function or simply rebooting the device.
Additional organization features space
In addition to standard folders, the shell Huawei offers the function "Hidden space" or "Personal safe". This is a special type of secure folder that can only be accessed through a fingerprint, PIN, or pattern. You can move confidential applications, photos and files there, hiding them from prying eyes in the general interface.
To access these functions, go to Settings → Security → Hidden space. Creating such a folder requires additional authentication. Apps placed here will have their own shortcuts that won't appear in the regular menu until you enter the correct passcode. This is an ideal way to separate work correspondence from personal or hide banking applications from children.
It is also worth mentioning the possibility of using widgets inside folders in some versions of the software. Although this is rare, certain themes allow you to place small informers (weather, clock) directly in the application group. This turns the folder into a multi-functional tool that saves space on the home screen and provides quick access to important information without opening separate applications.
⚠️ Note: The interface and available functions may vary depending on the smartphone model and EMUI version. It is recommended to check the relevance of certain options in the settings menu of your specific device.
Use a combination of standard folders and hidden space to achieve maximum order. Regularly “audit” installed applications, removing unnecessary ones and grouping the remaining ones. A clean and structured desktop not only pleases the eye, but also contributes to more productive work with your smartphone, reducing the level of digital noise.
Is it possible to create a folder inside another folder on Huawei?
No, the standard EMUI and Magic UI shell do not support folder nesting (folder inside a folder). You can only create one level of grouping. For further structuring, it is recommended to use different desktop pages or the hidden space function.
Why is the folder not renamed when clicked?
Make sure that you click on the text field with the name, and not on the icons themselves. Also check to see if layout locking is enabled. In rare cases, exiting the folder and trying to rename again through the desktop editing mode helps.
How to delete an empty folder?
Open the folder and drag all the applications in it out. As soon as there is not a single icon left in the folder, it will automatically disappear from the desktop. There is no need to manually delete empty containers.
Does creating folders affect the performance of a smartphone?
No, creating folders is purely a visual organization of the interface. It does not consume additional processor resources or RAM and does not in any way affect the speed of applications or the system as a whole.