Smartphone owners Samsung Galaxy often face a situation where, after installing applications or accidentally moving shortcuts, empty desktops appear that cannot be deleted with a simple click. An extra screen creates visual noise and complicates navigation around the device, forcing the user to endlessly swipe right or left in search of the necessary icons.
Interface One UI has its own specifics that distinguish it from a pure one Android. Standard methods for removing icons here are not always obvious to beginners, and some system screens are protected from deletion by default. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the ways to free up workspace, from simple gestures to advanced launcher settings.
Regardless of the model of your device, be it budget Galaxy A10 or flagship Galaxy S24, the principles of managing desktops remain the same. However, the location of the menu buttons may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. Let's learn how to return your smartphone to a neat and ergonomic appearance.
Diagnostics of the problem and types of extra screens
Before you start deleting, you need to understand the nature of the occurrence of blank pages. Most often, they appear after uninstalling apps, when the system does not have time to automatically “collapse” the free space. Sometimes the user accidentally drags a widget onto a new page, creating it from scratch.
There are two main types of extra screens: completely empty and containing system elements. The first ones can be deleted without problems through the editing mode. The latter may contain non-deletable widgets, such as Google Discover (news feed) or standard weather panels, which require disabling in the settings rather than simply deleting.
In some cases, after updating the software, the interface may reset and you will have duplicate screens. It is important to distinguish between a launcher software failure and real extra pages. If swiping is delayed or the screen flickers, the problem may be with the app cache One UI Homerather than the number of desktops.
⚠️ Attention: If your phone was purchased through a carrier or a region-specific version, the home screen may have non-removable sponsor apps pre-installed. It is often impossible to remove the screen itself with such shortcuts using standard methods without obtaining root access.
Basic deletion method through editing mode
The easiest and most effective way to get rid of a blank page is to use the built-in desktop management mode. This method works on all current shell versions One UI. You do not need to install third-party software or connect the device to the computer.
First, unlock your smartphone and go to the desktop that is located next to the extra one. Make a specific gesture: pinch an empty space on the screen with your finger and hold it for about a second. The interface will change: the icons will become smaller, and a toolbar will appear at the bottom with buttons for “Widgets”, “Wallpaper and Style” and other options.
Now swipe your finger left or right to find that extra screen. Once you see a blank page or the one you want to delete, pay attention to the top of the screen. There should appear an icon trash or an icon minus in a circle.
☑️ Screen removal algorithm
Click on the delete icon. The system may ask you to confirm the action, especially if there are some elements left on the screen. After confirmation, the extra page will disappear, and the rest of the desktops will automatically move, closing the gap.
Deleting non-deletable pages and widgets
Sometimes you find that the delete button is inactive or missing. This is typical for the main screen (the first one) or pages pinned by the system. In particular, the left screen is often given over to the news feed Google or Samsung Free, which cannot simply be “erased” like an ordinary void.
To remove such a screen, you need to disable its display in the launcher settings. Long-press an empty space on the main screen to enter edit mode, and then tap the gears (Settings) icon in the lower or upper right corner. In the menu that opens, find the item Home screen.
In this section you will see the switch “Show Google panel” or “Samsung Free”. Set the toggle switch to inactive. After this, swiping to the left will no longer open the news feed, and the extra screen will visually disappear from the navigation.
What to do if the settings are not saved?
If the settings are reset after a reboot, you may have a third-party launcher installed that conflicts with the system one. Try clearing the One UI Home app data in your phone's settings, but note that this will reset the layout of all your icons.
Also check to see if there are widgets on your screen that are protected from deletion (for example, the Device Discovery widget in the ecosystem SmartThings). Tap on such a widget, hold it and drag it to the trash bin that appears at the top of the screen. Only after the page is completely cleared of objects, the delete button will become active.
Resetting One UI Home launcher settings
If manual deletion does not help and the extra screens return as if by magic, there may be a failure in the desktop configuration. In this case, the rational solution would be to reset the launcher settings to factory settings. This action will not delete your personal files, photos or contacts.
However, the layout of icons, folders and widgets will return to their out-of-the-box state. You will have to re-arrange application shortcuts, but the desktop structure will be clean and logical, without duplicates and software errors.
Follow these steps: go to Settings → Applications. In the list, find the application One UI Home (it may simply be called “Home Screen” depending on the localization). Click on it, then select Memory and press the button Clear data.
| Action | Consequence | The need for a backup copy |
|---|---|---|
| Deleting through the trash | Only removes the selected page | No |
| Disabling Google Discover | Removes the left news feed | No |
| Resetting launcher data | Full reset of the grid of icons and widgets | Recommended (screenshots) |
| Removal via ADB | Forced removal of system pages | Yes (high risk) |
After clearing the data, return to the main screen. You will see a standard set of screens Samsung. Now you can re-configure them for yourself, avoiding mistakes that led to the appearance of unnecessary garbage earlier.
Before resetting the launcher settings, take several screenshots of the current arrangement of icons. This will save you time when restoring the usual desktop structure.
Advanced methods: using ADB
For experienced users who were not helped by standard methods, there is a way to forcefully remove screens through debugging by USB. This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and installing drivers. ADB (Android Debug Bridge).
Enable developer mode on the phone: go to Settings → About phone → Software information and quickly click 7 times on the “Build number” item. Then, in the “For Developers” menu that appears, activate USB debugging.
Connect the phone to the PC and enter the command to view the current desktop configuration. Although there is no direct way to remove the screen with one command, you can reset the launcher database more deeply than through the settings. The command looks like this:
adb shell pm clear com.sec.android.app.launcherThis command forcibly stops and clears the launcher data, similar to a manual reset, but works even if the interface is frozen. Use this method with caution as it does not require confirmation on the phone screen.
⚠️ Attention: Using ADB commands may cause system instability if you enter an incorrect parameter. Do not try to remove system packages responsible for navigation if you are not 100% sure of your actions.
Alternative launchers as a solution to the problem
If the standard interface One UI seems too cumbersome and constantly creates extra screens that are difficult to control, consider installing a third-party launcher. Stores Google Play offer dozens of solutions with flexible settings for the desktop grid.
Popular options, such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher, allow you to strictly fix the number of screens. Their settings often have a “Prohibit the creation of new pages” function, which completely eliminates the appearance of random visual garbage.
When installing a new launcher, the system will ask which application to use as the default for the home screen. Select an installed application. Now desktops will be managed according to the rules of the new interface, where deleting pages is usually implemented more intuitively.
Third-party launchers give full control over the screen grid, but may consume a little more RAM than the standard One UI Home.
Preventing the appearance of extra pages
To prevent the problem from returning, It’s worth developing the habit of properly organizing space. Don't create new screens "for the future." Better use folders to group applications. The folder takes up the space of one icon, but can store up to 15-20 applications inside.
Regularly audit installed apps. Remove what you don't use right away, without putting it off until later. The fewer times you move icons, the less likely it is to accidentally create a new page due to a touch error.
Also keep an eye on system updates. The company Samsung regularly releases patches that fix interface bugs. If you have a strange non-deletable page after updating, check for a new security patch - perhaps this is a fixed bug.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why doesn't the trash can appear when you delete the screen?
The trash only appears when you are in edit mode (after a long press to an empty space) and swiped to a page that can be deleted. If the page contains system widgets or is the main one, the recycle bin will not appear.
Is it possible to restore a deleted screen with icons?
No, if you confirmed the deletion of the page, all the shortcuts on it will be moved to the general list of applications (in the "All applications" menu), but not to the desktop. You will have to manually drag them back.
How to remove the lock screen if it is redundant?
The lock screen cannot be “removed” as a desktop, as this is a security feature. However, you can customize its style or disable the display of widgets on it through Settings → Lock screen.
Why does the screen appear again after deleting?
This may be a symptom of a synchronization failure with a Samsung or Google account that is trying to restore the previous layout. Try turning off the Internet before deleting or completely resetting the launcher.