Application shortcuts on the Android home screen are a convenient way to quickly access frequently used apps. But over time, the desktop turns into a chaos of dozens of icons, among which it is difficult to find what you need. In addition, some shortcuts appear on their own after installing new applications or system updates. Unlike completely deleting a app, deleting a shortcut does not affect the operation of the application - it simply disappears from the main screen, remaining in the menu of all applications.

In this article we will analyze all the possible ways to delete shortcuts on Android smartphones from different manufacturers - from standard dragging to the trash can to hidden functions of launchers. You will learn how to remove not only regular icons, but also icons that cannot be removed using standard methods. Let us separately consider the problems faced by users widgets, folders with shortcuts, and also system shortcuts, which cannot be removed using standard methods. Let us separately consider the problems that users face Samsung One UI, Xiaomi MIUI and stock Android (pure Android from Google).

If you tried to delete the shortcut, but it appears again after a reboot, or the system displays the error “Cannot be deleted”, the article has solutions for these cases. We will also explain why some shortcuts cannot be removed without superuser rights (root), and what to do if, after updating Android, the ability to drag and drop icons has disappeared.

1. Standard method: dragging to trash

The simplest and most universal method works on 90% of smartphones, regardless of Android version and shell. It is suitable for removing application shortcuts, widgets and even icon folders. Here's how to do it:

  1. Press and hold your finger on the shortcut you want to remove until it "rises" off the screen (usually takes 1-2 seconds).
  2. Without releasing your finger, drag the icon to the top of the screen, where the text "Delete" or the trash can icon will appear (🗑️).
  3. Release your finger when the recycle bin icon lights up in red.

On some smartphones (for example, Samsung Galaxy s One UI 5.0+) the recycle bin may be located at the bottom of the screen. If the shortcut cannot be dragged, check if it is blocked - we will talk about this in the next section.

📊 What launcher are you using on Android?
Standard (from the manufacturer)
Nova Launcher
Apex Launcher
Microsoft Launcher
Other

This method does not work for:

  • 🔒 System shortcuts (for example, "Phone", "Messages" on some firmware).
  • 📱 Widget shortcutsthat are integrated into the shell (for example, weather on Huawei EMUI).
  • 🔄 Shortcuts added by the device administrator (corporate phones).

2. Deleting through the shortcut menu (for locked icons)

If the shortcut is not dragged or a message appears when you try to delete it "Action prohibited", most likely it is blocked by the launcher settings or by the device administrator. In this case. try an alternative method:

  1. Touch the shortcut with one finger and hold until the context menu appears.
  2. Select an item in the menu "Delete", "Remove from screen" or "Application information" (on some firmware).
  3. If there is an option "Unlock shortcut", press it, and then try deleting again.

On smartphones Xiaomi s MIUI 12+ the shortcut menu may hide the delete option. To see it:

  1. Open Settings → Home screen.
  2. Disable the option "Layout lock".
  3. Try deleting the shortcut again.
💡

On some smartphones (for example, Oppo and Realme) to call the shortcut menu, you must first click on the icon and then swipe it up or down without releasing your finger.

If there is no delete option in the context menu, but there is "Information about the application", go to it and check:

  • 🛡️ Does the application have rights device administrator (section "Advanced").
  • 🔗 Doesn't it it system (in this case, deleting a shortcut may require root access).

3. Deleting widgets and folders with shortcuts

Widgets and folders are deleted a little differently than regular shortcuts. For widgets:

  1. Tap and hold the widget until a selection frame appears.
  2. Drag it to the trash (🗑️) or click on the cross (❌) if it appears in the corner of the widget.
  3. Confirm deletion if the system will prompt.

For folders with shortcuts:

  1. Open the folder and remove all shortcuts from it (drag them out or to the trash).
  2. After the folder becomes empty, it will automatically disappear from the screen.
  3. If the folder remains, click on it and hold, then drag to the trash.

Make sure that the widget is not associated with important data (for example, the Weather widget may reset settings when deleted)

Close any applications that may use the widget (for example, music players)

Check if the widget is part of a system application (for example, "Google Search")

Take a screenshot of the current widget configuration if you plan to restore it later-->

On some firmware (for example, ColorOS on Oppo/Realme) widgets cannot be deleted in the standard way:

  1. Long-press an empty space on the Home screen and select "Widgets".
  2. Find the desired widget in the list and swipe it left or right (a button should appear "Delete").

4. Resetting the launcher settings (if the shortcuts are not deleted)

If the shortcuts are not deleted using any of the described methods, the problem may be a failure of the launcher settings (the app responsible for displaying the main screen). In this case, resetting will help:

For the standard launcher (Google Launcher, Pixel). Launcher):

  1. Open Settings → Applications.
  2. Find the application "Launcher" (or "Pixel Launcher") and select it.
  3. Click "Storage" → "Clear data".
  4. Confirm the action and reboot your smartphone.

For manufacturer launchers:

Manufacturer Launcher name Path to reset
Samsung One UI Home Settings → Applications → One UI Home → Storage → Clear data
Xiaomi MIUI Launcher Settings → Applications → Manage applications → Launcher → Clear all data
Huawei EMUI Launcher Settings → Applications → Launcher → Memory → Clear data
Oppo/Realme ColorOS Launcher Settings → Applications → Show system → Launcher → Clear data
What will happen after resetting the launcher?

After clearing the launcher data, all shortcuts, widgets and folders on the main screen will be deleted. However:

- Applications will remain installed (only their shortcuts will disappear).

- Wallpapers and themes will be saved (if the launcher functions are not used to apply them).

- System settings (Wi-Fi, sound, etc.) are not affected.

- In some cases, the order of applications in the "All applications" menu may be reset.

⚠️ Attention: Resetting the launcher will also remove all home screen customizations, including:

  • 🎨 Customized gestures (for example, swipe down to search).
  • 📂 User folders and their contents.
  • 🔄 Home screen page order.

5. Removing system shortcuts (without root access)

Some shortcuts (for example, “Phone”, “Camera”, “Google”) cannot be deleted using standard methods, since they are part of system applications. However, there are workarounds:

Method 1: Disabling the application

  1. Go to Settings → Applications.
  2. Find the application whose shortcut you want to remove (for example, "Google").
  3. Click "Disable" (if the option is active).
  4. Confirm the action. The shortcut will disappear from the main screen.

Method 2: Using an alternative launcher

Install a third-party launcher (for example Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher) and:

  1. Hold empty space on the main screen and select "Launcher settings".
  2. Go to the section "Hidden applications" or "Application shortcuts".
  3. Tick the boxes of the applications whose shortcuts you want to hide.

On smartphones with Android 12+ some system shortcuts (for example, "Google Discover") may appear again after a system update. To avoid this, disable automatic updates for the application "Google" in Play Market.

6. Removing shortcuts using ADB (for advanced users)

If none of the methods helped, and the shortcut interferes with your work, you can try deleting it using Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and enabling USB debugging mode.

Instructions:

  1. Enable Developer mode on the smartphone:
    • Go to Settings → About phone.
    • Click 7 times on "Build number".
  • Go back to Settings → System → For developers and turn on "USB debugging".
  • Connect your smartphone to the computer and confirm permission to debug.
  • Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and enter:
    • adb shell pm hide com.android.launcher3/com.android.launcher3.Launcher

    Replace com.android.launcher3 with the package of your launcher (you can find out through the app App Inspector).

    ⚠️ Attention: Incorrect use of ADB can lead to:

    • 🐞 Crash of the launcher (you will have to reset its settings).
    • 🔄 Loss of data widgets and screen settings.
    • 🚫 Blocking of system functionsif you remove critical components.
    💡

    ADB - a powerful tool, but you should use it to remove shortcuts only if other methods have not helped. Always make a backup copy of your data before working with ADB.

    7. Why do shortcuts return after deletion?

    If a deleted shortcut appears again after a reboot or after a while, the reasons may be as follows:

    Cause How to fix
    Auto-updating the launcher Disable automatic updating for the launcher in Play Market.
    The system application restores the shortcut Disable or freeze the application (required root access or ADB).
    Screen Restore function in the cloud Disable synchronization of screen settings in your Google account (Settings → Accounts → Synchronization).
    Virus or malware Scan your smartphone with an antivirus (for example, Malwarebytes) and remove suspicious applications.

    On smartphones Samsung s One UI shortcuts can be restored due to the function "Secure Folder" or "Dual Messenger"Check:

    1. Open Settings → Biometrics and Security → Secure Folder.
    2. Delete duplicate applications, if any.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about deleting shortcuts

    Is it possible to delete a shortcut without deleting the application itself?

    Yes, removing a shortcut from the main screen does not affect the installed application. It will remain in the menu of all applications and will work as usual. To completely remove the app, you need to go to Settings → Applications and select Settings → Applications "Delete".

    Why is there no "Delete" option in the shortcut menu on my Xiaomi?

    On smartphones Xiaomi c MIUI the delete option may be hidden due to the layout lock being enabled. To return it:

    1. Press. empty space on the main screen.
    2. Select "Home screen settings".
    3. Disable the option "Lock layout".

    After this, the shortcut menu will contain an item "Delete".

    How to remove the "Google" or "Search" shortcut that is not deleted?

    The shortcut "Google" or "Search" is a system one and cannot be deleted using standard methods. solutions:

    • Use alternative launcher (for example, Nova Launcher) and hide the shortcut in its settings.
    • Disable the application "Google" in Settings → Applications (may affect the operation of other services).
    • Install widget of another search engine (for example, DuckDuckGo) on top of the Google shortcut.

    ⚠️ Complete removal of system applications requires root-rights and may disrupt the operation of the smartphone.

    What to do if shortcuts are not dragged after updating Android?

    After major updates (for example, from Android 11 to Android 12), the launcher settings may be reset. Try:

    1. Clear launcher data (instructions in section 4).
    2. Reboot your smartphone in safe mode (hold the power button → "Safe Mode") and check if drag and drop works.
    3. Update the launcher via Play Market (if it is available there).

    If the problem persists, check if the mode is enabled "Easy interface" or "Simplified mode" in the special settings capabilities.

    Is it possible to restore an accidentally deleted shortcut?

    Yes, restoring a shortcut is easy:

    1. Open the all applications menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
    2. Find the application you want and tap on its icon while holding your finger.
    3. Drag the icon to the home screen.

    If the shortcut was part of a folder, first restore all the shortcuts from it, and then create the folder again.