Modern smartphones Samsung Galaxy offer users enormous freedom in customizing the appearance of their desktop. However, over time, the screen can turn into a chaos of dozens of shortcuts that you no longer use. This not only interferes with aesthetic perception, but also complicates the search for the necessary apps among unnecessary elements. This issue is especially relevant for devices with software pre-installed by the manufacturer, which often takes up valuable space on the panel.
The process of removing icons in the shell One UI is intuitive, but has its own nuances depending on what exactly you want to remove: a third-party application, a system shortcut or a widget. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the available methods for cleaning the workspace, from simple drag-and-drop to deep customization through the settings menu. You will learn how to effectively manage your interface and maintain order on your home screen.
Before you begin uninstalling, it is important to understand the difference between deleting the application itself and deleting just its shortcut. In some cases, you can simply hide the icon from the main screen, leaving the app installed in the device's memory. This is useful for rarely used services that you access only occasionally through the search or all applications menu.
Basic removal method via drag and drop
The easiest and fastest way to get rid of an unnecessary icon is to use the drag-and-drop function. This method works equally well for both custom applications and most system shortcuts. You will not need additional settings or superuser rights.
First, find the icon on your desktop that you plan to delete. Press it with your finger and hold it down for one to two seconds. The screen will change its appearance: additional control buttons will appear, and the icon itself will begin to enlarge slightly or vibrate, signaling that it has been selected for editing. At this moment do not release your finger.
Without releasing the icon, drag it to the top of the screen. There you will see an area that says “Delete” or a trash can icon. The color of this area usually changes to red to attract attention. Once the icon is over this area, release your finger. The system will ask for confirmation of the action or will immediately delete the shortcut if it is a third-party application.
⚠️ Attention: When deleting Samsung system applications (for example, Samsung Health or Galaxy Store) in this way, you can only delete the shortcut from the desktop, but the application itself will remain in the phone memory and in the general list of apps.
If you accidentally release the icon not above basket, it will simply return to its original place or fit into the nearest free cell of the grid. Don't worry, this will not lead to any errors in the system. You can try deleting again immediately.
☑️ Check before deleting
Removal via context menu and settings
Shell One UI from the company Samsung provides more advanced management tools through a long press calling up the context menu. This method gives more information about what exactly you want to delete and offers additional options, such as resizing or deleting widgets.
Tap and hold an application icon until a pop-up menu appears. In this menu, you will see several options: Edit, Delete, Hide (if available), and an “i” icon in a circle for information about the application. Selecting the item Delete will start the process of uninstalling or deleting the shortcut.
For system applications that cannot be completely removed without root access, the “Delete” item may be absent or replaced with “Disable”. In this case, the application will no longer appear in the menu and run in the background, freeing up system resources. This is an effective way to deal with pre-installed junk software. bloatware - pre-installed junk software.
If you want to remove a widget (for example, a clock, weather or calendar), the algorithm of actions is similar. After a long press on the widget, a “Delete” button will appear at the top of the screen. Please note that widgets often occupy multiple grid cells, so the clickable area may be larger than a regular icon.
Use the Hide feature in Home Screen Settings to hide standard Samsung apps (camera, phone, messages) from the panel without deleting them completely.
Differences between deleting an app and a shortcut
Many users confuse the concepts of deleting a shortcut and completely uninstalling a app. Understanding this difference is critical to managing your smartphone's memory. A shortcut is only a link to the app, while the application itself takes up space in the drive and RAM.
When deleting a third-party application downloaded from Google Play Market or Galaxy Store, the system will offer you two options: “Delete” or “Cancel”. Selecting the first option will completely clear all application data and free up disk space. This is an irreversible action if you do not have a backup copy.
In the case of system applications, the situation is different. Android protects critical system components from accidental deletion. Therefore, when you try to remove such an icon, you often see a message stating that only the shortcut from the main screen will be removed. The application itself will remain accessible through the "All applications" menu or search.
| Object type | Action "Delete" | Impact on memory | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third-party application | Full uninstallation | Frees up space | through the app store |
| System application | Deleting a shortcut | Does not affect | Through screen settings |
| Widget | Deleting a widget | Minimal | Add from menu |
| Folder | Deleting a folder | Does not affect | Creating a new one |
If your goal is to free up space, then simply removing the icon from the screen will not be enough for system apps. To do this, you will need to go to the phone settings and use the disable function or, for advanced users, the ADB command.
Working with folders and grouping icons
When too many icons accumulate on the screen, deleting each one individually becomes a tedious task. In such cases, it makes sense to use folders to group rarely used apps or delete an entire folder if it is no longer relevant.
To create a folder, drag one icon on top of another. The system will automatically create a container where it will place both applications. You can give the folder a name by clicking on the name area above the icons. This helps to structure the space and visually reduce the number of elements on the desktop.
Deleting a folder is as easy as deleting a single icon. Touch and hold a folder, then drag it to the Delete area. They simply stop being grouped and return to the general application menu.
If there is only one application left inside the folder, and you want to get rid of the folder structure, simply drag the remaining icon outside the folder to an empty space on the screen. The folder will disappear automatically as soon as it becomes empty. This is a convenient way to quickly reorganize your workspace without losing apps.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to delete a folder by dragging icons one by one if there are many of them. It will take a long time. It is better to delete the entire folder, and then delete unnecessary applications through the settings, if required.
Hiding applications through the home screen settings
The hiding applications function is a unique feature of the shell One UIthat allows you to remove icons from the screen without deleting without turning them off. This is ideal for apps that you rarely use but don't want to uninstall, or for private applications.
To activate this feature, long press on an empty area of the desktop. In the lower menu, select Settings. In the list that opens, find the section “Hide apps on the home screen and in the application menu.” By clicking on it, you will go to a special visibility management interface.
At the top of the screen you will see a list of all installed apps. Click on the icons of the applications you want to hide. They will move to the bottom of the screen in the Hidden Apps section. After selecting all the necessary elements, be sure to click the button Done at the bottom of the screen, otherwise the changes will not be saved.
Hidden applications disappear from the main screen and from the general list (“curtains” of applications). You can only find them through search or if you go to the hide settings again. This is a great way to maintain a minimalist look on your desktop while maintaining the full functionality of your device.
How to find hidden apps?
To see hidden apps, you need to go back to Home Screen Settings -> Hide Apps. There they will be displayed in the lower list. They can also be found through Samsung's global search (swipe down the center of the screen).
Disabling system applications to save resources
If your goal is not just to remove an icon, but to actually stop the operation of an unnecessary system application (for example, a duplicate browser or news service), using the “Disable” function will be the most effective solution.
Go in Settings smartphone, then select section Applications. Find the desired app in the list. If the application is a system application and cannot be completely removed, the “Delete” button will be inactive. Instead, click the button Disable.
After confirming the action, the application will disappear from the list of installed apps, its icon will disappear from the desktop, and all processes associated with it will be stopped. Updates for this application will also stop downloading. In fact, it will be “frozen” in the system until it is turned on again.
It is important to understand that disabling some system components may affect the operation of other services. For example, disabling Samsung Pay may disrupt contactless payment, and disabling the system launcher will cause the interface to crash. Proceed with caution and disable only those apps whose purpose you are sure of.
Disabling system applications is the best way to combat background activity and battery consumption if complete removal is impossible without root access.
Frequently asked questions and problem solving
In the process of clearing the screen, users often encounter unusual situations when the icon is not removed using standard methods or behaves unpredictably. Below are answers to the most popular questions that will help resolve difficulties.
Why is the application icon not removed?
Most often this happens with system applications that are protected from deletion. In this case, use the “Disable” function in the application settings or hide the icon through the home screen settings. Also check if the icon is pinned to the dock at the bottom - you need to remove it from there first.
Is it possible to remove standard Samsung applications?
You cannot completely remove them without superuser rights (Root). However, you can disable most of them (except for the most critical ones, like “Phone” or “Settings”), which will hide their icons and stop working. To completely remove it, you need to connect to a PC and use ADB commands.
Where do the deleted shortcuts go?
If you delete only the shortcut, the application remains in memory. You can find it in the “All applications” menu (swipe up in the center of the screen) or through the search. If you have disabled an application, it will be hidden until you turn it back on in the settings.
How to restore a deleted icon?
Go to the all applications menu, find the app you need, press and hold its icon, then select “Add to Home Screen”. If the application was hidden, go to the home screen settings and uncheck the hide box.
Why does the application continue to work after removing the icon?
This is normal for system services. Removing an icon from the desktop does not mean ending the process. To stop the work, you need to use the “Force stop” or “Disable” function in the application settings section.