Modern smartphones from Samsung are famous for their flexibility in customization, but the shell One UI by default can hide the icons of installed apps in the general menu. This is done for aesthetic minimalism, but many users are more accustomed to seeing all the shortcuts on the desktop at once. The situation when you downloaded a new utility, but cannot find its icon among widgets or folders, occurs everywhere.
The solution to this problem does not require superuser rights or complex manipulations with the engineering menu. Display settings is done through standard launcher parameters, which are available to every device owner. In this article, we will analyze in detail the algorithms of actions for different versions of firmware and models so that you can organize the space in a way that is convenient for you.
In addition to basic movement, we will touch on the issues of organizing space, creating folders and solving problems when an icon disappears or is not added. Understanding the logic of operation desktop will allow you not only to display the desired shortcut, but also to optimize navigation on the smartphone as a whole.
Checking the current application display mode
Before trying to drag a specific icon, you need to make sure in which mode your launcher is running. In smartphones Galaxy there are two main types of menu organization: the classic list of all apps and the “Applications Screen” mode. This directly determines where the shortcut you are looking for is physically located.
If you have a separate menu mode enabled, then all new apps get there automatically, bypassing the main screen. To check the current configuration, hold your finger on an empty space on the desktop and go to Settings. Here you will find an item Home screenwhere you can switch the display style.
In the "Home screen only" mode, all installed applications automatically appear as icons. If the “Applications screen and home screen” mode is selected, then new utilities are not duplicated and must be added manually. It is this option that most often raises questions among users switching from other brands.
⚠️ Attention: Changing the display mode may cause all existing desktop icons to disappear or, conversely, the screen to be filled with hundreds of shortcuts. It is recommended to create a backup copy of the layout in advance through the launcher settings, if such a function is available in your version of the software.
Choosing the right mode is the foundation for further organization. If you prefer cleanliness and order, keep the split screens. If quick access to the entire arsenal of apps without unnecessary swipes is important to you, switch to a single desktop.
Manually moving an icon from the general menu
The most common scenario is that you need to pin a shortcut to a specific app that is currently in the general list. This process is intuitive, but has its own nuances depending on gestures and screen sensitivity settings.
To begin, open the application menu by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. Find the app you need in the list or use the search bar at the top. As soon as you have found the required element, click on its icon and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds.
As soon as the icon “comes unstuck” from the general list and begins to move with your finger, without releasing the press, drag it to the top of the screen. At this point, the interface will automatically switch to the main desktop. Place the shortcut in a free grid cell and release your finger.
- 📱 Make sure there is free space on the landing page, otherwise the icon will not fit.
- 🖐️ If dragging does not work, try reducing the pressure or check the protective glass.
- 🔄 When moving between pages, hold the icon at the edge of the screen to automatically scroll through.
This method works for any type of content: be it standard utilities, games from Google Play or manually installed APK files. The main condition is that the application must be installed correctly on the system.
☑️ Check before moving
Automatically adding new shortcuts in settings
If you are tired of manually dragging each new app, you can configure the system so that it does it for you. This feature is especially useful for those who often experiment with new software and want to see the installation results instantly.
Go to the main screen settings, as described in the first section. Find the switch named Add icons to the home screen. Activating this slider ensures that the next time you install any application, its icon will automatically appear on the last free page of the desktop.
However, it is worth considering that if you actively use this function, your desktop can quickly turn into a chaotic jumble of icons. This can make it difficult to find truly important apps among the multitude of gaming utilities or one-time services.
It is recommended to use automatic addition with caution. It is better to periodically clean shortcuts, leaving only frequently used ones, and keep the rest in the application menu. This approach maintains a balance between accessibility and visual cleanliness of the interface One UI.
Use the automatic addition function only on a new phone or after resetting the settings to immediately create a basic set of icons, and then disable it to maintain order.
Working with widgets and action shortcuts
Sometimes the user does not need the full version of the application, but a quick one Access a specific feature, such as a flashlight, QR code scanner, or notes. In such cases, you can add not just an icon to the main screen, but widget or an action shortcut.
To add a widget, hold down an empty space on the screen and select Widgets in the bottom menu. You will see a complete list of available items from all installed apps. Some applications, such as Google Keep or Telegramoffer widgets of different sizes and functionality.
Select the appropriate size and drag it to your desktop. Widgets take up more space than regular icons, but provide advanced functionality without having to open the app itself. This could be a calendar with an agenda, a player with control buttons, or a weather station.
| Element type | Size | Functional | Usage example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Icon applications | 1x1 cell | Launch the app | Open the browser |
| Information widget | 2x2 or 4x2 | Display data | Weather, exchange rates |
| Action shortcut | 1x1 cell | Direct function launch | Flashlight, scanner |
| Folder | Depends on content | Icon grouping | Category "Work" |
Remember that widgets consume more battery resources than static icons, as they frequently update information in real time. If you notice a quick drain, analyze the number of active widgets on your screen.
Why is the widget not updating?
If the widget shows outdated information, check your power saving settings. The system may be limiting background activity to save battery. Add the widget application to the list of battery optimization exclusions.
Creating folders and grouping icons
When the number of icons placed on the main screen becomes large, it is critically important to be able to structure them. Clutter on your desktop reduces the efficiency of using your smartphone and makes you waste extra time searching for the right item.
To create a folder, simply drag one icon directly on top of another. The system will automatically create a container in which both applications will fit. You can rename the folder by clicking on the default name and give it your own color or style depending on the version One UI.
Inside the folder you can place up to several dozen icons, organizing them by topic: “Social networks”, “Banks”, “Games”, “Utilities”. This allows you to free up space on the main pages for the most important shortcuts, removing non-essential apps into logical groups.
- 📂 Name folders briefly so that the name fits on one line under the icon.
- 🎨 Use color coding of folders to visually separate zones (work, entertainment).
- 🗑️ To delete a folder, drag all the icons from it to the desktop until the container disappears.
Grouping is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also of ergonomics. Properly distributed applications allow you to control your smartphone with one hand, without making unnecessary movements on the screen.
The optimal desktop structure contains no more than 5-7 folders and 10-15 individual icons on the main pages, which provides quick access to the main functions without visual noise.
Recovery of missing and deleted shortcuts
Sometimes users accidentally delete an icon from the desktop, thinking that they are deleting the application itself. It is important to understand the difference: removing a shortcut from the screen only removes the link to the app, but does not uninstall it from the phone's memory.
If you have lost the icon you need, first check the general application menu. Most likely the app is located there. If it is not there either, it may have been disabled in the system settings or hidden.
In some cases, resetting the launcher settings helps. To do this, go to Settings → Applications, find One UI Home in the list (or "Samsung Experience Home" on older models) and select Storage → Clear data. This will return the desktop to its factory appearance, but will not delete your personal files or installed apps.
⚠️ Attention: Resetting your launcher data will delete all folders, widgets, and desktop wallpapers you've created. You will have to re-arrange icons and customize the appearance of the interface, so use this method only as a last resort.
Also check if the "Simple Mode" mode is enabled, which hides some of the icons and simplifies the interface. You can disable it in the main screen settings, returning the standard view of the system.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why can’t I drag an icon to the main screen?
Most often the reason is that there is no free grid space on the landing page. Try removing unnecessary widgets or moving other icons. Also check if the home screen layout is locked in the launcher settings.
Is it possible to change the size of the application icon on Samsung?
You cannot change the size of a specific icon using standard means, but you can change the size of the entire grid. In the main screen settings, select Home screen grid and select the option with a large number of cells, for example, 5x6. This will make the icons visually smaller.
How to remove the "1" or notification from the icon?
This is a notification badge. To disable it for a specific application, hold down the icon, click on the icon i (information) and find the switch Notification icons. Disable it, and the number will disappear, although the notifications themselves will still arrive.
What to do if the icon has become white or transparent?
This may be due to a malfunction of the theme or the operation of a third-party launcher. Try changing the theme to the standard one in the application Galaxy Themes or reboot your device. If the problem is in a specific application, try clearing its cache.
Is it possible to display part of the application (for example, chat)?
Yes, some applications support the "App Actions" function or widgets for specific chats. Long-press the messenger icon in the application menu - if supported, additional shortcuts for specific contacts will appear that can be dragged to the desktop.