Getting to your favorite apps quickly and easily is a breeze when they’re right there on your home screen. But what do you do when you’ve downloaded a new app and it’s nowhere to be found? Fortunately, adding apps to your home screen is a simple process that takes just a few seconds. Whether you’re an Android or iOS user, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps on how to get apps on your home screen so you can access them with just a tap.
For Android users, there are two main ways to add apps to your home screen. The first method is to press and hold on an empty space on your home screen. This will bring up a menu with several options, including “Widgets” and “Apps.” Tap on “Apps” and you’ll see a list of all the apps installed on your device. Simply scroll through the list and tap on the app you want to add to your home screen. The second method is to open the app drawer and find the app you want to add. Once you’ve found it, press and hold on the app icon. This will bring up a menu with the option to “Add to home screen.” Tap on this option and the app will be added to your home screen.
For iOS users, adding apps to your home screen is just as easy. First, make sure you’re on the home screen by pressing the Home button. Once you’re on the home screen, press and hold on an empty space until the apps start to jiggle. Next, tap on the “+” icon in the top-left corner of the screen. This will bring up a list of all the apps installed on your device. Scroll through the list and tap on the app you want to add to your home screen. The app will be added to the home screen in the next available space.
Accessing the App Store
To begin downloading apps, you must first access the App Store. This can be done in a few different ways:
- From the Home Screen: Tap on the App Store icon, which is typically located in the bottom dock of your phone.
- From the Search bar: Swipe down from the middle of the Home Screen to open the Search bar. Type “App Store” into the search field and tap on the App Store icon that appears in the results.
- From Spotlight Search: Swipe down from the middle of any Home Screen to open Spotlight Search. Type “App Store” into the search field and tap on the App Store icon that appears in the results.
Once you have opened the App Store, you can browse through the various categories and sections to find the apps you want to download. You can also use the search bar to search for specific apps.
Searching for Specific Apps
The search bar at the top of the home screen is a convenient tool to find specific apps. To use it, simply type the name of the app you’re looking for into the search field, and then tap the “Search” button. If the app is installed on your device, it will appear in the search results. You can then tap on the app icon to open it. Searching through the app drawer is another way to find specific apps. To do this, swipe up from the bottom of the home screen to open the app drawer, then scroll through the list of installed apps to find the one you’re looking for. You can also use the search bar at the top of the app drawer to search for apps by name.
Finding Apps in the App Marketplace
If you don’t find the app you’re looking for on the home screen or in the app drawer, you can try searching for it in the app marketplace. The App Marketplace is a collection of apps that can be downloaded and installed on your device. To access the App Marketplace, tap on the “Apps” icon on the home screen, then tap on the “Search” tab. You can then type the name of the app you’re looking for into the search field, and then tap on the “Search” button. If the app is available in the App Marketplace, it will appear in the search results. You can then tap on the app icon to install it on your device.
| App Marketplace |
|---|
| Google Play Store (Android) |
| Apple App Store (iOS) |
| Microsoft Store (Windows) |
Using the Launchpad
The Launchpad is a full-screen view of all your apps, organized into folders. To open the Launchpad, click the Launchpad icon in the Dock or use the Launchpad gesture on your trackpad. You can also search for apps using the search field in the upper-right corner of the Launchpad.
To add an app to the Home screen, simply drag and drop it from the Launchpad to the Home screen. You can also create folders on the Home screen to organize your apps. To create a folder, drag and drop one app on top of another app. You can then give the folder a name.
To remove an app from the Home screen, simply drag and drop it back to the Launchpad. You can also remove apps from the Launchpad by clicking the “X” button in the upper-left corner of the app icon.
Customizing the Launchpad
You can customize the Launchpad to change the way it looks and works. To customize the Launchpad, open System Preferences and click on “Launchpad”.
In the Launchpad preferences, you can change the following settings:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Grid size | The number of apps that appear in each row and column of the Launchpad. |
| Sort by | The order in which apps appear in the Launchpad. |
| Show folders | Whether or not to show folders in the Launchpad. |
| Show recents | Whether or not to show recently used apps in the Launchpad. |
You can also change the appearance of the Launchpad by clicking on the “Appearance” tab in the Launchpad preferences.
Dragging Apps from the Finder
This method allows you to drag and drop apps directly from the Finder to your Home screen. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Finder by clicking on its icon in the Dock or by pressing Command + Space and typing “Finder.”
- Navigate to the Applications folder within the Finder.
- Locate the app you want to add to your Home screen.
- Click and hold the app icon and drag it to the Home screen. The Home screen will appear as an option when you hover over it with the dragged app icon.
Once the app icon reaches the Home screen, release the mouse button to drop the app there. The app will be added to your Home screen and you can now access it quickly and easily.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
|
|
Creating Custom App Folders
Selecting Apps for the Folder:
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Begin by tapping and holding an app icon.
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Drag and drop the app icon onto another app icon to create a folder.
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Repeat this process to add additional apps to the folder.
Renaming the Folder:
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Tap the folder to open it.
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Tap the pencil icon in the top-right corner.
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Enter a new name for the folder and tap “Done”.
Customizing Folder Color and Appearance:
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Tap the folder to open it.
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Tap the palette icon in the bottom-right corner.
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Choose a color or appearance from the options provided.
Grouping Similar Apps:
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Categorize apps based on their functionality (e.g., social media, games, productivity).
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Create separate folders for each category.
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This helps organize and declutter your home screen.
Advanced Folder Customization:
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Live Folders: Create folders that display live widgets, such as calendars or weather updates.
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Smart Folders: Automatically add and remove apps to a folder based on specific criteria, such as app usage or app category.
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Nested Folders: Create folders within folders for more complex organization.
Organizing Apps Alphabetically
To organize your apps alphabetically on your Android home screen, follow these steps:
- Unlock your device and go to the home screen.
- Tap and hold any empty space on the home screen until the apps wiggle.
- Tap the “Sort” button at the top of the screen.
- Select “Alphabetical” from the list of sorting options.
- Your apps will now be organized alphabetically from A to Z.
- To further customize the order of your apps, you can long-press on an app and drag it to a new location on the home screen.
Here is a table summarizing the steps:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Unlock your device and go to the home screen. |
| 2 | Tap and hold any empty space on the home screen until the apps wiggle. |
| 3 | Tap the “Sort” button at the top of the screen. |
| 4 | Select “Alphabetical” from the list of sorting options. |
| 5 | Your apps will now be organized alphabetically from A to Z. |
| 6 | To further customize the order of your apps, you can long-press on an app and drag it to a new location on the home screen. |
Grouping Apps by Category
To organize your apps into categories, follow these steps:
1. Create a New Folder
Touch and hold an empty space on the home screen, then tap the “Add” button (+). Select “Folder” from the menu.
2. Name the Folder
Enter a name for your folder, such as “Communication” or “Social Media.”
3. Drag Apps into the Folder
Touch and hold an app icon, then drag it onto the folder. You can also tap “Add Apps” and select multiple apps to add to the folder.
4. Multiple Folders
Create as many folders as you need to organize your apps into different categories.
5. Rearrange Folders
To rearrange the order of folders on the home screen, touch and hold a folder, then drag it to a new location.
6. Remove Apps from Folders
To remove an app from a folder, open the folder, touch and hold the app icon, then drag it out of the folder.
7. Folder Customization
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Rename Folder | Tap the folder name and enter a new one. |
| Change Folder Color | Touch and hold the folder, tap the “Edit” button, and select a different color. |
| Change Folder Icon | Touch and hold the folder, tap the “Edit” button, and select an icon from the gallery or take a photo. |
Managing App Notifications
Control the type and frequency of notifications you receive from apps installed on your device. To manage app notifications:
1. Open the **Settings** app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap **Notifications**.
3. In the **Notifications** section, tap **App Notifications**.
4. You will see a list of apps installed on your device, along with their current notification settings.
5. Tap on an app to manage its notifications.
6. You can toggle the **Allow Notifications** switch to turn notifications on or off for the app.
7. You can also choose from different notification styles, such as **Alert**, **Banner**, or **Silent**.
8. **Customize Notification Channels:**
| Notification Channel | Description |
|---|---|
| General | Notifications for all important app events |
| Messaging | Notifications for new messages or chats |
| Updates | Notifications for app updates or software updates |
| Promotions | Notifications for app promotions or discounts |
| Custom | Notifications for specific events or actions within the app |
9. Adjust the notification frequency, sound, and vibration settings to personalize your notification experience.
10. Tap **Save** to apply the changes.
Removing Apps from the Home Screen
To delete an app from your home screen on Android, follow these steps:
1. Press and hold the app icon until the home screen shakes or displays a pop-up menu.
2. Drag the app to the “Remove” or “Uninstall” option, typically displayed at the top or bottom of the screen.
3. Release the app icon to confirm deletion.
To remove an app from the home screen on iOS, follow these steps:
1. Press and hold the app icon until it starts to jiggle or displays a cross (X) in its corner.
2. Tap the cross (X) to delete the app.
3. Confirm deletion by tapping “Delete” in the pop-up dialog box.
Removing Apps from the App Drawer (Android only)
1. Open the app drawer by swiping up from the bottom of the screen or tapping the app drawer icon at the bottom of the home screen.
2. Long-press the app you want to remove until a menu appears.
3. Select “Uninstall” or “Remove” from the menu.
4. Confirm deletion by tapping “OK” or “Uninstall” in the pop-up dialog box.
| Android | iOS |
|---|---|
| Press and hold app icon | Press and hold app icon |
| Drag to “Remove” or “Uninstall” | Tap cross (X) |
| Confirm deletion | Confirm deletion |
Resetting the Home Screen Layout
Resetting the home screen layout is a simple process that can help you restore your home screen to its default settings. This can be helpful if you have accidentally deleted or rearranged your apps, or if you simply want to start over. To reset your home screen layout, follow these steps:
- Go to the Settings app.
- Tap on “General.”
- Tap on “Reset.”
- Tap on “Reset Home Screen Layout.”
- Confirm your choice by tapping on “Reset.”
Once you have reset your home screen layout, your apps will be restored to their default positions. You can then rearrange your apps as desired.
Additional Details
Here are some additional details about resetting the home screen layout:
- Resetting the home screen layout will not delete any of your apps.
- Resetting the home screen layout will not affect any of your other settings, such as your wallpaper or widgets.
- If you have any folders on your home screen, they will be deleted when you reset the home screen layout.
- You can also reset the home screen layout by pressing and holding on the home screen and then tapping on the “Reset” button.
Table: Default App Positions
The following table shows the default positions of apps on the home screen:
| Row | Column | App |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Camera |
| 1 | 2 | Photos |
| 1 | 3 | Messages |
| 1 | 4 | Phone |
| 2 | 1 | |
| 2 | 2 | Safari |
| 2 | 3 | Clock |
| 2 | 4 | Weather |
| 3 | 1 | Maps |
| 3 | 2 | Videos |
| 3 | 3 | Music |
| 3 | 4 | App Store |
How To Get Apps On Home Screen
There are a few different ways to get apps on your home screen. The most common way is to download them from the App Store. You can also add apps to your home screen by dragging them from the dock or by using the App Library.
To download an app from the App Store, open the App Store and search for the app you want. Once you find the app, tap on the “Get” button. The app will start downloading and will be added to your home screen once it is finished.
To add an app to your home screen from the dock, simply drag the app from the dock to the home screen. The app will be added to the home screen in the location where you drop it.
To add an app to your home screen from the App Library, open the App Library and find the app you want. Once you find the app, tap and hold on the app until it starts to jiggle. Then, drag the app to the home screen and drop it in the location where you want it.
People also ask
How do I get apps on my home screen without downloading them?
You can add apps to your home screen without downloading them by using the App Library. The App Library is a feature in iOS that allows you to see all of your apps in one place, even if they are not downloaded to your device.
To add an app to your home screen from the App Library, open the App Library and find the app you want. Once you find the app, tap and hold on the app until it starts to jiggle. Then, drag the app to the home screen and drop it in the location where you want it.
How do I remove apps from my home screen?
To remove an app from your home screen, simply tap and hold on the app until it starts to jiggle. Then, tap on the “X” button in the corner of the app. The app will be removed from your home screen.
