Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung Galaxy S4 Marshmallow vs Lollipop vs Jelly Bean/Kitkat

Edited by Leomar Umpad, Charmed, Jerry Rivers, Lynn and 16 others

This is part of the VisiHow series on how to use the Samsung Galaxy S4. You can visit the main VisiHow on how to USE SAMSUNG GALAXY S4 for a full list of S4 VisiHow Articles

The home screen on any mobile device acts as the foundation for accessing the various features and functions offered on the phone. All the primary and most frequently used apps are typically on the home screen. The Samsung Galaxy S4 has two home screen modes; standard and easy mode. While in easy mode, the home screen only displays a few important apps. This can be useful when you need quick access to a few key functions, without having to riffle through multiple layers of icons or menus. You can also customize which app shortcuts are available once in Easy mode.

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It should be noted that when Android updated to Lollipop, "Home screen mode" is now named, "Easy mode". Select the method for your version of Android and follow the steps to enable Easy mode.

Method 1: Marshmallow

  1. 1
    On the home screen, tap "Apps".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 01m.png
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  2. 2
    From the Apps screen, tap "Settings".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 02m.png
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  3. 3
    In Settings, type "Easy mode" into the search box
    .
    When the search populates, tap "Easy mode".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 03m.png
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  4. 4
    On the next screen you'll notice that "Standard mode" is selected by default
    .
    Select "Easy mode", choose which apps to display shortcuts for from the list below and tap "Done".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 04m.png
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  5. 5
    There are three screens in Easy mode; main home screen, contacts and call log and easy settings along with more apps.
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 05bm.jpg
     
      • Swipe right from the home screen to add or edit contacts, and to view your call logs.
      • Swipe left from the home screen to access easy settings, additional apps, and the app drawer.
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  6. 6
    Add another app by tapping on one of the available shortcuts with a "+" symbol in it.
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 06m.png
    Tap an application from the list to add it to Easy mode.
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  7. 7
    To remove a shortcut, tap the three-dot menu in the upper right corner of your screen, followed by "Edit".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 07m.png
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  8. 8
    After tapping Edit, each shortcut will have a "-" symbol in it
    .
    Tap the shortcut you would like removed, followed by "OK".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 08m.png
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  9. 9
    To switch back to "Standard mode", tap the "Easy settings" shortcut, followed by "easy mode".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 09m.png
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  10. 10
    On the Easy mode screen, tap "Standard mode", then "Done".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 10m.png
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Method 2: Lollipop

  1. 1
    From the home screen, tap the "Apps" icon.
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 01.png
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  2. 2
    On the Apps screen, tap "Settings".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 02.png
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  3. 3
    Inside Settings, tap MY DEVICE".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 03.png
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  4. 4
    While in My device, tap "Easy mode".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 04.png
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  5. 5
    By default, standard mode is selected, to enter Easy mode, tap "Easy mode".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 05.png
    Once Easy mode is turned on, select from the list, the applications to be displayed with larger icons and font, then tap "Done"
    .
    You can add, rearrange or remove any apps you wish once in Easy mode.
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  6. 6
    There are three screens in Easy mode; the main home, contacts, settings, and more apps.
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 07.png
     
      • Swipe right from the main home screen to add contacts and to access your call logs.
      • Swipe left from the main home screen to access easy settings, more apps, and the app drawer.
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  7. 7
    To add another app, swipe left from the main home screen and tap one of the open shortcut spots with a "+" symbol.
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 08.png
    Tap an app from the list to add a shortcut to Easy mode.
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  8. 8
    To remove a shortcut, tap the three-dot menu below the screen on your phone
    .
    When the menu pops up, tap "Edit".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 09.png
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  9. 9
    Each shortcut will now have a "-" symbol on it
    .
    Select the shortcut you want to remove and tap "OK".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 10.png
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  10. 10
    To switch back to Standard mode, tap the "Easy settings" shortcut, followed by the "Easy mode" settings icon.
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 11.png
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  11. 11
    Inside Easy mode settings, tap "Standard mode", then "Done".
    Change the Home Screen Mode on Samsung S4 12.png
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Method 3: Jelly Bean/Kitkat

  1. 1
    Go to your Home menu.
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  • 2
    Tap on the Applications icon.
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  • 3
    In the Applications folder, tap on Settings (gear icon).
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  • 4
    In Settings, tap on My Device.
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  • 5
    Under My Device, tap on Home screen mode.
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  • 6
    In Home screen mode, tap on Easy mode.
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  • 7
    Tap Apply.
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  • Tips Tricks & Warnings

    • If you are already an Android user, you will want to the Standard mode.
    • Do not be afraid to mess up with your phone. Easy mode should be easy to understand, even if you are a first-time Android user.
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    Questions and Answers

    Home screen mode does not show Easy mode?

    If you have followed the instructions correctly, and have gone to the Home screen mode, but still cannot find the Easy Mode option, then your phone may be a version that has the Starter Mode instead. Basically, both screen modes (Starter mode and Easy mode), are the same. Some versions have Starter mode on them, while other Galaxy S4 versions have Easy mode on them. These are just two slightly different names but are the same in all functions and features.

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    To Enable Easy mode, please do the following:

    • From the Home screen, touch the Menu button.
    • Select Settings.
    • Select My Device tab.
    • Select Home Screen Mode.
    • Then select Starter Mode. Starter mode is also the Easy mode.
    • Tap "Apply", then "OK".
    • That's it. Easy mode/Starter mode is now enabled.
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    Hi, I have created extra Windows on my phone and I can't close them now. Can I close some of them?

    On the home screen there are 7 Windows and some of them are empty. Initially there are 4 page and one home button icon, 2 of them on the left side and two of them on the right side of the home icon. Now, there are 7 screen icons. I want to delete some of them, but I can't manage it.

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    You can remove any Home screen of your choice by following the procedure below. Take note that deleting the Home screen will not uninstall applications on your phone. To delete a Home screen:

    • Tap on your Home key to get to the Home screen.
    • From the Home screen, perform a pinching gesture on your phone's screen.
    • This will show all the seven Home screen on your phone.
    • Tap and hold on the Home screen that you want to delete and drag it to the trash icon on the upper part of the screen.
    • You will be asked to confirm action. Tap on OK to confirm deletion.
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    On your home page press the follow the steps below: 1. Press the menu button. 2. Select edit page. 3. Press and drag the page you do not want up to the remove trashcan on the top of the screen to remove.

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    How can I set my home screen on Samsung Galaxy?

    I have a Samsung Galaxy, not sure if S2, S3, S4. My home screen was accidentally changed. I can't get the right screen to be home again.

    Your Home screen can go up to seven Home screens. There is no default Home screen position, so you need to ensure the same Home screen appear when you press on the Home key. Rearrange the way your Home screens pile by pressing the Home key. If nothing works, you can delete other Home screen pages. This will ensure that your phone will treat the remaining Home screen to be the default Home screen. You can then add the deleted Home screen icons and widgets.

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    Look in your application manager for an application that might be the cause of the alternate home screen you have on your device. You can remove it to allow your original screen to display.

    Changing home screen - please help?

    I keep trying to change my home screen on my Galaxy S4, but it doesn't work.

    Not sure what you mean by changing your home screen. If you mean placing a different widget or shortcut on your home screen, you can easily do this by going through the apps/widgets selection screen.

    On your current home screen, long press on a shortcut or widget and drag to the top that says remove. You can now add whatever you like as a replacement.

    Hit the Apps icon on the bottom right of your screen and it will take you to the apps and widgets list. Long press on a shortcut or widget and drag it out to place on your home screen. You can do this to change the look of your home screen and all the other screens.

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    I have a problem with easy mode. The phone keeps reverting to easy mode after backing out of apps?

    The phone keeps reverting back to easy mode after backing out of apps. I have to change it back to standard mode constantly.

    The problem you're having is common when using your device. By performing this process on your device, you will always revert back to easy mode whether or not you have easy mode accessed on your device.

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    You are going to need to make sure you do not do this:

    1. Open an application

    2. Long press the home button

    3. Enter easy mode

    When you press down and hold the Home button, you will in fact go back to the easy mode option on your device.

    By simply tapping on the home button you will exit the application without going into easy mode. Also, you can utilize the back button on your device to back out of the application without entering easy mode

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    See more questions like this: I want to convert my Galaxy S4 from easy mode to normal mode

    See more questions like this: How to change my screen display back to normal

    Can this be fixed? Do I need to go to Verizon?

    My screen is black. It fell out of my hands

    VisiHow QnA. This section is not written yet. Want to join in? Click EDIT to write this answer.

    Can we upgrade sch-i525 to Lollipop?

    I have Samsung Galaxy sch-i545 to Android Lollipop.

    VisiHow QnA. This section is not written yet. Want to join in? Click EDIT to write this answer.

    If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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    Categories : USE SAMSUNG GALAXY S4

    Recent edits by: DeleteQnA, Alma, Jay

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