Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4

Edited by Leomar Umpad, Charmed, Lynn, Eng and 10 others

8 Parts:
Adding an Application Icon on your Home Screen
Adding an Item on the Home Screen
Moving an Item on the Home Screen Within the Same Panel
Moving an Item on the Home Screen to a Different Panel
Removing an Item from the Home Screen
Tips and Tricks
Questions and Answers
Comments
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

People have different reasons why they arrange the icons on their phones the way they do. Their reasons may range from preference to practicality. One may be tired of looking at the same screen arrangement over and over again while others want to use their phone in a faster and more convenient manner, so they arrange it in a way that most-used icons will be first. Others want to arrange icons by colors or themes, or alphabetically or by their functions. Whatever your reason is, below you will find instructions on how to rearrange the items on your Samsung Galaxy S4 home screen.

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Adding an Application Icon on your Home Screen

If you want to add an application icon to your home screen, you can add one by following the steps below. Application icons on the home screen will allow you to open them without actually going to the Applications drawer. To do this:

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  1. 1
    Go to your Home Screen by pressing the Home Button.
    Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (17).png
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  2. 2
    From your Home Screen, tap on Apps Icon.
    Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (20).png
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  3. 3
    You will be taken to the Application Drawer.
    Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (2).png
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  4. 4
    Choose the application that you want to appear on the Home Screen.
    Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (21).png
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  5. 5
    Tap and hold on the application icon.
    Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (5).png
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  6. 6
    Wait for the Home Screen Preview Panel to show and choose where you want to put it.
    Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (1).png
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  7. 7
    Go to your Home Screen by pressing the Home Button.
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  8. 8
    You should be able to see the Application icon in the location you chose.
    Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (3).png
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  • Adding an application icon on your Home Screen does not remove the application icon in the Applications Drawer.
  • Adding an application icon on your Home Screen merely adds a shortcut that allows you to easily open your favorite applications.

Adding an Item on the Home Screen

Aside from applications, you may want to add other items on your Home Screen. These include folders if you want to organize your icons and applications through folders, a widget or a new page. To do this:

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  1. 1
    Go to your Home Screen by pressing the Home Button.
    Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (5).png
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  • 2
    Tap and hold any empty area on the Home Screen.
    Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (4).png
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  • 3
    Select the item you want to add: (apps and widgets, folder or page).
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  • 4
    You should be able to see the new item on the Home Screen.
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    • Moving an Item on the Home Screen Within the Same Panel

    Should you feel the need to arrange the items on your Home Screen, you can do so by moving any item to your preferred location within the panel. To do this:

    1. 1
      Go to your Home Screen by pressing the Home Button.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (7).png
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    2. 2
      Tap on the Menu button and choose Edit.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (18).png
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    3. 3
      Tap and hold on your preferred item to move and drag it to the new location.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (10).png
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    4. 4
      After targeting the new location, release the item.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (11).png
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    5. 5
      You should be able to see the changes in the arrangement.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (12).png
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    Moving an Item on the Home Screen to a Different Panel

    Should you feel the need to arrange the items on your Home Screen but to a different panel, you can do so by moving any item to your preferred panel location. To do this:

    1. 1
      Go to your Home Screen by pressing the Home Button.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (7).png
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    2. 2
      Tap on the Menu button and choose Edit.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (18).png
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    3. 3
      Tap and hold on your preferred item to move and drag it to the side most part of the screen.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (12).png
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    4. 4
      The panel should move left or right depending on where you dragged your item.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (13).png
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    5. 5
      Continue on holding on the icon and drag it to the new location and panel that you prefer.
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    6. 6
      You should be able to see the changes in the arrangement.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (14).png
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    Removing an Item from the Home Screen

    Sometimes, the arrangement of applications, widgets, folders and pages on the Home Screen becomes too cluttered. Should you wish to remove any item from the Home Screen, you may follow these steps:

    1. 1
      Go to your Home Screen by pressing the Home Button.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (7).png
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    2. 2
      You should be able to see the items on your Home Screen.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (14).png
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    3. 3
      Tap and hold on an item that you want to remove.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (15).png
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    4. 4
      Wait until you see the trash can on the top of the Home Screen.
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    5. 5
      Drag the item to the trash can.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (16).png
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    6. 6
      Wait for the trash can to turn red.
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    7. 7
      Release from holding and your item should be deleted.
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    8. 8
      You may check back on the Home Screen to confirm it.
      Picture Rearrange Items on the Home Screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 (17).png
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    Tips and Tricks

    • Removing an application icon on your Home Screen does not remove the application icon on the Applications Drawer.
    • Removing an application icon on your Home Screen merely deletes the shortcut aspect of it. This does not delete the application itself.
    • Removing a widget on your Home Screen merely deletes the shortcut aspect of it. This does not delete the widget itself.

    How do you Add/Delete icons from the bottom bar (phone, contacts, messages, internet, and apps)?

    Tap and hold the icon of the app you want to remove. You can then slide it to another part of your home screen or to the trash can to remove it from your home screen. To add an icon to the bottom bar, go to your applications list, tap and hold the app icon you want to place on the bar, and drag it down and release in on the bar.

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    Questions and Answers

    My new Samsung S4 goes all wacky when I try to move an icon. The screens start zooming by so I cannot place the icon?

    How do I stop the screen from zooming?

    The zooming screen effect is there to help you place the icon on the correct screen. Just hold the icon over the screen your want and the app will fall into place.

    Curious why it is that your standing by to answer questions?

    Newbie here with Galaxy S4 My home screen has Samsung Hot Air Balloon that I need to swipe to unlock..........Is that normal

    Yes, it is normal. S4 default unlock is swipe the Lock-screen photo. You may set any photo as your lock screen, simply open it with your Gallery app, hit the menu button, and select "Set as".

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    Changing the wallpaper & arranging home page?

    Hi, I just got the S4 and do not know how to change the homepage background or wallpaper. Also, I am trying to add my app icons to the home page and it places them on other blank pages. I have been unable to drag & drop like I could on my Samsung Note.

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    I'm trying to move an app to my home screen. Nothing happens when I tap in an "empty" area on my home screen. Thanks?

    See above to see what my issue is. Thanks.

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    I have 6 icons on my home screen and the PRESS & HOLD doesn't seem to do anything?

    I want to swap one icon for another. Can you help? I have tried: Press and hold. I think it was caused by: No clue

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    I got a Galaxy Note4 from a deceased relative, and it is my first smartphone?

    How do I move icons around to group the ones I want together?

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

    Really? Is there someone really here?

    Having trouble with removing icons from my Galaxy 4 home screen. The hold method is not holding?. I have tried: Holding icon and sliding it up to remove. I think it was caused by: NA

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    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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    Article Info

    Categories : USE SAMSUNG GALAXY S4

    Recent edits by: kelley, VC, Nuance

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