How to Change the Home Screen on Any Device

Your home screen is the first thing you see when you unlock your phone, tablet, or computer — and most platforms give you more control over it than you might expect. Whether you want a cleaner layout, a fresh wallpaper, or a completely different organizational system, changing your home screen is one of the most accessible forms of device customization. The exact steps vary significantly depending on your operating system, device type, and how deep you want to go.

What "Changing the Home Screen" Actually Covers

The phrase means different things depending on context. At the basic level, it includes:

• Wallpaper — the background image behind your icons
• App icon layout — which apps appear, where they're placed, and how they're grouped
• Widgets — live information panels that display weather, calendar events, news, or app data
• App drawers and folders — organizing apps into grouped collections
• Launcher or shell — on some platforms, the entire home screen environment can be replaced

Understanding which of these you want to change helps narrow down the right approach for your device.

Changing the Home Screen on Android 📱

Android is the most flexible major mobile OS for home screen customization. The default steps depend on your device manufacturer, but the general process is consistent:

To change wallpaper: Long-press on an empty area of the home screen, then tap "Wallpaper" or "Wallpaper & style." You can choose from system defaults, your photo gallery, or live wallpapers.

To add or move widgets: Long-press on an empty area and select "Widgets." Browse by app category, then drag your chosen widget to the desired screen position.

To rearrange app icons: Long-press any icon until it lifts, then drag it to a new position. Drag it to the edge of the screen to move it to another page, or drag it onto another app to create a folder.

To replace the entire launcher: Android allows third-party launchers — apps that completely replace the home screen experience. Popular options include Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and Niagara Launcher. You install them from the Play Store, then set them as your default when prompted. Each launcher has its own customization settings, grid sizes, icon packs, and gesture controls.

Samsung devices running One UI add an extra layer, with their own built-in customization system called Good Lock, which allows even finer-grained control over layout, transitions, and icon behavior.

Changing the Home Screen on iPhone and iPad

iOS is more structured than Android, but Apple has expanded customization options significantly since iOS 14.

To change wallpaper: Go to Settings → Wallpaper → Add New Wallpaper. You can choose from Apple's curated library, your own photos, or Live Photos that animate on press.

To add widgets: Long-press on an empty area of the home screen until icons start jiggling. Tap the "+" button in the top corner to browse available widgets. Widgets can also be stacked, letting you swipe between them in a single space.

To rearrange or remove apps: Long-press any icon and select "Edit Home Screen" from the context menu. Icons will enter jiggle mode and can be dragged to new positions or moved to the App Library.

To hide home screen pages: While in jiggle mode, tap the row of dots at the bottom of the screen. You'll see thumbnails of all your home screen pages and can uncheck any you want to hide temporarily.

iOS does not natively support third-party launchers in the same way Android does. However, custom app icons can be set using the Shortcuts app, which lets you assign any image to a shortcut that opens the target app — a popular aesthetic customization approach.

Changing the Home Screen on Windows and macOS 🖥️

On desktop operating systems, "home screen" typically refers to the desktop background and the taskbar or dock layout.

Windows: Right-click the desktop and select "Personalize" to change wallpaper, theme colors, and lock screen images. The Start menu layout can be pinned and unpinned. Third-party tools like Rainmeter enable widget-style overlays for weather, system stats, and media controls directly on the desktop.

macOS: Right-click the desktop and choose "Change Wallpaper," or go to System Settings → Wallpaper. The Dock can be customized in size, position (left, bottom, or right), and content via System Settings → Desktop & Dock.

Key Variables That Determine Your Options

The Spectrum of Home Screen Setups

Some users want a minimal approach — a clean wallpaper, four apps on the dock, and nothing else visible. Others build dense information dashboards with a grid of widgets covering battery, calendar, weather, and task lists. Power users on Android may run entirely custom launchers with icon packs that replace every visual element of the interface.

The "right" home screen setup isn't a fixed target. Someone who opens five apps constantly benefits from a different layout than someone who prefers searching for everything with Spotlight or the app drawer. Widget usefulness depends heavily on which apps you actively use and whether glanceable information actually fits your daily routine.

What the process looks like in practice — and which level of customization is worth pursuing — comes down to your specific device, your OS version, and how you actually interact with your device day to day.