What "home screen" means and where to find it

Your home screen is the first thing you see when you turn on your device or unlock it. On a phone, it is the grid of app icons you tap to open programs. On a computer, it is the desktop — the background image and icons you see before you open any windows.

On a phone, you reach your home screen by pressing the home button (usually at the bottom) or swiping up from the bottom. On a computer, you reach your desktop by closing all open windows or pressing a keyboard shortcut. The steps to change what you see there depend on which device you have and what you want to change.

Key Takeaways

  • On an iPhone, you long-press the home screen itself to edit it, then tap the plus sign to add widgets or rearrange apps.
  • On an Android phone, long-press an empty area of the home screen, then select "Widgets" or "Home screen settings" depending on your phone brand.
  • On Windows, right-click the desktop and choose "Personalize" to change the background image and add or remove desktop icons.
  • On a Mac, click the Apple menu, select "System Settings," then "Desktop & Screen Saver" to change your background.
  • Moving apps around takes the same long-press action on phones, but does not require entering an edit mode first on most Android devices.

Changing your home screen on an iPhone

On an iPhone, long-press any empty area of your home screen — not on an app icon, but in the space between them. A menu will appear with options including "Edit Home Screen." Tap that option.

Once you are in edit mode, you can drag app icons to new positions, delete apps from the home screen (though not from your phone), or tap the plus sign in the top left to add widgets. Widgets are small windows that show information without opening the full app — like a weather widget that displays the current temperature. When you are done, press "Done" in the top right.

If you want to add a new home screen page, keep dragging an app to the right edge of the screen until a new page appears. You can also swipe left and right between pages once you exit edit mode.

Changing your home screen on an Android phone

On most Android phones, long-press an empty area of your home screen. A menu will appear — the exact wording depends on your phone brand, but look for options like "Home screen settings," "Widgets," or "Add widgets." Tap whichever option appears.

To move an app icon, long-press the app itself and drag it to a new spot. You can drag it to the edge of the screen to move it to a different page. To remove an app from the home screen, long-press it and look for an option like "Remove from home screen" — this does not delete the app, only hides it from view.

If your phone is made by Samsung, Google, or another brand, the exact menu names and steps may differ slightly. The core action — long-press and drag — works the same way across all Android phones.

Changing your desktop background on Windows

On a Windows computer, right-click anywhere on your desktop (the empty space, not on an icon or window). A menu will appear. Select "Personalize" near the bottom of that menu.

A settings window will open. On the left side, click "Background." You will see options to choose a solid color, a picture, or a slideshow. If you choose "Picture," you can select from built-in images or click "Browse" to use a photo from your computer. Once you pick an image, it becomes your new background immediately.

If you want to add or remove icons from your desktop, right-click the desktop again and select "Personalize," then click "Desktop icon settings" on the left. You can toggle icons like "This PC," "Recycle Bin," or "User's Files" on or off.

Changing your desktop background on a Mac

On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select "System Settings." Then click "Desktop & Screen Saver" in the left sidebar.

In the "Desktop" tab, you will see a list of categories on the left — "Desktop Pictures," "Colors," or "Folders." Click any category to see options, then click the image or color you want. Your background changes right away. If you want to use your own photo, click "Add" (the plus sign) and navigate to the file on your computer.

Unlike Windows, Macs do not typically show icons on the desktop. If you want quick access to files or folders, you can drag them to the desktop from Finder, and they will appear as icons.

Adding and organizing widgets

Widgets are small app windows that show information at a glance — weather, calendar events, news headlines, or fitness data — without opening the full app. Both iPhones and Android phones support widgets on the home screen.

On an iPhone, enter edit mode by long-pressing the home screen, then tap the plus sign in the top left. A list of apps that offer widgets will appear. Tap an app name to see its available widgets, select the size and style you want, then tap "Add Widget." The widget will appear on your home screen.

On Android, the process varies by brand. Usually, long-press the home screen and select "Widgets," then long-press a widget to drag it onto your home screen. Some Android phones let you resize widgets by long-pressing them and dragging the corners.

Organizing apps into folders

If your home screen feels crowded, you can group related apps into folders. On an iPhone, enter edit mode, then drag one app icon on top of another. A folder will appear automatically, and you can type a name for it. Drag more apps into the folder if you want.

On Android, the process is similar: long-press one app and drag it on top of another app. A folder will appear. You can then long-press the folder to rename it or add more apps to it.

Folders help you find apps faster and make your home screen look less cluttered. You can create as many folders as you need and organize them however makes sense for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move apps back to their original positions?

Yes. On an iPhone, enter edit mode and drag apps where you want them. On Android, long-press and drag. There is no "undo" button, but you can manually move every app back. If you want to reset your entire home screen to the factory layout, that option is usually in Settings under "Home screen" or "Display," though it varies by phone brand.

What is the difference between removing an app from the home screen and deleting it?

Removing an app from the home screen hides it from view but keeps it on your phone. You can still find it in your app drawer or by searching. Deleting an app removes it entirely from your phone. On iPhones, you delete by long-pressing an app in edit mode and selecting "Remove App." On Android, long-press the app and look for "Uninstall."

Can I have different home screens on different pages?

Yes. Both iPhones and Android phones let you create multiple home screen pages by swiping left and right. You can put different apps and widgets on each page. On an iPhone, you can also hide entire pages by entering edit mode and tapping the dots at the bottom to toggle pages on or off.

Why does my home screen look different from my friend's?

Home screen appearance depends on your device type (iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel, etc.), your software version, and your personal choices. Even two iPhones running the same iOS version can look different if you have arranged apps and widgets differently. Manufacturers also change the default layout with major software updates.

Can I change my lock screen separately from my home screen?

Yes. On newer iPhones, you can customize your lock screen (the screen you see before you unlock) separately from your home screen. Long-press the lock screen itself to edit it. On Android, this depends on your phone brand — some phones let you customize the lock screen, others do not. Check your phone's Settings under "Display" or "Lock screen."