What "home screen" means and why you might want to change it
Your home screen is the first page you see when you unlock your phone or turn on your computer. On a phone, it holds your app icons and widgets. On a computer, it is the desktop — the background image and any icons or folders sitting on it. Changing your home screen means swapping out the background image, rearranging icons, or adding widgets that show information at a glance.
People change their home screen for practical reasons: moving frequently-used apps to the front, hiding clutter, or adding a weather widget so you do not have to open a separate app. Some do it purely for looks — a background image that matters to you, or organizing icons into folders so the screen feels less chaotic.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhones, long-press the home screen to enter edit mode, then tap the plus sign to add widgets or rearrange app icons by dragging them.
- On Android phones, long-press the home screen, tap "Widgets" or "Add," and drag icons or widgets to where you want them.
- On Windows computers, right-click the desktop to change the background image, and drag icons around to organize them.
- On Mac computers, go to System Settings, select "Desktop & Screen Saver," and choose a new background image.
- Widgets show live information like weather or calendar events without opening an app, and are available on both phones and computers.
Changing your home screen on an iPhone
To rearrange apps or add widgets on an iPhone, long-press any empty space on your home screen until the icons start to jiggle and a menu appears at the bottom. Tap the plus sign in that menu to add a widget, or tap "Edit Home Screen" to rearrange your existing apps.
To move an app, press and hold it, then drag it to a new location. You can drag it to a different spot on the same screen, or hold it at the edge of the screen to move it to another page. To add a widget, tap the plus sign, search for the app you want a widget from (like Weather or Calendar), select it, choose which widget style you prefer, and tap "Add Widget." The widget will appear on your home screen and update automatically — for example, a weather widget shows the current temperature without you opening the Weather app.
To change your background image, go to Settings, tap "Wallpaper," then "Add New Wallpaper." You can choose from Apple's built-in images, photos from your camera roll, or a solid color. Select the image, choose whether it goes on your lock screen, home screen, or both, and tap "Set."
Changing your home screen on an Android phone
Android phones vary slightly depending on the manufacturer — Samsung, Google Pixel, and others have different default layouts — but the basic steps are the same. Long-press an empty area of your home screen until a menu appears, then look for options like "Widgets," "Add," or "Home Screen Settings."
To add a widget, tap "Widgets," scroll through the list, long-press the widget you want, and drag it onto your home screen. To move an app icon, long-press it and drag it to a new location. To change your background, long-press the home screen, tap "Wallpapers" or "Background," and choose a new image from your phone's gallery or from built-in options.
Some Android phones let you create folders by dragging one app onto another. This groups related apps together — for example, dragging your email app onto your calendar app creates a folder you can name "Productivity." Tapping the folder opens it and shows all the apps inside.
Changing your home screen on a Windows computer
On Windows, your home screen is called the desktop. To change the background image, right-click an empty area of the desktop and select "Personalize." Click "Background," then choose a new image from the built-in options, upload a photo from your computer, or select a solid color.
To organize your desktop, you can drag app shortcuts, folders, or files around by clicking and holding them, then moving them to a new spot. You can also create new folders by right-clicking the desktop, selecting "New," then "Folder," and naming it. Dragging files into that folder keeps your desktop less cluttered.
Windows also lets you pin apps to your Start menu (the menu that opens when you click the Windows logo in the bottom left). Right-click any app and select "Pin to Start" to add it there, making it easier to find without cluttering your desktop.
Changing your home screen on a Mac computer
To change your Mac's background image, click the Apple menu in the top left corner, select "System Settings," then click "Desktop & Screen Saver." Choose "Desktop" from the left sidebar, then select a new image from the built-in collections (like Nature, Solid Colors, or Dynamic) or click "Add" to upload a photo from your computer.
To organize your Mac desktop, drag files, folders, or app shortcuts around by clicking and holding them. You can also create new folders by right-clicking the desktop, selecting "New Folder," and naming it. Unlike Windows, Macs do not have a traditional Start menu, but you can add frequently-used apps to the Dock — the row of icons at the bottom of the screen — by dragging them there.
Understanding widgets and what they do
A widget is a small window that shows information from an app without opening the full app. A weather widget displays the current temperature and forecast. A calendar widget shows your upcoming events. A news widget displays headlines. Widgets update automatically, so the information stays current.
Widgets are available on iPhones, Android phones, and some computers. On phones, they sit on your home screen and update throughout the day. On computers, some widgets appear on the lock screen (the screen you see before you log in) or in a dedicated widget panel. Adding a widget takes the same steps as adding any other home screen element: long-press, select the widget, and drag it into place.
Organizing your home screen to reduce clutter
If your home screen feels overwhelming, start by moving apps you use daily to the first page. Apps you use less often can go on later pages or into folders. On both iPhones and Android phones, you can create folders by dragging one app onto another, then naming the folder — for example, "Games" or "Finance."
Widgets can also reduce clutter by showing information without opening an app. Instead of opening your calendar app multiple times a day, add a calendar widget that displays your schedule at a glance. Instead of checking the weather app, a weather widget updates automatically on your home screen.
On computers, consider moving files you rarely use into a dedicated folder, keeping only your most-used shortcuts on the desktop itself. A clean desktop loads faster and makes it easier to find what you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have different home screens on different pages?
Yes. On both iPhones and Android phones, you can swipe left or right to move between pages, and each page can have different apps, widgets, and backgrounds. This lets you organize by category — one page for work apps, another for games, another for utilities.
Will changing my home screen delete any of my apps?
No. Rearranging icons, adding widgets, or changing your background image does not delete anything. Your apps remain installed and accessible even if you move them or hide them in folders.
What is the difference between a shortcut and an app icon?
An app icon opens the full process. A shortcut is a smaller link that performs one specific action — for example, a shortcut that opens your email app directly to a new message, rather than opening the app and making you navigate to compose. Shortcuts save steps for tasks you do repeatedly.
Can I change my home screen on a tablet?
Yes. iPads use the same process as iPhones — long-press to enter edit mode, then add widgets or rearrange apps. Android tablets work similarly to Android phones, though the larger screen gives you more room to organize.
How do I get my home screen back to the default layout?
On an iPhone, go to Settings, tap "General," select "Transfer or Reset," then "Reset," and choose "Reset Home Screen Layout." On Android, the process varies by manufacturer — check your phone's Settings under "Apps" or "Home Screen" for a reset option. On computers, you can delete shortcuts and restore the default background, but there is no single reset button.