4 Easy Steps to Move Icons on Android

An easy guide that tells you how to move icons on an Android

Co-authored by Naseem Speach and Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: June 22, 2025 Fact Checked

Do you want to move the icons on your Android to organize them? Luckily, this is an easy process! This wikiHow article teaches you how to move any app icon to a different place on your phone or tablet's home screen on an Android.

How to Move Android Apps

Unlock your Android and open the home screen.
Locate, tap, and hold the app you want to move.
Drag the icon around your screen to where you want to place it.
Let go of the screen to drop the icon into place.
Drag an app over another app to create a folder.

Steps

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1
Open your Android's home screen. Unlock your phone or tablet with your security code, or press your Android's home button to get to the Home screen.
- If your phone or tablet allows customizing the order of apps on the Apps menu, you can tap the
  icon and use the same method to move icons here.
2
Tap and hold the app icon you want to move. Find the app you want to move on your Home screen and long-press on its icon. Tapping and holding the icon will prompt it to be able to move while a short tap opens the app.^{[1]
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Research source}
- If you opened the app by accident, close it and try again.
- If you want to add an icon from the app drawer, open it, tap and hold on the app you want to show up on your Home screen, then drag it to your Home screen.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Naseem Speach
  Tech Video Producer
  
  Expert Interview} You can also change your settings in the Play Store so new app icons will be added automatically to your Home screen.
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3
Drag the app icon anywhere on your screen. While holding the app icon, move your finger around to move the app on your screen.^{[3]
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Research source}
- If you want to move an app to another page of your Home screen, drag it to the right or left edge of your screen.
- If the current Home screen is too full for your app to move anywhere, a new Home screen will open for your app.
- Tap Remove to keep the app on your phone but remove the icon from your Home screen. Tap Uninstall if you want to remove the app from your Home screen and uninstall it from your phone.
4
Release your finger to save the app's new location. When you find a new spot for the selected app icon, release your finger to save it.
- Drag the app onto another app to create a folder. Open the folder and drag apps out if you don't want the folder on your Home screen.
- Depending on your launcher, you should be able to tap and hold the folder to move the apps inside it around.^{[4]
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  Research source}

Community Q&A

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Question

How can I remove an app from a folder?

Community Answer

Click on the folder and long press the app which you need to remove from the folder. Then drag out and release.

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Question

How to delete icon from the homescreen?

Community Answer

To delete an icon from your home screen, long press it and drag up and release it on the remove icon.

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Question

How do you put a new app icon on your home screen?

Darlene Antonelli

Community Answer

Tap an empty space on your Home screen (no apps or widgets), then tap "Home settings/Settings" (this wording depends on the launcher you're using). Make sure the toggle next to "Add app icons to Home screen" is on and any new app you install from the Google Play Store will be automatically added to your Home screen. If you already have the app installed on your phone, open the app drawer (tap the icon or swipe up from the bottom of your screen), then tap and drag the icon to your Home screen.

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Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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