What "home screen" means and why you'd change it
Your home screen is the main display you see when you unlock your phone or turn on your computer — the one with your apps, widgets, and wallpaper. Changing it means swapping out the background image, rearranging app icons, adding widgets that show live information, or switching to a different launcher (on Android) that changes how everything is organized.
Most people change their home screen because the default setup doesn't match how they actually use their device, or they want it to look different. You might move your most-used apps to the front, hide apps you rarely touch, or add a weather widget so you see the forecast without opening an app.
The steps differ depending on whether you use iPhone, Android, or Windows, and each has different limits on what you can customize.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, you rearrange apps by long-pressing and dragging, and change the wallpaper through Settings or the Lock Screen menu.
- On Android, you can rearrange apps the same way, but you can also install a third-party launcher to completely change how your home screen works.
- Windows lets you pin apps to the Start menu and customize the taskbar, but the overall layout is more fixed than phones.
- Widgets on phones show live information like weather or calendar events without opening the full app.
- Changing your home screen does not delete apps or data — you are only moving things around or changing what you see.
How to rearrange apps on iPhone
On iPhone, press and hold any app icon until a menu appears. Tap "Edit Home Screen" (or just keep holding). The icons will start to jiggle, and you can now drag them to new positions. Drag an app to the edge of the screen to move it to the next page, or to the Dock at the bottom to keep it always visible.
When you are done, press the Home button or swipe up from the bottom to lock the changes in place. You can also create folders by dragging one app onto another — this groups related apps and saves space. To delete an app from your home screen without removing it from your phone, tap the minus sign that appears when you hold the app, then choose "Remove from Home Screen."
How to change your iPhone wallpaper
Go to Settings, then Wallpaper, and tap "Add New Wallpaper." You can choose from Apple's built-in collections, your own photos, or a solid color. Select the image, choose whether it goes on your lock screen, home screen, or both, and tap "Set."
You can also change your wallpaper directly from the Lock Screen. Swipe left on your lock screen, tap the plus button, choose a wallpaper, and customize it with widgets or a clock style before tapping "Add." This method is faster if you want to try several options.
How to rearrange apps and add widgets on Android
Press and hold any app icon. A menu will appear with options to remove, uninstall, or edit. Tap "Edit" or just keep holding and drag the app to a new spot. Release it when it is in the right place. You can drag apps between home screen pages the same way you do on iPhone.
To add a widget, press and hold an empty area of your home screen and tap "Widgets." Long-press the widget you want, then drag it onto your home screen. Widgets show live information — a weather widget displays the current temperature, a calendar widget shows your next event, and a news widget updates throughout the day. You can resize most widgets by pressing and holding them, then dragging the corners.
If you want more control over your home screen layout, you can install a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher from the Google Play Store. A launcher replaces the default home screen entirely and lets you customize icon shapes, grid size, animations, and more. Your original apps stay on your phone — you are just changing how they are displayed.
How to change your Android wallpaper
Press and hold an empty area of your home screen and tap "Wallpapers" or "Wallpaper." Choose from built-in options, your photos, or live wallpapers that animate. Select your choice and tap "Set Wallpaper" or "Apply." Some phones let you set different wallpapers for your home screen and lock screen.
You can also go to Settings, then Display or Wallpaper, and make changes there. Live wallpapers use more battery than static images, so if your battery drains quickly, switch back to a regular photo or solid color.
How to customize your Windows Start menu and taskbar
Right-click the Start button and choose "Settings." Go to Personalization, then Start. Here you can turn app suggestions on or off, choose which folders appear on the Start menu, and decide whether recently opened items show up.
To pin an app to the Start menu, right-click it and select "Pin to Start." To unpin it, right-click and choose "Unpin from Start." You can also drag pinned apps around to reorder them. The Start menu is more rigid than a phone home screen — you cannot freely place apps anywhere, but you can organize them into groups by dragging them into clusters.
To customize your taskbar (the bar at the bottom), right-click it and choose "Taskbar settings." You can hide it, change its position, and decide which icons appear. Pin your most-used apps to the taskbar so they are always one click away.
What happens to your apps and data when you change your home screen
Rearranging apps, changing wallpaper, and adding widgets does not delete anything or change how your apps work. You are only changing what you see and how things are organized. If you uninstall an app by mistake, you can reinstall it from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android).
If you install a third-party launcher on Android, your original apps are still there — the launcher just displays them differently. If you switch back to the default launcher, your home screen will look the way it did before, though any rearranging you did in the launcher will not carry over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo changes to my home screen?
On iPhone and Android, you can rearrange things as many times as you want — there is no permanent undo, but you can move everything back manually. If you installed a launcher on Android and want to go back to the default, go to Settings, Apps, and set your default launcher back to the original. Your apps will be unchanged.
Will changing my home screen slow down my phone?
Rearranging apps and changing wallpaper will not slow your phone. Live wallpapers and too many widgets running at once can use more battery and processing power, but the effect is usually small. If you notice your phone is slower, try removing live wallpapers or reducing the number of active widgets.
Can I have different home screens on different pages?
Yes. On both iPhone and Android, you can swipe left to see additional home screen pages, and each page can have a different layout and set of apps. Create as many pages as you need by dragging apps to the right edge of the screen.
What is the difference between a widget and an app shortcut?
A widget shows live, updated information without opening the app — like a weather widget showing the current temperature. An app shortcut is just a button that opens the full app. Widgets take up more space but give you information at a glance.
Can I customize my home screen on a work phone or managed device?
It depends on your company's policies. Some managed devices restrict home screen changes, app installation, or launcher changes. If you cannot make changes, contact your IT department — they may have locked the device for security reasons.