Set or Prevent New App Icons from Appearing on Your Android Home Screen

Learn how to set whether newly downloaded apps go to your Home screen or the app drawer

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: July 8, 2025 Fact Checked

It's been a while since Google removed the "Add icon to Home screen" toggle, so where did it go? Instead of opening the Google Play Store app, you'll find this setting in your launcher's settings. This setting will not hide or remove the icons that are already on your Home screen, but it will determine whether new apps appear on your Home screen when you download them from the Play Store. This wikiHow article teaches you how to toggle the feature that adds new app icons to your Home screen automatically.

Things You Should Know

The setting to automatically add new app icons to your Home screen is no longer available in the Google Play Store.
Instead, go to your launcher's settings by tapping and holding a blank space on your Home screen and selecting "Preferences/Settings."
Tap the switch in the "Home" option to turn off or turn on the feature to automatically add new app icons.

Steps

Download Article

1
Tap and hold a blank area of your Home screen. If your finger is on a widget or an icon, you'll get options to delete, move, or edit it instead.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- If you tap and hold an app icon, you can drag it to another icon to create a group and organize your Home screen so things are easier to find.
- Deleted an app accidentally? Get it back easily using the app drawer!
- This method works for all Android phones, no matter what launcher you're using.
2
Tap Preferences/Settings. You should see this option appear at the bottom of your screen with either "Preferences" or "Settings."^{[2]
X
Research source}
- This will open your launcher's settings.
Advertisement
It's usually the first option in your launcher's menu.^{[3]
X
Research source}
The setting also says "For new apps" under the toggle, so you know that it is the setting that changes if newly installed apps appear on your Home screen.^{[4]
X
Research source}

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

I did it, but the icon is not appearing on my screen. What do I do?

Community Answer

Google Play usually adds it automatically (sometimes it might take a couple of minutes), but if it didn't then you should try checking your apps screen or uninstalling the app and reinstalling it.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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
Yes No

Not Helpful 19 Helpful 11
Question

I have a Samsung A10 Android, I have somehow lost the Settings Icon on the home screen and can't find a way to restore it. App button not helping. can't find a way to restore it.

Community Answer

When downloading apps from the Google Play Store, the app icon is, by default, added to the app drawer. If you want your downloaded apps to appear immediately on your home screen, it can be done. You just have to tweak some settings in Google Play.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

How can I get my Google icon back on the home screen?

Rudy Toth

Community Answer

Most Androids have widgets for you to finger-drag the icon/widget to you home screen. Place your finger on the screen and hold until a box appears and/or you can look for a Google icons that are grouped together to find what you might be looking for.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1