By default, Android automatically add app’s shortcuts to the home screen after they are downloaded from the Google Play Store. While you can disable it under the Home Settings but most of us are too lazy to do that. And before you know that, you have your Home screen full of app icons. What makes it even worse is that, after Android 7.0, there is no option to clear the entire Home page as well. So, either you manually remove every app icon or use the below method to clear your Home screen at once. Let’s see how it works.
How to Clear Your Home Screen on Android
The easiest way out of this scenario is to install a third-party launcher and set it as your default. The new launcher will have a clean look and zero Home screen icons. But, that requires installing an extra app and giving away your native launcher with all its customization. So, if you want to clean your native launcher, we would have to reset it. And the only way to do that is by clearing the app storage in the system settings.
Clearing the storage will reset all your preferences, wallpaper, app icons, etc. The previous settings would be lost.
In order to force clear the storage, we would need the native launcher app name. In my case, I am using a Pixel 3 so the native launcher name is “Pixel Launcher”. If you are unsure about your phone’s launcher name, long press on the Home screen and go to Home settings. In the Home Settings, you can get the app name and version info in the About section.
Once you have the app name, go to System settings. Navigate to the Apps & Notifications section. Under the App menu, search for your launcher. In my case, I will search for Pixel Launcher in the app list. Tap on the launcher app once you find it and next tap on Storage. You will see a button named “Clear storage”. Tap on it and it will indirectly reset your phone launcher.
Now, head back to the Home screen and you wouldn’t find any app icon there. Do note that even your personal preferences, custom folders, wallpaper, custom icon pack settings will be reset.
Closing Words
Due to the advent of custom launchers like EMUI, MIUI, and colorOS, Android removed the functionality to remove Home screens. The above-mentioned method is an alternative way to fix it.
To make sure this doesn’t happen again, you need to disable ‘Add icons to Home screen’. To find this option, tap and hold the black space on your Android’s homescreen. This will bring up three options. Tap on Home Settings. Turn off Add Icon to Home screen. Once done, you will no longer have icons automatically added to your home screens.
For more queries or issues, let me know in the comments.
Also Read:Â How to Remove Third-party Apps from your Google Account Right Now
