iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
On a Galaxy phone running a supported version of One UI 7, start by adjusting the Home screen grid, app and widget labels, app icon size, and widgets. Then consider locking the finished layout and choosing whether notification badges should show dots or numbers. These controls determine how many items fit, how quickly you identify them, and how much information appears without opening an app.
Menu names and available choices vary by model, software version, and region. The instructions below describe Samsung’s One UI 7 behavior; check the controls your own Galaxy displays before assuming an option is available.
Check your Galaxy’s software before changing the layout
Samsung’s Home screen controls are not identical across every Galaxy phone and tablet. Feature availability can change with the model, region, and One UI release, so treat One UI 7 documentation as a guide for supported devices rather than a universal compatibility list.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →An update or a data transfer can also alter an arrangement that looked correct before. Samsung specifically notes that restoring or transferring data can change an earlier Home screen layout. If your icons moved after an update or Smart Switch transfer, inspect the current grid and style settings instead of assuming the old configuration was preserved.
#1 Best Overall
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Use portrait orientation while you configure the page. On devices covered by Samsung’s One UI 7 guidance, landscape mode automatically realigns the arrangement and can change a 4×6 portrait grid to 6×4. Editing is restricted in landscape, so return to portrait before moving or deleting icons and widgets or resizing folders.
1. Set the Home screen grid to match your priorities
The grid controls how many columns and rows are available for apps, folders, and widgets. A denser grid gives you more slots on each page; a sparser grid leaves larger spaces and generally makes targets easier to see and touch. Neither is universally best. Choose based on your eyesight, hand precision, number of apps, and how often you want to swipe between pages.
One UI 7 choices documented by Samsung
| Grid | What it gives you | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| 4×6 | Four columns and six rows for a less dense arrangement | Fewer app and widget positions per page |
| 5×6 | Five columns and six rows for more positions on each page | Smaller spaces for individual items |
On a supported One UI 7 phone, open the Home screen settings and choose Home screen grid, then select the layout shown on your device. Depending on the model, you may reach Home screen settings from Settings > Home screen or by pressing and holding an empty area of the Home screen. If your menu uses different wording, use the closest Home screen grid control that appears.
Regional options require a compatibility check
Samsung Korea’s support material says 4×5 and 5×5 are not default One UI 7 choices there and mentions Good Lock as a way to configure them. That is regional support information, not a promise that those grids or Good Lock will be available on every Galaxy device. Do not plan your layout around a grid your phone does not list.
How to choose a practical density
- Choose the less dense option when you want larger visual targets, more breathing room, or easier one-handed tapping.
- Choose the denser option when you keep adding pages because your frequently used apps do not fit.
- Leave room for widgets before filling every slot; a grid that technically fits all your icons can still feel crowded once a calendar, weather, or media widget is added.
2. Decide whether app and widget labels help you
On One UI 7, the control is under Settings > Home screen > App and widget style. App labels identify icons with text. Samsung’s guide also ties widget labels to the app-label setting: you must enable app labels before widget labels can be enabled.
Rank #2
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Labels are useful when several icons look alike, when you are learning a new launcher arrangement, or when text alignment makes a page easier to scan. They also consume vertical space. Samsung warns: “The space occupied by the labels reduces the overall height of the widget, sometimes limiting the content displayed.” A widget that showed several lines with labels off may show fewer lines after labels are turned on.
Third-party app widgets do not receive the label treatment described in Samsung’s One UI 7 guide. If a widget from another developer looks unchanged, that can be expected rather than a fault.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Choose labels by the way you scan
- Turn labels on if you identify apps by name, need stronger alignment, or frequently confuse similar icons.
- Leave labels off if you recognize icons immediately and want the maximum widget height or a cleaner page.
- After changing the option, inspect your largest widgets. Keep labels only if the improved identification is worth the information that disappears from those widgets.
3. Adjust app icon size for readability and density
In the same App and widget style area, Samsung provides a slider for app size on supported One UI 7 devices. Move it toward larger icons when small targets are difficult to read or tap. Move it toward smaller icons when you prefer more visual separation between labels and widgets or want the page to feel less dominated by icons.
Icon size is a personal readability setting, not a performance setting. Changing it does not make apps launch faster, and Samsung does not identify one size as best for all users. Make a small change, look at the page from your normal holding distance, and test the icons you tap most often. Check both portrait and landscape views because the arrangement can realign in landscape.
Remember that icon size, grid density, labels, and widgets interact. Larger icons on a dense grid can make the page feel cramped; smaller icons with a sparse grid can leave unused space. Adjust one control at a time so you can tell which change solved the problem.
Rank #3
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
4. Use widgets for information or actions you actually need
A widget earns Home screen space when it saves you from opening an app for a glance or a frequent action. Good candidates include information you check repeatedly or controls you use throughout the day. A page filled with widgets that you rarely read creates clutter without reducing taps.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Add, resize, and configure supported widgets
- Press and hold an empty area of the Home screen, then open the widget picker shown by your Galaxy.
- Select a widget and place it on the page where you can reach and read it comfortably.
- Press and hold the placed widget. If resize handles appear, drag them to change its footprint; not every widget supports resizing.
- Open the widget’s settings when a settings button or menu is offered. Available appearance, data-range, and refresh controls depend on that widget.
Resizing is not universal. Some widgets have a fixed shape, while others offer only certain dimensions. A widget may also display less content after you enable labels, because the label area reduces the vertical space available to it.
Combine widgets with stacks when space is limited
Samsung documents widget stacks as a way to place multiple widgets in one Home screen area. Stack creation and the available controls vary by device and widget. Where your phone offers the option, add a compatible widget to an existing stack or place one widget on another, then swipe through the stack to view the others. Use a stack only when the widgets are related enough that switching between them remains quicker than opening separate apps.
Keep the page readable
- Place glanceable information near the top or in the thumb-reachable area you use most.
- Leave a clear path to frequently tapped icons instead of surrounding them with large, rarely used widgets.
- Remove a widget that duplicates information already visible in notifications or another widget.
5. Lock the layout after you finish arranging it
If icons or widgets move when you touch the Home screen, enable Lock Home screen layout. Samsung says this feature prevents accidental repositioning or removal. It is especially useful on a phone handled by children, carried in a pocket, or used by someone who often drags icons unintentionally.
Locking is a protection step, not a permanent layout decision. Turn the lock off before you intentionally move, delete, resize, or replace an item; turn it on again after the edits are complete. If an icon appears to be missing or refuses to move, check whether the layout is locked before troubleshooting the app itself.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesRank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
6. Choose the style of app icon badges
Galaxy Home screen settings include app icon badges for unread notifications. Samsung documents turning badges on and choosing either a dot or a number style.
- Dots indicate that an app has a notification without emphasizing a count.
- Numbers show the notification count, which can help when you use the number to decide what to open first.
Enable numbers only if counts support your routine. For people who feel pressured by a growing tally, dots provide a less numerically prominent signal. These are built-in Home screen controls; changing badge style does not require a separate app.
How the settings work together
Use the following decision framework when the Home screen still feels wrong after one change:
| If your priority is… | Start with… | Watch for… |
|---|---|---|
| More apps on each page | A denser grid such as 5×6, if your device offers it | Smaller visual targets and less room around widgets |
| Easier identification | App labels and a comfortable icon size | Labels consuming widget height |
| At-a-glance information | A small number of useful widgets | Reduced space for icons and possible content limits when resized |
| Protection from accidental changes | Lock Home screen layout | Having to unlock before later edits |
| Less visual notification pressure | Dot badges | Losing the numeric count that numbers provide |
Make changes in this order: grid, labels, icon size, then widgets. The first three establish the space and visual scale; widgets can then be sized around that foundation. Lock the arrangement only after you have used it long enough to notice awkward reach, missing shortcuts, or unreadable text.
Troubleshoot common Home screen problems
The old grid changed after an update or transfer
Open Home screen settings and inspect the current grid rather than rebuilding every page immediately. One UI 7 documentation lists 4×6 and 5×6 on supported devices, while regional or model-specific software may show different choices. A restore or transfer can also change the previous arrangement, so recreate the layout using the grid your phone currently supports.
Best Value
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
Widget text or content is missing
Check whether labels were enabled and whether the widget was resized. Samsung states that label space can reduce the widget’s overall height and limit displayed content. If resize handles are available, give the widget more vertical space; if not, turn labels off or choose a widget layout that presents the information more compactly.
You cannot move or delete an item
First check Lock Home screen layout and turn it off temporarily. If you are holding the phone sideways, return to portrait: One UI 7 restricts several editing actions in landscape, including moving or deleting icons and widgets and resizing folders.
A setting is not shown
That usually indicates a model, region, or software-version difference rather than a failed tap. Install available system updates, reopen Settings > Home screen, and use the labels your device provides. Do not assume that a grid, stack control, label behavior, or Good Lock option documented for another region will appear on your Galaxy.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
A sensible default for most supported One UI 7 phones
Begin with the grid that leaves icons comfortable to tap while fitting your essential shortcuts, then decide whether labels improve recognition enough to justify the widget space they consume. Set icon size by readability, reserve widgets for information or actions you genuinely use, and choose dot or number badges according to how you process notifications. Once the arrangement survives normal use and any orientation changes, lock it to prevent accidental movement.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
