How to customize the home screen on Google Pixel phones

Your Home screen is the first thing you see when you unlock your phone, and it's where you keep your most-used apps. If you have a Google Pixel, there are plenty of ways to make that space your own. Whether you want to rearrange icons, change the wallpaper, or try a new theme, we can walk you through it.

At Asurion, we help millions of people get more from their tech. From setting up your Google Pixel camera to saving space with Google Photos, our experts have you covered. Here’s how to personalize your Pixel Home screen.

How to change your Pixel wallpaper

Your wallpaper sets the tone for your whole phone. To change it:

1. Touch and hold a blank space on your Home screen.
2. Tap Wallpaper & style.
3. Choose a photo from your phone or a preset wallpaper.
4. Tap Set wallpaper, then choose if you want it on your Home screen, Lock screen, or both.

How to rearrange or remove apps

Keep your favorite apps front and center. Here’s how:

1. Touch and hold an app icon.
2. Drag it to a new spot or to a different Home screen.
3. To remove an app from the Home screen (without deleting it), drag it to Remove at the top of the screen.

Want to uninstall an app entirely? Check out our guide to freeing up space on Android phones.

How to add widgets to your Home screen

Widgets let you see info at a glance—like the weather or your next calendar event. To add one:

1. Touch and hold a blank space on your Home screen.
2. Tap Widgets.
3. Browse the list and touch and hold the widget you want.
4. Drag it to where you want it, then lift your finger.

How to change app icons and colors

Google Pixel phones running Android 12 or later let you match your app icons and system colors to your wallpaper.

1. Touch and hold a blank space on the Home screen.
2. Tap Wallpaper & style.
3. Turn on Themed icons.
4. Under Basic colors or Wallpaper colors, choose a color option to apply across your system.

How to create folders

Folders help you group similar apps together, like all your social media or work tools.

1. Drag one app icon on top of another.
2. A folder will be created automatically.
3. Tap the folder to open it, then tap Unnamed Folder to rename it.
4. Drag in more apps if you’d like.

How to switch between home screen layouts

If you use multiple home screens, swipe left or right to switch between them. You can also:

• Move apps or widgets between screens.
• Remove a Home screen by dragging all the icons off it.

FAQ

How do I make my Pixel Home screen look different?

You can personalize it by changing your wallpaper, adding widgets, creating folders, and using themed icons.

Can I download new themes for my Google Pixel?

Pixel phones don’t support full themes, but you can customize colors and icons using the Wallpaper & style settings.

How do I go back to the default Home screen layout?

You can manually move apps and widgets back into place. There's no one-tap reset, but you can create a similar layout by removing extras and rearranging icons.