How to add a shortcut to the Android desktop. Create a shortcut on the desktop. Special cases and autosaving
It is much more convenient for any user to immediately launch the application than to search for it in all folders. Therefore, many are interested in how to create a shortcut on Android. This information is especially relevant for those who frequently open or edit a file. Once you create a shortcut, you no longer have to browse through folders. At any time, you can launch the desired program with one click on the icon on the desktop of your tablet or smartphone.
First, determine which applications you want to add to the new folder. Then drag applications to new folder. Select the Folders option and then click the New Folder button. Click on the folder icon to open it and rename it. Touch and hold the folder name and enter the name in the text field.
Close the folder and drag all applications into the folder. You can also group your apps and shortcuts on your home screen, creating multiple directories to store your apps on your home screen. Rename the new folder. Tap the name that says "Folder" and press it with your finger. A pop-up window will appear on the screen. In the Folder Name section, enter a name for the new folder and click OK.
Anyone who uses Android devices knows that opening programs through the Applications menu is not very convenient. You have to do extra steps to go to this section and find required file. In addition, not all versions of Android have search string, more often you have to search for a program for a long time, looking through the entire list, structured alphabetically.
Enter your username and password in the appropriate fields and click “Login.” Enter keywords"organize apps" in the search field and tap the magnifying glass. Navigate through the list of organizers and tap the Install option to download an app such as App Organizer, Automatic App Organizer, and App Folder.
Follow the instructions to install the program. Use the app's features to organize your apps. For example, tap the app icon if you're using App Organizer. Select App Organizer and select a label. A shortcut appears on the home screen. Tap a shortcut to see the app added to the tag.
There are three ways to add a shortcut to the desktop of your Android smartphone:
- Click on empty space on the desktop of your gadget and do not release until the menu appears. The desktop will be located at the top of the display, and applications and widgets will be located at the bottom. To move the file icon from the bottom to top screen hold the icon with your finger and drag to free space.
- Click on touch button in the form of a square at the bottom of the display. After this action it will open full list applications. Find the one you need, click on it, wait for it to vibrate, and then drag the icon anywhere on the display.
- On Android, you can create an application icon using a third-party file manager, for example, ES Explorer, which is available on the Play Market. After downloading and installing the program, open ES Explorer, then select the desired file, click on it and hold until it is highlighted (vibration appears). A menu will appear at the bottom, from which select “Add”.
When using methods 1 and 2, the list of applications can be viewed by swiping horizontally.
Using the Home Screen Effectively
Below we will present you the most useful features. Typically, the main screen and dock offer only a few functions, often overwhelmed by too many applications. In extreme cases, you can enter up to 150 applications, folders and links on one screen.
Flexible screen adaptation
To stay oriented and always have a complete overview, we recommend grouping icons based on the type or function of the applications. To further optimize space, we also recommend hiding app names and setting the spacing between icons to your liking.
Placement of free icons
By providing a wide choice of motifs and colors, you can freely determine the design that suits your tastes best. Plus, the small size of the icons allows you to fill the dock as much as possible.
How to add a webpage and speed dial shortcut
Many people use devices based on the Android operating system every day, but they do not know anything about the hidden reserves of their own gadgets. For example, there is such an interesting feature as adding a shortcut telephone contact. To do this, click on an empty space on the screen and wait for the context menu. In the window that appears, you need to tap on “Widgets”, and then on “Select contact”. After this, the phone book will open. All you have to do is click on the desired name.
Widgets and applications on one screen
Support multiple main screens
By launching the center button, you can remember general overview. With simple fingers, you can switch to other screens or change the number of available main screens. However, you cannot switch from one screen to another using tap gestures. To save space, you can hide the orientation icon that displays the active screen.In fact, this function becomes a redundant panorama that is opened using the menu button. Then from the menu you can select the item you want. From the app list, you can drag multiple apps to the home screen at once without saving anything other than a tap here and there.
In the same way, you can install several icons on your desktop with the contacts of the subscribers with whom you communicate most often.
In addition, you can make not only a program shortcut, but also an icon of your favorite site. To do this, launch a browser on your tablet or smartphone, for example Google Chrome, and then open the web page from which you need a shortcut. Then click on the 3 vertical dots in the right corner, in the list that opens select “Add to home screen" The site icon will appear on your device's display.
Quick access to special settings and settings
You can perform a number of actions using the button to place it on your home screen. Specifically, we're pointing to the buttons shown in the image below to hide the infobar and dock in the center image, as well as search for keywords in the image on the right. The article has been translated into German.
Create a desktop shortcut
It will be useful for those who spend most of their time on the desktop, but do not even feel sharp touches. Attach them to the main panel as well as others. Fragmentation is not healthy. Who would want to fly between the subway and the table, all the time? Welcome to the original icon set, but you can choose your own.
Agree, sometimes it is convenient to have some files on hand. So as not to rummage through folders, but launch them directly from the desktop. For what?
Many of us often access certain documents, spreadsheets, presentations, etc. On a laptop or computer with almost any operating system on board, creating a shortcut or transferring a file to the desktop is very simple. How about doing the same on Android?
If you have colorful icons for your shortcuts, click No. Otherwise, choose without much thought. However, for supported items there is nothing to do, click "Create Shortcut" to create shortcuts directly on the desktop. You can grab icons and drag them to the taskbar if you don't like that area. Links to applications do more than just launch them. In case already running programs switch to them. You don't have to think about shortcut keys, not to mention finding an application somewhere in a difficult sentence.
Let's try it.
I want to warn you right away that we will not be able to transfer the file itself to the desktop. But let's try the shortcut anyway.
As we know, in order to display an application shortcut on the desktop, you need to make a long tap on the screen. After this, a list of what can be pulled out on the screen appears. Unfortunately, we won't see our file there. But this is Android, which is very flexible and there is always a solution for any problem. IN in this case The best solution would be to use a file manager. I'm just sure that you already have it installed, and if not, then I advise you to do it right now. When I buy another Android device, one of the first applications I install is the ES File Explorer file manager, which, in my opinion, is one of the best of its kind. This application is free and allows you to perform many operations with files and folders on your device. Detailed review I plan to write a guide in the near future. But this is my personal choice, you can use what you like best. Using this program as an example, I will show you how to make a shortcut to a file and place it on the Android desktop.
Merging Shortcut Shortcuts
By the way, he is hiding in the upper left corner of the screen. Keyboard enthusiasts will be pleased to be able to use key combinations to their advantage. Launching applications, now even from the metro, can be simplified with an old trick. Bring up the shortcut properties and enter the desired combination into the key quick access.
Special cases and autosaving
Just be careful not to interfere with another shortcut that is already present on your system. It is very easy to use and fast. You can use it to set up shortcuts on your desktop for almost anything: apps, pictures, music, movies, web bookmarks, email addresses, phone numbers. For example, to the so-called. applications.
Launch ES Explorer (or whatever you have installed there), find the file we need, select it. Next, go to the “More” menu (your name may be slightly different). Here, among others, we find the “Add to desktop” command. In the screenshot I attached, this command is at the top. (By the way, you can read about that in my last article.) Click this button and that’s it. A shortcut to the file we need has been created on the desktop.
This allows the use of more complex tools. In the case of an application, the tool will display a list of programs installed on our system, which, if necessary, will be searched by typing a phrase. When you choose specific program, you can change its display properties: icons and names.
As a result, the app shortcut may look different than usual. Of course, it's more useful to create a shortcut for a specific file. In the case of an image, we will be redirected to an external graphics browser, and this is how we will select the file for quick access. Then in the tool interface we will indicate the name under the icon and enter the hexadecimal notation - or simply select the icon with the selector. The icon for this type of shortcut is always the same. When you click the shortcut, the image will be displayed in the default graphics viewer.
![](https://i2.wp.com/droidd.ru/assets/ldsc-d5022.jpg)
![](https://i1.wp.com/droidd.ru/assets/4850041.jpg)
Everything is very simple, as you can see. Also, do not forget that when deleting from the desktop, you are only deleting the shortcut. The file itself remains in its place on the disk.
When it comes to letters and phone numbers, we move to the address book, and when it comes to shortcuts to any files, we will do this using an external explorer. There is a trash bin icon in the action bar. If in the future we delete a shortcut from the desktop, even if by mistake, when you click on that icon, we will be redirected to the saved list and can easily restore it using a button. To my surprise, it is very easy to get used to it and start using it in all possible situations.
It's very easy to see how much this depends on third party developers. Where it is available it works great. To view a list of shortcuts, simply hold your finger longer on the icon. The context menu appears very quickly and the phone confirms our vibrations.
Do you visit a certain website ten times a day? The long procedure of launching the browser and digging through bookmarks is already starting to get boring - we have a wonderful solution! Let's take your favorite site and put a shortcut on your Android desktop. After this, you will be able to open the desired web resource with one click on its icon (just like with applications).
So, first of all, we need installed by Google Chrome browser. Launch Chrome and go to the desired site. On the right top corner Click on the three vertical dots to open a drop-down menu list. Find the “Add to Home Screen” item and click on it. A small window will pop up before your eyes with the site name, description and the “Add” button at the bottom. Click on the button, voila - the site icon is now on our main desktop! Move it to the desired screen or position just like other icons.
Another little tip: before adding a tab to your desktop, you can rename it or, for example, remove an unnecessary description. To do this, simply click on the text and a keyboard for editing will appear. Enjoy! Also, we will be glad to hear from you in the comments.
Often, when downloading applications on Android, shortcuts to the downloaded programs are automatically saved on the desktop. Subsequently, deleting this or that program as unnecessary, some, out of ignorance, or maybe simply because “they don’t get around to it,” leave icons, cluttering the desktop so that sometimes it becomes difficult to find the desired application.
Today we will tell you, speaking about devices with Android OS, how to remove a shortcut from the desktop. I must say that this procedure is not particularly difficult, therefore, anyone can cope with it, even not very advanced user. However, for some gadget models you will need special utilities, however, first things first.
We will now consider all the ways to solve the problem for different models devices. But, you need to understand that by deleting a shortcut, we will not delete the application itself.
Using system tools
On most models of Androbd devices, the procedure is extremely simple, and it is as follows: On the desktop, press your finger on the icon that you want to delete and hold it until “Delete” appears at the top of the display. Without releasing your finger, just drag it there:
On other devices, after clicking on the shortcut, a trash can will appear at the bottom of the screen, into which you can also drag and drop unnecessary icon applications:
The situation is somewhat different with Lenovo smartphones. And if on models of later versions, for example Lenovo s660, the procedure is similar to those described above, i.e. click on the icon, on the display at the top we see the trash can and the inscription “Delete” and, without releasing your finger, drag the shortcut:
But on some devices more earlier versions- up to 4.0.x (Ice Cream Sandwich), for example, the same Lenovo A319, everything is not so simple. Here you will need to install third-party software. Read more about this method.
Using special software
There are actually more than enough applications that solve this problem. We want to offer the simplest and most convenient option– download the Apex Launcher program (or an extended version).
The fast, convenient and multifunctional Apex launcher, in addition to a fairly wide list of features that can be read about at the links provided, does an excellent job of editing shortcuts.
So, after the launcher is installed, open the desktop, select the application icon that we will delete, click on it and hold until the context menu appears. Select “Delete” and after this manipulation the unwanted shortcut will no longer be an eyesore:
How to remove autosave shortcut
We have already said that when installing programs, icons, as a rule, are automatically saved on the desktop. Is it possible to make sure that application shortcuts are not saved, but simply add the necessary icons yourself when necessary?
Yes, you can. What you need to do for this:
Go to the Play Store on your smartphone and open Settings. Find the item “Add icons” and uncheck the box:
Moving an icon to the main screen (same as deleting) on different devices ah may be a little different. Sometimes, it is enough to open the main application menu, where all the icons are located. Select the one you need, press it with your finger, and hold it for one to two seconds, after which the icon will appear on the main screen:
Now you can press your finger on the icon, wait for it to highlight and, without releasing your finger, move it to right place(if necessary).
On some devices our actions will look slightly different. For example, on the same Lenovo s660, opening the main application menu, long pressing on the desired icon will open the main screen. Continuing to hold the icon, drag it to the desired location, now you can release your finger, and we will see the shortcut of the selected application at the specified location:
How to create a folder with shortcuts on the desktop
To optimize space on the main desktop, it is advisable to create folders in which you can enclose several icons. This is especially true if you often use different applications, which are convenient to keep at hand.
Actions we must perform:
Move the desired application icons to the main screen as described above. Then, by clicking on one icon, we move it directly to the one with which we want to combine it. We will immediately be able to see the appearance of a folder with two labels. In the same way, you can add any number of icons to this folder. Now, by clicking on the created folder, hold your finger until the keyboard appears. Enter the name of the folder (for example, “Games”, “Mail”, etc.):
Well, for dessert, for aesthetes who want to create their own labels and inscriptions for them, we suggest watching the video. I say goodbye until the next meeting on the pages of our “Knowledge Base” section. Good luck!
Article from Anna Sebova, engaged in embroidery and programming. She combines both in her blog, simultaneously telling us about various interesting features.
I have a blog “Madame Storozhenko” about needlework. It is very young, and I often access it from my mobile, thinking about what to write about, how to improve it. However, store it in open tabs browser on a mobile phone is not very convenient, bookmarks in mobile browser They don't suit me either. Therefore, I decided to pin a link icon (shortcut) to the blog on my desktop mobile phone.
Making a website icon is simple: in the mobile settings you need to select “ Add to Home Screen“. But the created icon did not remind me of my site at all, but caused bewilderment. Only by clicking on the label or reading the signature did I understand what it was all about. You understand, this is inconvenient.
Then I found easy way make the icon (or label, whichever is more convenient for you) more recognizable. It's very simple, you just need to do a couple of steps.
Act one
Take the original site logo image (or favicon) and crop it to standard sizes for different devices. In my case, the logo and favicon are the same image.
I chose the following sizes convenient for mobile and tablets:
- For iOS two files: apple-touch-icon.png And apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png– size 57 by 57 pixels:
- For Windows Phone file windows-icon-70-70.png:
– Android picks up one of the pictures and does not require additional images and links.
Act two
< link rel = "apple-touch-icon" href = "/mobile-icons/apple-touch-icon.png"/ > < link rel = "apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes = "57x57" href = "/mobile-icons/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png"/ > < meta name = "msapplication-square70x70logo" content = "/mobile-icons/windows-icon-70-70.png"/ > |
Display a link to the site on the desktop of your mobile phone. To do this, open the desired website in your browser:
Then open the browser menu (click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the browser) and select the item highlighted in the screenshot:
The following window will appear:
Select item “ Add“.
Then minimize the browser window and... voila! A site with a beautiful and recognizable icon is located on the desktop, and is also accessible with one touch.
It couldn't be more convenient.
P.S. An article from Anna Sebova about how to cure.
Like Windows users, owners of Android devices often deal with shortcuts. They look a little different here. The “desktop” of smartphones and tablets is also different. However, everyone, and especially inexperienced users, should know how to remove a shortcut from the Android desktop or add it.
An example of displaying shortcuts on the Android desktop
Removal
Removing icons is one of the simplest basic processes in Android. All users of this operating system. There is, of course, nothing complicated here. However, it is worth distinguishing between cleaning the system from an application and deleting a program shortcut. All applications are available via special menu, and if we try to “throw out” something from there, we will get rid of it completely. If we delete the icon on the desktop, then the program itself will remain as it was.
Removing unnecessary icons from home screens is sometimes simply necessary. Otherwise, too much garbage accumulates. This is done with one finger movement. Almost. We simply hold the icon and then either move it to the highlighted trash can or click on the cross that appears. No one has yet had any problems with how to remove a shortcut on Android using the usual method. However, problems can arise in a number of cases, which are discussed below.
Special cases and autosaving
On some older devices, it will not be possible to remove shortcuts in this way, since such a function is not provided on these smartphones and tablets. For them, you can download special utilities that can easily cope with this task, as well as others, which will be written about at the end. One such program is Apex Launcher. After installing it, we simply hold down the icon, after which a context menu appears where we can select removal. In addition to this utility, there is CCleaner, which can also help with removing unnecessary icons.
Working with shortcuts using Alex Launcher
Not every user likes the fact that each installed application creates its own icon on one of the screens. This feature is easy to disable.
- Go to Google Play.
- Pull out the menu from the right side of the screen.
- Select “Settings” there.
- Disable the “Add icons” option. It is located in the “General” section.
Creation
Making a shortcut on your desktop is as easy as removing it.
- Open the application menu.
- We hold what we need and drag it to the desktop.
The application icon will now be on the home screen. After that, you can drag it to any convenient place.
Android provides for the addition of some special shortcuts. For example, if in social network On VKontakte you often correspond with one person, then it’s easy to official application You can make a button on the screen that will open a dialogue with him. To do this, you just need to hold your finger on the dialog and then click on the corresponding button. Similar features some other instant messengers and other programs offer. As you can see, in Android you can add more than just a simple shortcut.
Icons can not only be created, but also combined into folders and renamed. To create a folder, just “drag” one shortcut onto another. After which the system will offer to place them in a folder.
View the contents of a folder on Android desktop
The aforementioned Apex Launcher will help with the renaming. In general, any launcher has this function. After installing it, we simply hold the icon until the context menu appears. There we select “Rename” or “Edit” and come up with a new name for any shortcut.
Now you know that working with shortcuts is quite simple. And working with them is not limited to creation or deletion. You can change their name and also move them into folders.