Last week on our Android customization series, we took a moment to look at the actual how-to when it comes to managing the different Launchers out there. Again, we did not take the time to look at specific Launchers, just how to swap between them. This week, we will do the same for icon packs.
With all of the available icon packs available in the Google Play Store, it is possible to change the appearance of your device to an impressive level. Icon packs range from simple sets of just a few image files, up to thousands of icons for all of your favorite apps.
After you tap the Apps icon, you see the Apps drawer. Swipe through the pages left and right or up and down across the touchscreen. To run an app, tap its icon. The app starts, taking over the screen and doing whatever magical thing the app does. As you add new apps to your phone, they appear in the Apps drawer. Add Apps in the Drawer to the Home Screen. In Drawer mode, you can swipe up on the home screen to display the App Drawer. Touch and hold the app you want to add until your phone vibrates, then drag it to the desired position on the home screen.
Before we begin
Before you can go ahead and install any old icon pack, you will need to make sure that your currently installed Launcher is capable of working with icon packs. From there, each icon pack will only work with a given set of Launchers, you have a bit of research ahead of you before diving in today. Luckily, weâve got you covered:
First, hit last weekâs post on Launchers to see how to make sure you are on the best Launcher for your needs. I would never dream of telling you which Launcher to use, but I will say that Apex and Nova are two of the best supported around when it comes to icon packs. If you really donât know where to start, grab one of these two, theyâll treat you well.
Next, you need an icon pack. Now, this is serious business folks. There are free icon packs, there are paid icon packs, there are even exclusive invite only icon packs. No joking. As mentioned, weâve looked at icon packs before, here are just a few of our resources to get you started:
The steps to install an icon pack on your Android device are pretty similar for most Launchers out there, so I will only look at a couple today. Once you learn the theory of the steps involved, I am confident that you will find the procedure easy enough on your own Launcher.
So, I will start with Apex and Nova Launchers, because, as I say, they are two of the most supported Launchers out there for icon packs. Trust app on mace.
Like most quality Launchers, Apex Launcher can have a new icon pack set up and running in just a few quick clicks.
Open Apex Settings. If you are not sure where to access Apex settings, look for the three-dots menu in your app drawer.
Select Theme Settings.
Tap on the icon pack that you wish to use.
Select the check boxes of the elements that you wish installed. As you see, many icon packs are more than just icons, with wallpaper, fonts and more included.
Tap apply to make the changes.
Piano keyboard mac app. Head on back to your Homescreen and app drawer to see your new icon pack in action.
Nova Launcher is also very easy to work with, you are again just a few quick clicks away from your new looks.
Open Nova Settings. If you are not sure where to access Nova settings, look for the three-dots menu in your app drawer. (Sound familiar?)
Select Look and feel.
Select Icon theme.
Tap on the icon pack that you wish to use.
Head on back to your Homescreen and app drawer to see your new icon pack in action. That is how truly easy it is to customize your Android experience, isnât it great?!?
Two icon packs combined, using Zooper Widget and Tasker
Whatâs next
So, these icon packs come with an individual image file for each and every app? Yes, well, maybe. I am sure you noticed in your search for the perfect icon pack that many have icons for only a few hundred of the most popular apps out there. You may find that you get what you pay for here. Most free icon packs are fairly limited, a good developer, like the maker of the Velur icon pack you see above, regularly releases updates with new app icons. Velur now has over 3000 icons in the pack.
That sounds good, but what happens if there isnât an icon for my app? Again, please watch for a quality developer here. By default, an app without an icon in the pack will fall back to the original app icon. While this keeps the app functional, it certainly does nothing for the look of your device. A good developer will have a default icon template, or icon mask, that will actually manipulate the default icon to somewhat match your new theme.
Look at the image below, you can see an app icon on the left that was masked to fit, and two on the right have been specifically built by the developer. Basically, in this case, the shadows fit better and the colors are more appropriate, if still random.
How To Add App Drawer Icon Mac Download
What? The Android Authority app does not have a custom icon in the pack, good thing this developer accepts requests from users. I will contact them via the links in the Google Play Store to make my request. I hope the new icon will be in place by the time the updated Android Authority app rolls out. Coming Soon! I hope you got that a good icon developer is in touch with the users, just something to keep in mind.
Lastly, you can always manually apply your own chosen image file as the app icon by long pressing on the existing icon, then choosing Edit â at least in Apex, your Launcher may have a slightly different procedure. Nonetheless, you are never out of luck if you have a Launcher that supports all of these icon tweaks.
Next week
With how easy it is to change up icon packs, I hope you do not hesitate the next time you feel like a little change. Next week on our Android customization series, will be a surprise. Just kidding, I have a Nexus 7 (2013) that needs a factory reset, would you like to see what I do to prep for a factory reset and how it is done? How to update steam app mac. If so, check back next week.
Read Next:How to make and share your own custom icon packs
What is your icon pack of choice? How often do you swap icon packs?
If you are switching from an iPhone to Android or you were reading a troubleshooting guide that mentioned app drawer, you must be wondering what this app drawer is ? Where is it present and how to open it on your Android phone?
Donât worry! You donât have to install a third-party app to access the app drawer. Itâs pre-installed on most of the Android phones and is quite useful in organizing the installed apps. Only some stock launchers like Mi Launcher don't offer an app drawer.
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So letâs check out the features of the app drawer and how to use it on Android.
What Is App Drawer
In simple words, an app drawer is a section on your phone that houses all the installed apps. Now, if you are coming from an iPhone, you would think thatâs the home screen. But nope. On Android phones and tablets, things are different â you get a home screen and app drawer.
Whenever you install an app, it is placed in the app drawer and not on the home screen (some launchers let you place on the home screen simultaneously). You can open the app either from the app drawer or home screen. The apps that you access frequently should be placed on the home screen for quicker access.
App Drawer vs. Home Screen
Both app drawer and home screen are part of the same launcher. The primary difference between the two is that the home screen contains only some of the installed apps, particularly your favorites ones. On the contrary, if the app isnât available on the home screen, you can access it from the app drawer. And if itâs not visible in the app drawer too, then the app isnât installed on your phone.
You can remove an app from the home screen without uninstalling it, but the same isnât possible in the app drawer. To remove an app from an app drawer, you will have to uninstall or hide it. Also, the app drawer doesn't support widgets.
How to Access and Open App Drawer
An app drawer can be accessed from the home screen only. There are two ways to access it. Swipe up from the bottom of the home screen. Or you can tap on the app drawer icon. The app drawer icon is present in the dock â the area that houses apps like Phone, Messaging, and Camera by default.
The app drawer icon usually looks like one of these icons.
On some phones, you will notice the small up arrow at the bottom. It indicates that you have to swipe up to access the app drawer.
Also on Guiding TechTop 6 Android Launchers Without AdsRead MoreWhat Does App Drawer Look Like
The app drawer looks similar to your home screen but devoid of widgets and the dock. You will find all your apps neatly arranged. You can customize the row and column count of app drawer in supported launchers like Nova and Action Launcher.
Sort Apps in App Drawer
Typically, the apps appear in the order that you installed them on your phone. So the recently installed app will be seen at the end of the list. Most default app drawers follow alphabetical sorting order. However, some app drawers let you customize the sorting mode. You can choose from alphabetical order, most used, etc. For that, tap on the three-dot icon at the top-right corner of the app drawer and choose your sort mode.
How to Scroll Through Apps in App Drawer
In some app drawers, you can scroll up and down (vertically) to view all the apps. Others list the apps in horizontal pages similar to the home screen. That is, you have to scroll horizontally to access the full list. Some launchers give you the ability to choose the scrolling style. Check your launcher settings for the app drawer style option.
Also on Guiding Tech#gtexplainsClick here to see our gtexplains articles pageWhat Else Do You Get in App Drawer
The salient features of the app drawer include:
Folders
While all launchers support folders on the home screen, very few of them let you create folders in the app drawer. The default launcher from Samsung, Nova Launcher, and Microsoft Launcher are some apps that support folders in the app drawer.
Nova goes a step ahead by offering tabs in the app drawer. Tabs are different sections inside the app drawer to organize your apps. It is available in the premium version of Nova only.
Search
Almost all launchers provide a search bar at the top of the app drawer. You can use it to find and open the app quickly. Launchers like Nova Launcher open the search by double-tapping on the home button.
How to Place Apps on Home Screen
Any app that you install will be immediately placed in the app drawer. But the same isnât true for the home screen unless you have enabled the âadd apps to home screenâ option in your launcher settings.
Other than that, if you want to move an app from the app drawer to the home screen, touch and hold the app icon and drag it to any edge of the screen. You will be taken to the home screen. Release the app icon to put it on the home screen.
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If you like having a clean home screen with minimal icons, app drawer will act as a godsend gift. The app drawer helps in organizing the apps without cluttering the home screen. It also keeps the apps safe since you need to delete them from the app drawer and not on the home screen directly.
However, the drawback of the app drawer is that one forgets about the installed apps. On the home screen, the apps are directly visible, but once we add our favorite apps to the home screen, we rarely use the app drawer. But if you don't want an app drawer, check these launcher apps without the app drawer.
Next up: Are you a fan of the dark mode? Check these launchers that support dark mode in Android.
Android Deleted App Drawer IconThe above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextTop 7 Android Launchers with Dark ModeAlso See#organization #launcher Did You Know
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