The Android Home Screen

Home screens display notifications, apps, widgets, Google search, and navigation buttons. When you install a new app, it will be added to a Home screen. When a Home screen is full, your Android will create additional Home screens. You can swipe left or right to view your Home screens. The Favorites tray remains visible at the bottom of every Home screen. Put your favorite apps here.

Widgets display additional information or updates from an app. The widget shown here displays live information about the date and weather.

Let’s look at each feature of the Home screen.

Notifications

The Notification bar at the very top of your screen displays information about your phone and notifications from apps that you have allowed in Notification Settings. Some typical notifications are shown below:

Notifications shown above include (from left to right):

  • Recent updates from the CNN and Starbucks apps.
  • The current temperature at my location.
  • A traffic update from Google Maps.
  • A new picture.
  • The double dots indicate more updates that cannot be shown because of a lack of space.
  • Bluetooth is turned on.
  • Wi-Fi is on and has a strong signal.
  • The cellular signal is weak (half-filled icon).
  • The battery is full.
  • Current time.

Swiping down with one finger from the top frame of the phone would open Notifications for additional information.

The Favorites tray

Every Home screen displays the Favorites tray at the bottom edge (or side, depending on the size of your screen and Android version). Place your favorite apps (and folders) here for convenient access no matter which Home screen you are on.

Google search

A Google search box is located at the bottom of the Home screen (it may not have an obvious outline). Tap the search box to place your cursor and open the keyboard. Google search can find apps and documents on your device and return results from the web. Tap  to speak your search terms. Tap Google Lens  to search based on whatever you point your camera at.

January 4, 2024
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