Add app shortcuts on your Galaxy phone or tablet

For the quickest access to your most-used apps on a Galaxy phone or tablet, you'll want to use app shortcuts. You can add them to some or all of your Home screens, as well as your Lock screen. The phone and camera app shortcuts already exist on the Lock screen, but they are customizable.
Galaxy S22 Ultra displaying the app shortcut settings menu
Galaxy S22 Ultra displaying the app shortcut settings menu

Add app shortcuts on your Galaxy phone or tablet

Note
Available screens and settings may vary by wireless service provider, software version, and device model.

Add Favorite apps

The Favorite apps bar appears at the bottom of your Home screen and provides shortcuts to your most used apps. You can have a maximum of 5 apps on the Favorite apps bar. Before you add a shortcut, you may have to remove at least one app.

  • To remove Home screen shortcuts, touch and hold the app you want to remove, and then tap Remove.
    App with text bubble listing options with Remove highlighted on a Galaxy phone
  • To add a different app to Favorite apps, navigate to the Apps screen, touch and hold your desired app, and then drag it to your desired location in the Favorite app bar.
  • If you have so many favorites that picking 5 shortcuts is just impossible, you can create a folder by dragging a shortcut on top of another shortcut.
Note
If you have added the Apps screen button to your Home screen, you will only be able to add 4 apps to the Favorite apps bar.
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Add shortcuts to Home screens

Get your Home screen in order with all your most-used apps lined up right where you want them. Swipe up or down to access the Apps screen.

 

There are multiple ways to add shortcuts to the Home screen:

  • Touch and hold the app until a menu displays, and then tap Add to Home.
    Messages app listing options with Add to Home highlighted on a Galaxy phone
  • Touch and hold the app until the Home screen is displayed, and then release the app in your desired location.
  • Touch and hold the app, drag it to the top or bottom of the screen, and then release the app in your desired location.
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Add shortcuts to the Lock screen

With One UI 6, you can add and remove shortcuts right from the Lock screen. These include Clock style, Notifications, Left shortcut, and Right shortcut. Keep in mind that these options will not appear unless you have a Lock screen set up.

  1. Tap your Lock screen to wake it up, and then touch and hold it. Enter your credentials when prompted.
  2. Tap the shortcut you'd like to change.
    Lock screen shortcuts on a Galaxy phone featuring Phone and Camera apps
  3. Tap the shortcut you’d like to use, or tap No app to remove the shortcut. You can use any app on your device, but anything under Unlock required will require you to unlock the device before they open.
  4. Tap Done when you’re finished.
  5. To open an app shortcut from the Lock screen, simply swipe the shortcut in any direction. You’ll feel a light vibration when you’ve swiped far enough.
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Add Edge panels

List of apps on Edge panel with a Galaxy phone

Edge panels let you quickly open your most-used apps and other favorite content. You can customize the panels and even add new ones to suit your needs, so the apps you need every day are always at your fingertips. Plus, you can download new panels and even change the panel’s handle color, position, and size.

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