How to Fix Installed Apps Not Showing on the Home Screen on Android

If you have installed some new apps on your Android phone but none of them are appearing on the Home Screen automatically, or you can't place them on the Home Screen. This article will show you quite a few different things you can do to fix the problem. Before you do anything though, restart your phone and check to see if they pop up. More than likely, this will solve the problem, but if it doesn't, check the steps below.

How to Fix Installed Apps Not Showing on the Home Screen on Android

It might have just been a bug, so try moving the app from the drawer to the home screen manually. I've had this happen a ton of times in the past.

• Swipe up from the bottom of the Home screen to open All Apps.
• Search for the app by name.
• If the app appears, touch and hold its icon.
• Drag it to an empty position on the Home screen. If your phone offers Add to Home, select it instead.
• Release the icon and check that it remains after locking and unlocking the phone.

Samsung Galaxy: Restore the Apps Screen and Unhide the App

Samsung phones have extra settings that can hide apps from both the Home screen and Apps screen. A hidden app is still installed, but it won't show up anywhere unless you go looking for it.

• Open Settings > Home screen.
• Turn on Show Apps screen button on Home screen if you want the Apps button restored.

• Open the Apps screen and search for the missing app.
• Return to Settings > Home screen > Hide apps on Home and Apps screens.
• If the missing app appears under Hidden apps, tap the minus icon next to it.
• Tap Done.
• Open All Apps again and add the app back to the Home screen if necessary.

If only games are missing, open Gaming Hub and check its game-icon setting.

• Set the option to show game apps in Gaming Hub and Home and Apps screens. This can restore game icons without resetting One UI Home.

Check Private Space and the Work Profile

Android can keep apps in separate spaces. An app installed only in Private Space or a Work Profile may not appear with your normal personal apps. I doubt that this is what's causing the issue since you should know if you are using this system already. You can skip this section entirely if your phone doesn't have Private Space, a Work tab, or briefcase icons.

• Open All Apps and look for Private Space.
• Unlock Private Space if it is available.
• Search for the missing app.
• If Private Space is not visible, check Settings > Security & privacy > Private space.
• If the app exists only in Private Space, install a personal copy if you want it available outside that space.

If the app icon has a briefcase badge, it may belong to a Work Profile.

• Open All Apps and look for the Work tab.
• Make sure the Work Profile is turned on.
• Search for the missing app.
• If the profile is managed by an employer or school, check whether an administrator has restricted the app or its shortcut.

Switch Back to the Stock Home App

If you are using a custom launcher that might be causing issues, switch back to the stock one and check.

• Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
• Select Home app, Home screen app, or the equivalent option on your phone.
• Choose the manufacturer's stock launcher, such as Pixel Launcher or One UI Home.
• Return to the Home screen.
• Open All Apps and check whether the missing app appears.

If the app returns, the third-party launcher is likely responsible. Remove or troubleshoot recent launchers, icon packs, themes, or Home-screen utilities.

Update Android

Since you made it this far down, you might want to check for an Android Update. Perhaps there is a patch waiting to fix a bug that is causing this.

• Open Settings > System > Software update.
• Install any available Android, security, or Google Play system updates.
• Restart the phone.
• Check the Home screen and All Apps again.

If this didn't work, check for an Android Update and see what happens when it installs. Hopefully it fixes the problem for you.