Click to Skip Ad
Closing in...

How to solve one of the most annoying little issues with Android phones

Published Jan 21st, 2015 5:30PM EST
Stop Android Downloads
Image: Zach Epstein, BGR

If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.

One of the best things about Android is the shockingly vast range of great third-party apps in the Google Play store. Each new app expands the capabilities of your phone or tablet in any number of exciting new directions. When you first install a new app though, some of the more presumptuous developers configure their apps to automatically add a shortcut to your home screen. Then, if it’s not an app you want on your home screen, you have to go and manually remove it.

The issue can certainly be annoying, but you’ll be glad to know that there’s an easy fix.

DON’T MISS: Samsung is reportedly removing one of the Galaxy S5’s best features from the Galaxy S6

A quick blog post from Phone Arena on Wednesday explains how to prevent apps from automatically placing icons on your home screens without your permission in three easy steps.

  1. In the Google Play Store app on your smartphone or tablet, tap the menu button in the top left corner
  2. Scroll down and tap “Settings”
  3. Now, just uncheck the box next to “Add icon to Home screen”

That’s it! Apps will no longer be able to place shortcuts on any home screens, and will instead be accessible only in the main app drawer by default.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.