How to set up a minimal home screen on Android
Build a calm, minimal Android home screen: fewer icons, a text-based layout, useful widgets and grayscale. Works with any launcher or a minimal launcher.
By Syed Zaman · Updated · 3 min read
Quick answer
Keep only the few apps you use every day, move everything else to the app drawer, stop new apps adding icons to the home screen and open apps by search. For a text-based layout or an agenda view, use a launcher with minimal layouts, such as Kore Launcher.
Why go minimal
A home screen full of icons and badges invites you to open apps out of habit. A minimal home screen shows the time, what is next and a few essentials, and keeps everything else one search away.
Start with the launcher you already have
- Remove app icons from the home screen: long-press an icon and choose Remove, or drag it to Remove. The app stays installed in the app drawer.
- Keep four to six apps you use every day, in the dock or on a single page.
- Turn off the setting that adds new apps to the home screen. It is in the launcher's home settings, which most launchers open when you long-press an empty part of the home screen.
- Open everything else by searching the app drawer instead of swiping through pages.
- Choose a simple, dark or single-colour wallpaper.
Cut visual distractions
- Turn off notification dots on app icons. Search Settings for "notification dot".
- Try grayscale. Most phones have it in Accessibility settings, and Bedtime mode in Digital Wellbeing on Pixel can turn the screen grayscale on a schedule. Search Settings for "grayscale".
- Use widgets that replace an app, such as a clock, calendar or weather widget, rather than decorative ones.
A minimal setup with Kore Launcher
Kore Launcher works both ways: a fully themed home screen or a minimal one. Besides classic pages, it offers a minimal text home, an Agenda home and a personal dashboard layout. To finish the look:
- Turn off the liquid glass effect for a flat design.
- Use universal search to open apps, contacts, settings and files, so you rarely need icons at all.
- Design matching clock, weather or steps widgets in Widget Studio.
- Let smart folders sort every remaining app into categories.
- Use Kore Pill to see charging, ringer changes and the music that is playing in one small floating element.
A simple minimal checklist
- One home page, no more.
- A dock with your four most-used apps.
- One widget for the time and date, one for what is next.
- Everything else in the app drawer, found by search.
- Notification dots off, and grayscale if you want fewer temptations.
Keep it minimal
Minimal setups drift. Every few weeks, remove whatever has crept back onto the home screen and uninstall apps you no longer open.
Questions
What should I look for in a minimal launcher?
A text-based or reduced layout, fast search and widget support. Kore Launcher offers a minimal text home and an Agenda home alongside widgets, and our Kore Launcher vs Niagara Launcher comparison sets two minimal options side by side.
Can I make a minimal home screen without a new launcher?
Yes. Remove icons from the home screen, stop new apps being added, use search and turn on grayscale. A minimal launcher adds text-based layouts that built-in launchers usually lack.
Can a minimal launcher still have widgets?
Many can. Kore Launcher places any Android widget and lets you design your own clock, weather and steps widgets in Widget Studio.
Is Kore Launcher a subscription?
No. Kore Launcher is a one-time purchase on Google Play with no ads.
Kore Launcher
Home screen launcher for Android
Kore Launcher offers a minimal text home, an Agenda home and a personal dashboard, plus Widget Studio, universal search, smart folders and app lock. One-time purchase, no ads.