App Drawer vs. Home Screen: What's the Difference on Android?

Ethan Ray Updated on Jul 22, 2025 Filed to: Android Tips

Whether you're new to Android or not, you might notice a place called "App Drawer" when you swipe around. Then, what's the app drawer exactly? What's the difference between the app drawer and the home screen if they are used to store apps?

If you're wondering these questions, you're in the right place! In this article, we'll break down what the app drawer is, how it works, and how it compares to your home screen. So, read on!

What Is App Drawer in Adroid?

By its name alone, an app drawer (also called app tray) is a place that gives you the list of all the apps on your phone, including those on or not on your home screen.

An app drawer serves purposes other than just providing a mere shelter for installed apps. It keeps all your apps tidy and organized. Additionally, it makes finding an app on your phone even easier, thanks to the search function that often comes with it.

App Drawer vs. Home Screen

After understanding what the app drawer is, you might be thinking that the app drawer and the home screen are similar. Aren't they both just places to find your apps?

Well, not exactly.

The home screen is the main screen you see when you press the home button. In addition to apps, it also hosts your favorite widgets and essential tools like the clock or weather. Whereas the app drawer only displays the complete list of all the apps you installed.

Moreover, in many Android devices, the home screen often houses the app drawer icon. This means that you can always access the app drawer from the home screen. Here, we break down the table for the difference between the app drawer and the home screen:

	App Drawer	Home Screen
Purpose	Store all installed apps in one place	Displays your favorite apps, widgets, and app drawer icon
Access Method	Swipe up or tap an icon	Appears right after unlocking your phone
Shows All Apps	✅Yes	❌Selected apps only
Layout	Limited customization	Full customization
Visibility	Hidden unless opened manually	Always visible

So, think of it this way - the home screen acts like a "favorites" board, while the drawer is the full list.

How to Open App Drawer on Any Android Device

The app drawer is often controlled by the launcher and can be accessed easily by swiping up from the bottom of the home screen. Some Android devices even come with a dedicated app drawer icon, usually a small box with 3x3 dots, which you can tap to open the app tray.

However, you have to know that some Android devices hide or disable the app drawer by default. So, we offer different steps based on Android models. Let's have a look:

On Samsung

To open the app drawer on Samsung, all you have to do is swipe up from the bottom of the home screen. Alternatively, you can tap the app drawer icon in the bottom right corner of the home screen.

On Google Pixel

The steps for opening the app drawer on Google Pixel are similar to those on Samsung. Just swipe up from the bottom of your home screen.

On Motorola

The app drawer might be hidden. So, you need to enable it in settings first. Here's how:

1. Open the Settings app on Motorola.
2. Find and tap "Home and lock screen."
3. Select "Home settings > Home screen style."
4. Toggle on the "App tray" style.
5. Then, you can swipe up from the home screen to access the app drawer.

🎦Video Tutorial: Turn On & Turn Off the App Drawer on MOTOROLA Edge 40 Neo

On Xiaomi

1. Launch the "Settings" app.
2. Search for "app drawer" and tap on it.
3. Select the "With App drawer" style.
4. After this, open the app tray by swiping up from the home screen.

🎦Video Tutorial: How to Enable or Disable App Drawer on Xiaomi Phones

On OnePlus

1. Go to "Settings > Home screen & Lock screen."
2. From the "Home screen mode" menu, select the "Drawer mode."
3. Once done, swipe up to open the app drawer from your home screen.

🎦Video Tutorial: OnePlus 13: How to Turn On/Off App Drawer

Takeaway: Why Can't I Find App Drawer on My Android Device?

If the app drawer icon is missing on your Android device, do not worry, it could be due to any of the following reasons:

Most Android devices (except for Samsung) don't offer the app drawer icon. However, they give you quick access to it by swiping up from the home screen.

You may accidentally remove the drawer icon on your Samsung home screen. You can restore it by navigating to "Home screen settings" and then turning on "Show app screen button on home screen."

In some cases, software bugs could affect the functionality of your device or the home screen performance.

Tips to Use and Customize Your App Drawer

As we mentioned above, the purpose of an app drawer goes beyond storing installed apps. You can also use it for numerous purposes, including:

Find an App Instantly via Search

If you're looking for an app without having to scroll your heart out, all you have to do is use the app drawer search box.

Once you've opened the app drawer, you'll see a search box on top. Then, input the name of the app to find it instantly.

Read Also: How to Hide Apps on Android

Arrange Apps Alphabetically

For ease of accessibility, app drawers also allow you to sort all installed apps in alphabetical order. To do this (using Samsung as an example):

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the home screen to open the app drawer.
2. Tap the "three dot" button at the top right and select "Sort."
3. Then, select the "Alphabetical order" option.

Change the App Grid Size

You can also personalize the grid size of the apps on your app drawer. This will enable you to fit more apps on one screen, which can make them easier to find. To do this, follow the steps below:

1. Press and hold an empty space of the home screen until a menu appears.
2. Tap the "Settings" icon.
3. Under the home screen setting, select "Apps Screen Grid."
4. Then, select any grid size that suits your style.

Stop Apps from Being Downloaded to App Drawer

If you want to keep your app drawer clean, you can choose to add newly downloaded apps to the home screen instead of the app tray. Here's how to do that:

1. Press and hold your finger on an empty space of the home screen.
2. Tap the "Settings" button.
3. Toggle on "Add new apps to Home Screen."
4. Once you've done, newly downloaded apps will not be added to your app drawer.

Move Apps from App Drawer to Home Screen

There are some relationships between the home screen and app drawer, and this is part of it. You can easily move your favorite app from the app drawer to the home screen for ease of accessibility. All you have to do is:

1. Locate the app you want to move on the app tray.
2. Long-press it and drag it to the home screen.

FAQs about Android App Drawer

How do I find hidden apps in the app drawer?

To find hidden apps on the app drawer, follow the steps below:

1. Open the app drawer on your phone
2. Tap the three-dot menu and select "Settings."
3. Go to "Hide apps" to check the list of all the hidden apps.

How to change app drawer scrolling orientation in Samsung?

With the update of One UI 7, the app drawer orientation has been changed from horizontal to vertical by default. Thankfully, you can easily change the orientation back to the horizontal you're used to. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the app drawer. Tap the three-dot menu.
2. And select "Sort > Custom Order."
3. Once you've done that, the orientation will be changed back to the horizontal style.

Do iPhones Have an App Drawer?

Yes, iPhone also boasts the app drawer, and it is named "App Library" in iOS. To access it, just swipe left past the last Home Screen page.

Conclusion

Even though both the app drawer and home screen provide the main interface through which we interact with our phones every day, there are some differences between them.

While the app drawer is a menu that displays the list of all apps installed on Android devices, the home screen acts like your favorite dashboard, comprising your preferred apps, widgets, clock, and other shortcuts, including the app drawer.

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Ethan Ray

Ethan Ray is a tech-savvy content creator with a deep passion for the Android ecosystem. With over 4 years of experience in writing in-depth tutorials, how-to guides, and app reviews, he has helped thousands of users get the most out of their Android devices.

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