How to delete unused Android home screens

Posted onAuthorBob Williams35 Comments

I was working with a new Android tablet and consolidated app icons to a few home screens which left a few empty screens. It took me a while but I finally figured out two ways to get the home screen menu to come up so that I could delete empty screens.

The tablet is running Android version 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

Method 1

  1. Place two fingers simultaneously on the screen as if they are on opposite corners of a square.
  2. While pressing on the screen move the two fingers towards each other (towards the center of your imaginary square).
  3. This should popup all the Android home screens as rectangles.
  4. Drag the unwanted screens to the trashcan icon.

Method 2 (See Update)

  1. Tap and hold a single finger on an empty space of a home screen
  2. This will bring up a menu. Select “Add to Home screen”
  3. Next select “Page”
  4. This should popup all the Android home screens as rectangles.
  5. Drag the unwanted screens to the trashcan icon

Update 1.21.14

I tried both of the methods on a Samsung Galaxy S2 with Android 4.1.2. Method 1 works but method 2 does not work.

35 Replies to “How to delete unused Android home screens”

  17. Neither of these methods work. Selecting “page” from the home screen just added a new page. Now I have double the same problem. Thanks a lot.

  18. I’m sorry to hear you had problems with these methods James. I just updated the post with my results from a phone with Android 4.1.2. Method 1 works, but method 2 did not work on that version. Check the version of your Android device as it is working for other readers.

  20. Kinda late to the party. Galaxy Tab 3 and the pinch method works. What also works is while on the page you press menu and select edit page.

    Who da thunk it wiz that easier. 😉

    Bob

  25. Yet another example of how designers are burying very important functions into stupid gestures and their ideas of how people should use computers. You can easily create more screens just by accident, but now in android 4.4, you can’t even use the second option mentioned here to get rid of extra screens. Must be the same people who made Windows 8 (garbage), and every stupid piece of software out now. If it doesn’t make any sense, that’s what they move forward on. “Yeah, uh, you delete screens by drawing the letter Q while holding the power button and shaking the device. You didn’t figure that out on your own?” Their next idea will be “E-MOTIONS”. If you want to shut down, you need to bend over like you’re puking, and the built in camera will recognize a shutdown command.
    Just give us back menus and icons. That’s what works!!!!!!

  28. IT WORKED! Thanks~
    Method one people. You should see all the “home screens” at once (in a grid), as opposed to side by side. And if u try to drag one of the screens, a trash can will pop up at the top of the screen.

  32. I found you have to tap and hold the empty screen not just once (which produces the Trash can but not functional) but then again (screen becomes mobile and can move to the Tradh).

  33. Brilliant it worked fine first time on my Galaxy Fame although I hate this phone it’s the world’s worst phone. Thank you

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