How to add Settings app shortcut to Android home screen

Settings are the backbone of any smartphone. You visit them often to change various aspects of your device. But often, you need to open the Settings app before you can get to your favorite settings. It takes a bit of digging to get to them on a daily basis. Luckily, you can add the Settings app or shortcuts to various settings to your Android home screen.

Add Settings app to home screen

1. Open the app drawer on your Android phone.

2. Hold and drag the Settings app to the top edge until you see the home screen and drop it there.

3. Alternatively, on some phones, you can also press and hold the Settings app in the app drawer and select "Add to Home Screen" .

Add shortcut of any setting to home screen

What if you need to access a certain setting on your Android phone all the time? You can add a shortcut to your home screen using a variety of methods.

1. Using Widgets (Stock Android)

On phones running stock Android , add shortcuts to important settings, like one-handed mode, data usage, hotspot, Do Not Disturb, and more, to your phone's home screen using the Settings widget.

• Press and hold any empty space on your phone's home screen.
• Select "Widgets" from the list of options.

• Tap the Settings widget to expand it, then tap and hold below it and drag it to your home screen.

• When prompted to select a setting, tap it to place a shortcut to the setting on your home screen.

• Whenever you want to open that particular setting, just tap on its shortcut on the home screen. You might want to check out these other useful Android widgets .

2. Add application shortcut

For many apps, you can create home screen shortcuts to their important settings or features. For example, create a shortcut to take a selfie or record a video in the Camera app. Similarly, create a shortcut to recent files in the File Manager app.

• Tap and hold the desired app on the home screen or in the app drawer. This example is using the Camera app.
• Tap and hold a shortcut in the list. For example, “Record video,” “Take selfie,” and “Take portrait.” Drag the shortcut to your home screen.

3. Using third-party apps

Another way to create a home screen shortcut of any setting is to use a third-party shortcut maker app. This example is using the Shortcut Maker app .

• Open the app and tap Settings.

• Click “Settings Activities” to create shortcuts to any settings sub-category.

• Select your preferred setting from the list. Use the search icon at the top to find a specific setting.

• Tap the “Create Shortcut” button and then select “Add to home screen” on the confirmation screen to customize the shortcut name or icon.

4. Using GoodLock app (Samsung only)

Samsung Galaxy phones come with an official app that lets you add shortcuts to any setting on your phone's home screen. The GoodLock app is a treasure trove of customization. Follow these steps to use the GoodLock app to create home screen shortcuts for various settings:

• Install GoodLock app on Samsung Galaxy phone.
• Open the app and tap on the “Life up” tab at the bottom, then go to “RegiStar” .

• Tap “Search options” and turn on the toggle next to “Allow creation of a shortcuts [sic]” .

• Open the Settings app on your phone.
• Tap the Search icon at the top and enter the desired setting name.

• When the search results appear, tap and hold the setting name. Tap the “Add” button in the pop-up window to add the setting to your home screen.