How to Create a Shortcut on Android

This guide will explain all of the steps for adding an app icon to an Android tablet or smartphone’s Home screen, how to make a shortcut to a website, and what to do to make a shortcut to an Android app function.

How Do I Put an Icon on My Home Screen?

You can add a shortcut for any app to your Android Home screen as long as you have the app installed. Here’s how to do it.

1. Open the list of all of your apps.

   This can usually be done by tapping the icon that looks like a white circle with six blue dots in it or swipe up from the bottom of the phone.

2. Find the app you want to create a shortcut for and long-press on its icon.

3. Tap Add to home.

   On some Android devices, you will need to long-press the icon and drag the app to the home screen.

4. The app’s icon should then appear in the top-right corner of your Home screen on your Android tablet or smartphone. Long-press the app icon and drag it to where you want it to be.

How Do I Create a Shortcut for an App Function?

Some Android apps support functions which can be accessed by performing a long-press on their app icon. These functions can be pinned to your Android home screen as a separate icon to act as a shortcut to that specific task.

1. Perform a long-press on the app whose function you want to create a shortcut for.

2. A menu of available app functions should appear. Long-press the function you want to create a shortcut for and drag it onto your Home screen.

3. Move the shortcut icon to its desired position and release your finger. The icon will now work as a shortcut which will open the Android app and immediately activate that one specific function.

How Do I Create a Shortcut to a Website on Android?

Much like how you can create shortcuts for apps and app functions on Android tablets and mobiles, you can also add shortcuts to websites to your device’s Home screen.

Here’s how to pin a shortcut to a website onto your Android Home screen.

1. Open the Google Chrome web browser and navigate to the website you want to pin to your Home screen.

2. Tap the ellipsis icon in the top-right corner.

3. From the menu, tap Add to Home screen.

4. Enter a custom name for the website.

   This name will be the word or words which will appear under the shortcut on your Home screen (shorter is better).

5. Tap Add.

6. Tap Add to Home screen or Add Automatically for the shortcut to be added to the top-left of your Home screen. Alternatively, you can long-press the icon and place the website shortcut icon manually.

   Whichever option you choose, you can manually move the shortcut icon afterwards to wherever you like.

How Do I Create a Shortcut to My Android Home Screen?

There’s no need to create a shortcut to your Home screen as all Android devices have built-in ways to return to your Home screen no matter what app you’re using or which video you’re watching.

To return to your Home screen, tap the Home button. Depending on your Android smartphone or tablet model, it may look like a circle or a horizontal line. It’s always located under the screen.

Alternatively, some Android smartphones allow you to return to your Home screen by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.

How Do I Delete Shortcuts on Android?

To delete a shortcut from your Android Home screen, long-press its icon and tap Remove from the popup menu. However, on the Google Pixel and other version of Android you may need to long-press and then drag the icon to the Remove area at the top of the screen.