In a world where our Android phones are overflowing with apps, it's crucial to maintain a certain level of order to avoid the chaos of digital clutter. Often, after installing dozens of apps, we find ourselves spending more than we should searching for the exact app we need, and frustration sets in. Therefore, knowing how to organize your apps alphabetically, by category, color, or even frequency of use, is much more than just a matter of aesthetics: it's a tool for productivity and peace of mind. If you're wondering what the best way is to make your Android a true example of organization, you've come to the right place.
There are numerous ways to achieve an efficient organization system, from native features provided by Android to advanced tricks depending on the brand and customization level of your device. Today we explore all the possible options, from the most basic to the most pro, including specific features for Xiaomi phones with MIUI or enterprise tools for those using Managed Google Play. We'll examine each option in detail so you can choose the method that best suits your daily work and, in the process, discover hidden tricks you may not have even known existed.
Key benefits of organizing your apps on Android
Before we get into the methods, it's worth remembering why it's worth taking a few minutes to organize your apps. A well-organized phone improves your user experience, reduces the time you spend searching for things, and minimizes the risk of installing duplicate or unnecessary apps. Furthermore, it makes it much easier to maintain device security, as you'll be able to instantly detect if any suspicious apps have slipped onto your phone.
On the other hand, choosing alphabetical order or categorization allows you to personalize your smartphone, adapting it to your routine and specific needs. Depending on the customization layer you use, there are options ranging from the simplest—like keeping your usual apps in the dock—to creating advanced collections for professional environments.
Basic options for organizing applications on Android
Almost all Android devices offer at least two essential ways to organize your apps: the home screen (desktop) and the app drawer. Let's see how you can get the most out of them.
Pin your favorite apps to the Dock
The famous Android dock is that application bar that's usually pinned to the bottom of the screen, visible on various home screen pages. Here you can place your most frequently used applications so they're always readily available, no matter which page you're on.
- Locate the desired app on any of the screens or in the app drawer.
- Drag the icon to the dock and drop it.
- If it's already full, remove an app by long-pressing it to make room.
This method is ideal for those who only want quick access to a few important apps, such as the browser, WhatsApp, camera, or calendar.
Customize the grid and layout of the home screen
One of the most overlooked options is customizing your desktop grid to optimize space. This allows you to decide how many icons appear per row and column, focusing your screen on what you actually use.
- Press and hold an empty space on the desktop.
- Access the menu Design o Grid.
- Select the format (3×6, 4×5, 4×6, 5×5, 5×6, etc.) according to your preference.
- Press on Apply To save the changes.
Remove apps from your home screen that you don't use often.
If your home screen is overflowing with icons you never look at, your best bet is to remove the unnecessary ones. Removing an app from the home screen doesn't uninstall it; it simply removes it from the shortcut.
- Find the dispensable app.
- Press and hold its icon and select Delete o Remove from startup.
- Confirm the action.
If you ever change your mind, just add the app again from the app drawer.
Lock the desktop layout to prevent accidental changes
Sometimes, after a lot of effort organizing your home screen, a simple swipe can mess everything up. Luckily, Android (and especially some custom interfaces like MIUI) lets you lock the home screen layout to prevent accidental changes.
- Press and hold an empty space on the screen.
- Sign in More u Options.
- Active Lock Home Screen Layout.
This way, no icons will be moved without your permission, and the order will remain exactly as you left it. If you ever want to redo your system, just disable this option and reorganize again.
How to organize apps in the app drawer
Not all Android users consider the app drawer important , but it's a crucial resource if you have many apps installed. It's usually accessed by swiping up from the home screen or via a dedicated button, depending on the brand.
The drawer usually offers several ways of sorting:
- In alphabetical order: It's the most intuitive. All apps are arranged from A to Z, making them easy to find at a glance.
- By installation date: Useful if you download apps frequently and want to identify the newest ones.
- By frequency of use: The most used apps appear first, saving you scrolling.
To change the sorting criteria, access your app drawer settings (often a three-dot menu or a gear icon) and select the Sort option . Choose your preferred method. If you find it doesn't suit your habits, you can revert to the default settings at any time.
How to organize apps on Xiaomi phones and customize MIUI
Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco devices, with their MIUI and HyperOS interfaces, take app organization to another level. They not only allow you to use an app drawer, but also offer advanced options like smart folders, categories, gestures, and even the option to create a completely separate second space within the phone itself. If you have one of these phones, take advantage of all these features:
Activate the app drawer
- Go to the Settings of your Xiaomi.
- Sign in Starting screen.
- Choose Starting screen again and then App drawer.
You can now access the app drawer by swiping up. Here you'll see all your apps organized by default and in higher categories.
Configure categories and their order
MIUI allows you to create, edit, and customize categories in the app drawer , grouping apps by utility or theme.
- Open the drawer and access the context menu (usually at the top right).
- Choose Manage categories and click on Customize now to create new ones or rename them.
- Select which apps you want within each group and dictate the order.
This will help you access your apps much more logically and quickly, such as having one group for 'Social Networks', another for 'Productivity' or 'Games'.
Use the scroll bar for different access methods
In the MIUI app drawer, you can choose between a simple blue sidebar for navigating apps, or the alphabetical scrolling option . If you enable the latter, you can easily jump from A to Z, even with a huge list of applications.
Automatic options for new apps
Decide whether you want new apps to be automatically added to your desktop or only appear in the app drawer. This option is perfect if you want to keep your Start menu clean, with only the essentials.
Smart app suggestions
The system can move your most frequently used apps to the top of the app drawer , making them easier to access with artificial intelligence. This is perfect for those who tend to use the same apps repeatedly.
Grouping icons by color
In the latest versions of MIUI, you can group apps by color . Icons with the same color scheme are grouped together, making visual and quick sorting easier.
Customize the grid layout and icon size
- Access the Home Screen settings.
- Choose Customize layout.
- Choose how many icons you want per row (3, 4 or 5).
- Adjust the icon size between XS and XL, according to your tastes and needs.
Create folders to organize your applications from the desktop
- Press and hold an app icon and drag it over another app.
- A folder will be created; you can add or remove apps by repeating the process.
- Rename the folders according to the category you want.
Folders help keep your desktop clean by grouping similar apps together and freeing up visual space.
Set the default screen you see when you unlock
- Pinch in on the desktop to open the launcher settings.
- Press on Set Default Display.
- Choose which of your pages you always want to see first when you unlock your phone.
Prevents icons from being automatically arranged
In MIUI, you can prevent icons from rearranging themselves after installing or removing apps.
- Disable the option Fill in gaps from uninstalled apps in the settings of Starting screen.
- Active Lock Home Screen Layout to set the layout of the apps.
Quick Tip: Shake your Xiaomi to arrange icons
Did you know that in MIUI 11 and later you can shake your phone and the system will automatically rearrange the icons, filling in empty spaces? Just enable "Shake to fill empty spaces" in your home screen settings.
Move multiple apps at once
MIUI lets you select multiple apps simultaneously to move them to another screen or save them in folders. Simply press and hold several apps at once or use the pinch gesture to select them, then drag them to the desired location.
Manage your apps with custom gestures
Gestures offer instant access and advanced organization in MIUI and HyperOS. For example, you can swipe with two fingers to open the app search, or with three to automatically create a folder. Customize these gestures from the Gestures and Shortcuts menu to get everything just the way you like it.
Remove text under icons for a cleaner desktop
If you find it annoying to see the name of each app below its icon, you can hide the text in your home screen settings. Keep in mind that this may change the icon layout.
Add your touch by changing the wallpaper
A calm and simple wallpaper can not only make your phone look tidier, but it will also help you distinguish the icons more easily. Go to Wallpaper in your settings and choose images that inspire peace or help highlight your apps.
Hide apps you want to keep private
In MIUI, you can decide which apps to hide, both from the drawer and from the overview, without uninstalling them.
- Accede to Security in the settings.
- Look for the option hide apps and select the ones you want to hide.
- To access the hidden ones, do a pinch on the home screen and they will appear just for you.
Take advantage of the Second Space to separate work and personal life
One of MIUI's most powerful features is Second Space . It allows you to have two completely independent environments on the same phone, with different apps, wallpapers, files, and settings. It's perfect for those who juggle work and personal life on a single device.
- Activate Second Space from the section of Privacy policy in settings.
- Give it a unique name, background, and unlock method.
- You can move apps and files between spaces through built-in transfer features.
Organizing apps in work environments: Managed Google Play
If you use a managed enterprise device, or are responsible for app administration in a corporate environment, the managed Google Play system allows you to create app collections (groups) so that employees only have access to the apps they need for their work.
What are the collections?
Collections are organized groupings of apps that appear as rows on the main page of your managed Google Play account. For example, you might have a group of 'Essential' apps, another of 'Expenses,' and so on . The goal is to simplify access and control the availability of each tool based on your job profile.
Steps to create, edit, and delete collections
- Enter the managed Google Play menu and select Organize apps.
- Click on Create a collectionYou can add up to 30 different collections.
- Name the collection and press Next.
- Choose up to 100 apps to include in the group. Searching is made easy with an integrated bar.
- Press on Add apps and then in Save to make the collection permanent.
You can edit any collection before saving it and delete it at any time, always by accessing the same menu.
Duplicate and copy collections
If you need to duplicate a collection to use as a basis for another group, tap Duplicate , then Create , and adjust the selected apps as needed before saving the changes.
Frequently asked questions and common doubts about organizing applications
Can apps be sorted (alphabetically or by other criteria) on the home screen of any Android?
Unfortunately, most stock Android devices don't have an automatic option to sort home screen icons alphabetically . You have to move the icons manually. However, many third-party launchers and custom Android skins like MIUI do allow this. The alphabetical sorting option is usually available in the app drawer.
Are there universal gestures for getting organized quickly?
In pure Android, gestures are basic (swipe, press and hold), but layers like MIUI allow advanced gestures (swipe two or three fingers, pinch), which speeds up organization.
Which third-party launchers facilitate alphabetical sorting?
If your manufacturer's launcher doesn't allow it, you can install Nova Launcher, Action Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and others, which include the option to sort by name with a simple menu.
Can the same organization system be applied to Android tablets?
Most of the options listed here work equally well for tablets, although layer versions may vary or have specific limitations.
What if I have too many apps and I can't even remember the name?
The search function integrated into the app drawer and the ability to create themed or color-coded folders can be very helpful in this case. This way, even if you don't remember the name, you can easily find the tool you're looking for.
Extra tips for organizing apps over time
- Periodically clean up apps you don't use.Not only will you free up memory, but browsing will be faster.
- Review the order of your folders and categories from time to time. As your needs change, your system should evolve.
- Change wallpapers and visual settings from time to time to refresh the interface and avoid the feeling of saturation.
Keeping your Android device perfectly organized is much easier than it seems, especially now that you know all the native options, MIUI's special tricks, and the business tools of Google Play Management. The key is finding the balance between order and personalization, adapting the organization to your routine instead of forcing yourself to follow a rigid method. If you choose wisely from the many options explained and dedicate a few minutes a month to updating your system, you'll find that your productivity and the enjoyment of using your phone increase significantly. Share this information so other users can learn how to organize their apps.