frustrated with how folders/home screen works

[ShaggyKids]

Hi there,

I'm frustrated with the way the folders & home screen works. I'm figuring that I just "don't get it" or something so hoping someone can help.

My grankids downloaded 6 free games today and went nuts playing them - they have this phone figured out better than I do so far, LOL! Their Mom has an Incredible which they are very familiar with so I'm crediting that to their brilliant high-tech phone abilities.

I don't want all these games scattered all over my screen so I managed to figure out how to make a folder (and rename it - yay me!) to put the games in. When I made the folder it automatically went to the home screen. I don't want it there, I'd rather click the arrow button to access it so that its on the "secondary home screen" I guess you'd call it.

I dragged one game to this new folder, but it still shows up as a stand-alone game when clicking the arrow at the bottom of the screen and that second screen slides up.

So, how do I get newly made folders to set themselves up on the secondary slide up screen rather than the home screen? Is there a way to drag an app (game in this instance) to a folder and then have the icon for it disappear as a stand alone app?

 

[prakash99]

There is an app called Smart Shortcuts. You can use this to categorize your apps and have just one icon for each category on your homescreens.

There are quite a few other apps that do similar things.

 

[bthomp21]

just like an app, you can drag all the games in to that folder. once done, long press the folder and continue holding the folder and drag to whatever screen youd like.

 

[prakash99]

BTW you can drag any app or folder or widget from one screen to another by longpressing and dragging.

 

[mclarryjr]

Your won't be able to remove apps from you application drawer (secondary home screen) using the Sense launch. If you get launcher pro from the market in the settings you would be able to hide certain apps you want. When using other launchers you will not be able to us your Sense widgets but launcher pro has similar widgets. Your other options would be just to remove the games.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

 

[ShaggyKids]

BTW you can drag any app or folder or widget from one screen to another by longpressing and dragging.

This much I understood, but I cannot make that self-made folder go where I want it to go. Long press/hold only gives me a REMOVE option.

 

[ShaggyKids]

Your won't be able to remove apps from you application drawer (secondary home screen) using the Sense launch. If you get launcher pro from the market in the settings you would be able to hide certain apps you want. When using other launchers you will not be able to us your Sense widgets but launcher pro has similar widgets. Your other options would be just to remove the games.

Ok, I'll give this a try, thanks

 

[bthomp21]

When you longpress the folder, look at the top of the screen. It should say "drag items to rearrange, etc" Drag the folder up there to the right or left arrow and it should change the screen for you!

 

[WhitePhone]

This much I understood, but I cannot make that self-made folder go where I want it to go. Long press/hold only gives me a REMOVE option.

You aren't trying to put the folder in the app drawer(up arrow next to the phone button) are you? Basically, you can't modify the app drawer at all. And everything on the homescreen is just a shortcut that can be safely deleted and moved.

 

[ShaggyKids]

You aren't trying to put the folder in the app drawer(up arrow next to the phone button) are you? Basically, you can't modify the app drawer at all. And everything on the homescreen is just a shortcut that can be safely deleted and moved.

I'm sorry, I don't know all the Android terminology but this sounds like what I'm trying to accomplish. I want certain icons on the home screen and the rest on the secondary screen (app drawer?) which to me is the screen you get when you touch the arrow and that second screen pops up.

I would like to add a folder to the app drawer to put the games in so that all the games are not listed individually on that screen - that's way to many icons to suit me. There are so many icons there it drives me nuts, to much scrolling to find something.

 

[bthomp21]

now I get it. unfortunately the app drawer is a list of all apps on the phone. like mentioned before, try launcher pro in the market. it will hide all the apps you would like to.



Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

 

[eloverton2]

I'm sorry, I don't know all the Android terminology but this sounds like what I'm trying to accomplish. I want certain icons on the home screen and the rest on the secondary screen (app drawer?) which to me is the screen you get when you touch the arrow and that second screen pops up.

I would like to add a folder to the app drawer to put the games in so that all the games are not listed individually on that screen - that's way to many icons to suit me. There are so many icons there it drives me nuts, to much scrolling to find something.

you can't remove any icons from the app drawer unless you uninstall them or install an app that hides them. you can, however put folders on one of your main screens (like the furthest right or left) and put shortcuts on any of your home screens (for the apps you use the most) by holding an app, it will create a shortcut that you can drag between any of your home screens.

 

[ShaggyKids]

I just got Launcher Pro and I think this will help once I figure it out more. Is there a way to set this as the default for usage? Whenever I click on something I get a choice to use it or the HTC Sense. Would be nice if I could set this as the default usage.

 

[bthomp21]

there should be an option when that pops up to use as default home launcher.



Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

 

[ShaggyKids]

Well, somehow it managed to be set that way - I didn't do it manually. Almost seems like after X number of uses it might just set itself. When I found it's settings, it was already set to default and that choice screen seems to not be coming up any more.

I'm really starting to like this Launcher Pro

 

[Guntherm]

In the secondary screen you can't place folders with stocl Sense. You would have to load things like other launchers. The app screen is just that a big long screen with all apps. I know I scroll a long time... Now if you could place them in used order that would be great as well.

 

[magikspl]

I see you are catching on there debsdroid. One fundamental idea I think you are missing is the point of having multiple home screens. You have multiple home screens to configure them to show and access what you want so you DON'T use the app drawer. The app drawer is a collection of everything that is on the phone. Customize your home screens to get to the stuff that you want to quickly. EVERYTHING that is within the app drawer plus even more stuff that is not contained there can be put on a home screen. Try to organize your screens so you don't have to use the app drawer for anything.

 

[Chrisy]

This had me confused for a while too. At first I tried to customize the app drawer too. Then I noticed apps couldn't be deleted from there. It's basically a catch all for all apps installed. Now I just ignore it and moved apps I use out onto the slide screens. There's plenty of room there!

 

[NikoB]

I'm new to Android too and there is definitely a learning curve. I wanted folders to and I figured it out. Chrissy is right you can move apps to the slide screens and there is plenty of room. What if you want certain folders on certain screens this is what I did to make that happen:

I wanted a games folder so first I went to the slide screen I wanted the folder on.

Then I hit the Personlization button (pallette and paint brush) and selected folder..then new folder. Now the folder is on the screen I want it to be on.

Now if you open the folder and press and hold the top of the folder you can name it whatever you want.

So now I have a games folder on my last slide screen and plan to make many more. I almost need to take a week of vacation to get familiar with my phone!

 

[Chrisy]

Thanks I didn't know how to rename!