How Can I Unlock Home Screen Layout On Android Phones?

Part 1: What does lock home screen layout mean?

First thing first, we need to define what it is when your Android phone is saying your "home screen is locked" or you have a "locked home screen layout".

In short, that's your phone’s way of ensuring that you don't get your phone so that you can tailor your home screen look and feel by adjusting app icons and widgets. Once you unlock your mobile home screen, you can long-press on app shortcuts to drag them around or generate folders, resize widgets, and set up your home screens in a way that suits you. You’ll end up with a confined layout, therefore all those personalized options are tethered in.

The good news is, there are ways to unlock that home screen layout prison and break free from the shackles of disorganization! We'll dive into the specifics for different Android devices in just a bit. But first, understand that a locked home screen isn't permanent - it's just a setting that can (and should) be changed if you value flexibility and customization on your smartphone.

Part 2: How Can I Unlock Home Screen Layout on Android Phones?

In this section, we'll go through the specific steps for unlocking the home screen layout on some of the biggest Android brands out there. The instructions can vary a bit depending on your specific model and Android version. But don't worry - we'll also cover some general troubleshooting tips if you can't find the layout lock option exactly as described.

2-1 Unlocking Layout on Home Screen in Samsung

For Samsung Galaxy users, unlocking that layout is usually just a few taps away:

Step 1: Long-press on an empty area of your home screen to enter edit mode

Step 2: Tap on "Home screen settings" option

Step 3: Look for an option labeled "Lock home screen layout" and toggle it off

And just like that, you should be able to long-press and freely drag app icons and widgets around again!

On some newer Samsung models, you might see the option phrased slightly differently, like "Remove/Delete home screen panels." But toggling that off will have the same unlocking effect.

Pro Tip: If you don't see the layout lock option right away, try tapping the triple-line menu icon in the top corner first to expand the full settings list.

2-2 Unlocking Layout on Home Screen in Redmi

For Xiaomi and Redmi phones running the MIUI Android skin, follow these steps:

Step 1: Pinch inwards on the home screen using two fingers to enter edit mode.

Step 2: Tap the three-dot menu icon at the top.

Step 3: Select "Settings" then toggle off the option labeled "Lock layout".

Sometimes you might see the lock option nested under an "Advanced settings" or "More" menu instead. But once you find and disable that pesky layout lock setting, your Redmi home screen will be fully unlocked and ready for you to reorganize as you see fit!

Pro Tip: Can't find the "Lock layout" setting at all? Try heading to Settings > Home screen > More settings and see if it's lurking in there instead.

2-3 Unlocking Layout on Home Screen in Huawei

If you're using a Huawei or Honor device, here's what you'll need to do:

Step 1: Long-press an empty area of the home screen.

Step 2: Tap "Settings" and navigate to "Home screen style" section.

Step 3: Toggle off the option named "Lock home screen layout".

On some Huawei models, you might need to tap an "Unlock layout" button after turning that setting off as well.

Alternatively, you may find the layout lock under Settings > Display > Home screen instead of "Home screen style" section. Huawei's settings menus can be a bit inconsistent between models.

Pro Tip: If none of those settings paths work, try searching your phone's settings for terms like "lock" and "layout." With Huawei's dense settings menus, sometimes searching is quicker than manually navigating through each section.

2-4 Unlocking Layout on Home Screen in Oppo

For you Oppo fans out there, you've got the following path to unlock nirvana:

Step 1: Open the Settings app and navigate to Home Screen & Wallpaper > Home Screen Management

Step 2: Find and disable the "Lock layout" setting in this section

The location and wording can vary a bit between Oppo's Android ColorOS versions. But those two methods should have you covered for regaining layout editing powers across most of their devices.

Pro Tip: If you still can't find the layout lock toggle anywhere, try checking under Settings > Special features. Oppo buries some home screen options pretty deep!

2-5 Unlocking Layout on Home Screen in Infinix

For our Infinix users out there running the XOS Android skin, it's a pretty straightforward process:

Step 1: Long-press any open space on your home screen to enter edit mode.

Step 2: Tap on "Home screen settings" option.

Step 3: Find and disable the "Lock home screen layout" toggle switch.

With just that simple setting toggle, you'll free your home screen from its rigid layout prison! No more mourning your inability to group those app icons exactly how you want.

Pro Tip: XOS also lets you set an automatic home screen layout, which could potentially reset your organizational efforts. So after unlocking, check that the "Auto-update home screen layout" toggle is disabled too.

Part 3: Bonus: How Can I Unlock Android Screen Without A Password?

Okay, so now you know how to unlock home screen layout on various Android devices. But what if your issue is you can't get past the lock screen at all because you've forgotten your pattern, PIN, or password?

We've all been there - one minute you're merrily unlocking your phone like normal, and the next you've completely blanked on those magic digits or gestures. Rather than panic, turn to a trusty tool like Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) to regain access and remove home screen layout lock!

Dr.Fone's Screen Unlock toolkit for Android provides multiple methods for removing that stubborn lock screen security without any data loss. Let me show you how this lifesaver of an app works:

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android)

Unlock Android Screen Without A Password

• Completely unlinked from the previous Google account, it won’t be traced or blocked by it anymore.
• Remove all Android screen locks (PIN/pattern/fingerprints/face ID) in minutes.
• Compatiable with various Android models.
• Provide specific removal solutions to promise good success rate.

Available on: Windows Mac

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Use Android Screen Unlock via Find My Device

In addition to the Android Data Backup & Restore method, Dr.Fone has another neat trick - it can remove lock screens by temporarily accessing your Google Find My Device data:

Step 1: Launch Dr.Fone and go to the Screen Unlock toolkit again.

Step 2: This time, choose the "Unlock Android Screen" option.

Step 3: You'll need to sign into your Google account associated with the locked device.

Step 4: Allow Dr.Fone to securely access your Find My Device data when prompted.

Step 5: The software will then display your current lock screen pattern, PIN or password - make a note of it!

Step 6: Now you can simply manually unlock your device using this code that Dr.Fone retrieved.

This Find My Device method is awesome if you can't put your phone into Download Mode for some reason. It grabs your lock screen credentials without any full factory reset required.

No matter which unlocking option you choose, Dr.Fone takes the panic out of being locked out of your Android. It's an essential tool for swiftly regaining access with just a few clicks!

Conclusion

There you have it - your complete guide to busting through those constrictive home screen layout locks on Android! We covered the specific unlocking methods for Samsung, Xiaomi/Redmi, Huawei, Oppo, Infinix, and more major brands.

But we went beyond just rearranging boring app icons. I also showed you how to fully regain access when you've forgotten that all-important lock screen password or pattern, thanks to the screen unlock prowess of Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android).

With this comprehensive unlocking guide at your fingertips, your Android's custom layout potential is finally unlimited once again.

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