Hide App Icon Labels on Samsung Galaxy: Step-by-Step

If you want a cleaner home screen on your Samsung Galaxy phone, hiding the text labels under app icons gives your device a more minimal, modern look. This guide walks you through the exact steps to remove those labels using the built-in Home screen settings—no third-party apps required.

What You’ll Need

• A Samsung Galaxy phone running One UI (most models from 2019 onward).
• Access to the Home screen settings (no special permissions needed).

Step-by-Step

1. Unlock your phone and go to the Home screen. Make sure you’re on the main screen (not inside an app).
2. Long-press on an empty area of the Home screen. Hold your finger down for about a second until the screen vibrates or shows a menu at the bottom. If you’re using a third-party launcher, skip to the Troubleshooting section.
3. Tap “Settings” in the pop-up menu. This opens the Home screen settings. On some versions, you might see a gear icon labeled “Home screen settings.”
4. Look for “Home screen grid” or “App icon labels.” The exact wording varies by One UI version. In One UI 5 and 6, you’ll see a toggle labeled “App icon labels.” In older versions, it might be under “Home screen layout” or “Icon labels.”
5. Toggle off “App icon labels.” Tap the switch so it turns gray (off). The labels should disappear immediately from your Home screen and app drawer.
6. Exit settings. Tap the back button or swipe down to return to your Home screen. The labels are now hidden.

Common Mistakes

• Long-pressing on an app icon instead of empty space. This opens the app’s context menu (with options like “Remove” or “App info”), not the Home screen settings. Make sure you press on a blank spot between icons.
• Using a third-party launcher without checking its own settings. If you use Nova, Action, or another launcher, the Samsung settings won’t work. You’ll need to change the label setting inside that launcher’s preferences.
• Expecting labels to disappear from folders too. Folder names are separate and won’t be removed by this toggle—only the text under individual app icons.

Tips

• Use a dark wallpaper. Without labels, icons blend more into the background, making the screen look even sleeker.
• Group similar apps into folders. With labels gone, folders help you keep your apps organized without cluttering the screen.
• If you want to restore labels later, just follow the same steps and toggle the switch back on. It’s a reversible change with no risk to your data.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see the “App icon labels” option. This usually means you’re not using the default One UI Home screen. Check if you have a launcher like Nova or Microsoft Launcher installed. If so, either switch back to One UI (Settings > Apps > Choose default apps > Home app) or find the label setting within your launcher’s settings (usually under “Home screen” or “Icon layout”).

The labels are still showing after toggling off. Restart your phone or go to Settings > Apps > Samsung One UI Home > Force stop. This refreshes the Home screen. Also, make sure you’re looking at the Home screen, not the app drawer—some versions hide labels only on the main screen.

I only want to hide labels for some apps. Samsung’s built-in option hides all labels at once. If you need per-app control, you’ll need a third-party launcher that supports custom icon settings, or you can manually rename the app shortcut (long-press > Edit > clear the name).

Frequently Asked Questions

Will hiding labels affect app functionality?

No, it only hides the text. Apps still open normally, and you can still find them by swiping up to open the app drawer, where labels remain visible (unless you turn them off there too).

Can I hide labels in the app drawer as well?

Yes, the same toggle usually affects both the Home screen and the app drawer. If it doesn’t, check for a separate “App drawer” or “Apps screen” setting in Home screen settings.

Does this work on all Samsung Galaxy models?

It works on most models running One UI, including Galaxy S, Note, A, and Z series. Older models with Samsung Experience may have the option under a different name, like “Icon labels” or “Show labels.”

Will hiding labels improve battery life?

No, the effect on battery is negligible. It’s purely a visual change.

Can I still use Bixby or Google Assistant to find apps?

Yes, voice assistants don’t rely on visual labels. You can still say “Open Instagram” and it will work.

How do I get the labels back?

Repeat the same steps and toggle the switch back on. The labels will reappear instantly.

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