Every smartphone with Android system offers the freedom to change the appearance, especially as regards the main screen or Home screen . Android compared to the iPhone is not blocked with the usual grid of icons, but can be deeply customized, also changing the icons, the layout, the home and menu design. We can add widgets, we can add search bars and quick gestures, we can have empty spaces where we want and if we don't like the way our screens appear with the launcher provided by the phone we can also abandon it and use a different launcher, opening ourselves to new worlds of personalization and new themes to use, all without any difficulty.
In this article we will therefore show you the best ways to customize Android on every Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi or other smartphone, so you can change almost everything of the initial appearance of the home screen and other apps and thus have a "new" phone every month .
How to customize Android
Android customization goes from very simple things (such as backgrounds, icons and the lancher) to much more complex things like installing a new ROM, which in fact completely changes the operating system (usually bringing it to a more new and with more functions). Obviously it is up to us to choose how to act, also based on our skills.Wallpapers
You can customize Android by changing the background of the main screen and using images that scroll together with the icon screen. In addition to fixed and sliding backgrounds there are also animated backgrounds with images in continuous motion or which come alive when you touch with your finger.Each phone or tablet comes with a selection of wallpapers: pictures for the home screen or lock screen wallpapers.
You can change wallpapers in many ways on Android, perhaps by installing a launcher like Microsoft Launcher, which allows you to change the wallpaper automatically every day or with dedicated apps like Google Wallpapers where you can find many images divided into categories.
To set a new wallpaper and use, for example, a photo, just long press on an empty space on the Home screen and access the Wallpapers section; alternatively we can also act from the phone's Settings menu, where there is always an item to change the background of the system.
To learn more about this topic we can read our guides on how to change and download wallpapers on Android mobiles and tablets and how to use live wallpapers on Android .
Launcher
While in an iPhone the Home screen is made up of icons arranged in a grid and buttons at the bottom for favorite applications, on Android it is possible to choose an infinite variety of provisions and icons to add. The app we use to organize and launch apps on an Android smartphone is called a launcher and every smartphone is equipped with it, even if the one provided by the manufacturer of the phone is slow or not very responsive. For maximum customization on Android, we recommend that you focus on an alternative launcher such as Nova Launcher.
By installing an app like this and starting it we will get new home screens with app icons, a dock that can contain the most used apps always visible and a button to open the list of apps or quick search for apps, as well as convenient gestures to call up the area of icons or quick buttons.
On the main screen you can move the icons as you want, add and remove widgets such as the clock or the weather, create folders of icons by dragging one over the other.
By installing a new launcher we will be able to change the size of the icons and widgets on the home screens to be able to adapt them to the space available and to add or remove screens.
The most modern launchers allow you to switch from one to the other by importing the layouts, so as to keep your favorite one and not start over every time.
In another guide we have already told you about the best free Android launchers to use, but if we want to imitate the iPhone home screen just read our guide to the home screen of an Android phone identical to that of an iPhone .
Icons
The icons of the buttons to launch the apps can be changed, on each Android smartphone, from the settings of the launcher or of the display; they are called icon packs and are available directly from the Play Store, such as Pixel pie icon pack.
If we don't find the option to change the icons, just change the launcher with one that allows this possibility, such as those seen in the previous chapters.
We made a selection, in another post, of the best icon packs that contain the buttons of almost all the main apps, with different designs just to choose from, for free.
Site icons can also be added to the Home screen for quick launch.
widgets
Another way to liven up the home screen of an Android smartphone is by adding a widget or two in a dedicated screen, so as to add interactive functions in the form of buttons to be pressed, switches or dynamic information on a service.
Just think, for example, of the widget with time and weather that show the clock, date and weather forecast without having to open any app. The widget with music playback controls allows you to change the song to listen directly from the main screen, pause it or start again without opening the app. Most apps for listening to music on Android include a widget or two for the main screen, but there are even more flexible music widgets if you prefer.
In the list of the best widgets there is also the one to take notes, to see the calendar of appointments, to activate or deactivate phone functions and many others. If we want to view other widgets with date and weather, we invite you to read the guide to the Best Widgets with Weather and Time on Android transparent and customizable .
Keyboard
The keyboard that appears every time you have to write a message is an app that can be changed, so as to add much more effective predictive functions and new functions such as stickers, GIFs and images from the web; an example is the SwiftKey keyboard.
Do not neglect also the Google GBoard keyboard that has in its settings, the options to change color and theme as well as customize every aspect and key of the keyboard also changing the writing mode.
If we want to try other keyboards, we recommend you read our guide to the best keyboards for Android .
New ringtones
In the Audio settings of Android you can choose the ringtone of the call ringtone, message notifications and each app. Each smartphone comes with a set of predefined music and sounds to choose from, which change from brand to brand.
With apps to download and change ringtones on Android like Zedge everything becomes simpler and free, with the ability to put songs, music and melodies of all kinds.
As seen there are also free ringtones such as classic phone ringing, for those who don't want to hear music but a nice loud ringing.
Lock screen
Even the lock screen on Android can be customized in various ways, not only using different backgrounds, but also lock methods and widgets that can be added to see some information on the screen without needing to unlock it; for example if you like the iPhone style we can install the lock screen Lock screen and iOS 13 notifications.
You can decide, in the security settings of Android, the screen lock style, the lock method to use, whether to show notifications and the text to be displayed.
In addition, through some applications for the Android lock screen, you can add widgets and notifications of all kinds.
Other customizations
Among the customizations possible on Android there are other apps that can be changed, with different graphics or with new functions.
For example, the Telephone applications change the graphics of the call keypad and also that of the keys to answer. The app for SMS messages on Android can be changed, as well as the address book, the email app and the calendar app just to give some examples.
If we wish, we can also customize WhatsApp with different backgrounds in chats .
Install a new ROM
Although this may void the warranty, nothing prevents you from radically changing your Android system by installing a different version. Android is an open source system so there are many versions, even better than the one on the newly purchased smartphone.
After unlocking the Android bootloader, you can then install a different version or ROM of the operating system, completely changing the mobile phone. In this way, if before it did not work too well with the applications pre-installed by the manufacturer or for other reasons or if the phone no longer receives system updates, it is possible to renew it with a new ROM, obtaining new functions, greater safety and greater speed.
In another article the best Android custom ROMs are listed, although for each model there are specifications and it is possible that they are different from the most popular ones.
Conclusions
The strength of Android is without a doubt the customization: even if iPhone has improved a lot from this point of view, Android remains the ideal system for those who want a personal phone with favorite icons, with the most beautiful keyboard or with the launcher or the spectacular background, so as to envy everyone.In another article we told you about the best apps to improve Android, modify and customize the system .
If, on the other hand, we would like to apply other types of customization, we invite you to read our App guides to customize notifications on Android and Customize the Android navigation bar .
