How To Add The Settings App Or Shortcut To Android (2026)

Your phone’s Settings icon is missing from the home screen, or you want a one-tap shortcut to a single setting like Wi-Fi.

The right method depends on whether you want the main Settings app or one specific page inside it.

This guide covers both on Pixel, other stock Android phones and Samsung Galaxy, and takes a couple of minutes.

Which method gives you what you want?

Method	Gets you	Works on	Cost
Drag from the Apps screen	Main Settings app icon	Android phones in general	Free
Settings widget	One chosen settings page	Some stock Android phones	Free
RegiStar search shortcut	One chosen settings page	Samsung Galaxy with Good Lock	Free
Shortcut Maker app	Any settings activity	Android phones in general	Free app, paid extras
Quick settings edit	Toggles, not pages	Pixel and Galaxy	Free

The table is based on Google’s and Samsung’s support pages plus the third-party sources named below.

How to put the Settings app icon on your home screen

This is the simplest fix and uses Google’s standard add-an-app steps.

Swipe up from the bottom of the Home screen to open your apps.
Touch and drag the Settings app.
Slide it to the spot you want, then lift your finger.

Google notes that some of these steps only work on Android 14 and up.

How to add Settings to the home screen on a Samsung Galaxy

Samsung gives three ways to place any app on the Home screen.

Touch and hold the app until a menu appears, then tap Add to Home.
Touch and hold the app until the Home screen appears, then release it where you want it.
Touch and hold the app, drag it to the top or bottom of the screen, then release it.

The bottom Favorites row holds up to 5 apps, or 4 if the Apps screen button is on your Home screen.

Make Tech Easier describes a Settings widget on stock Android that lets you pin one specific setting.

Touch and hold an empty space on the Home screen and tap Widgets.
Tap the Settings widget to expand it, then touch and hold it and drag it to the Home screen.
When asked to choose a setting, tap the one you want.

This widget is not guaranteed on every phone, so check your Widgets list before relying on it.

Google’s own add-a-widget steps start the same way, with a touch and hold on an empty space and Widgets.

How to use Shortcut Maker for any settings page

Shortcut Maker is a free Google Play app that can create shortcuts to individual settings activities.

Install Shortcut Maker from Google Play and open it.
Tap Settings, then Settings Activities.
Pick the setting you want, using the search icon if needed.
Tap Create Shortcut, then add it to the Home screen on the confirmation screen.

You can change the name or icon on that confirmation screen.

How to create settings shortcuts on a Galaxy with RegiStar

Make Tech Easier describes a Samsung-only route through Good Lock, so treat it as a community method rather than an official Samsung feature.

Install Good Lock and open it.
Go to the Life up tab, then RegiStar.
Tap Search options and turn on the toggle for creating shortcuts.
Open the Settings app and tap the search icon.
Type the name of the setting, touch and hold the result, then tap Add.

Should you edit Quick Settings instead?

If you only want fast toggles such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, the Quick Settings panel may be faster than a home screen shortcut.

On Pixel and stock Android:

Swipe down twice from the top of the screen.
Tap the edit control.
Tap the add control on the settings you want, and drag tiles to reorder them.

Google says touching and holding a tile opens that setting’s advanced options.

On Samsung Galaxy:

Swipe down on the Home screen to open the quick panel.
Tap the more options icon, then Edit buttons.
Touch and hold a button and drag it into or out of the panel.
Tap Done.

What are the steps on Pixel versus Galaxy side by side?

Task	Pixel and stock Android	Samsung Galaxy
Add an app icon	Swipe up, then touch and drag the app	Touch and hold the app, then tap Add to Home
Add a widget	Touch and hold an empty space, then tap Widgets	Same starting point; Samsung has a separate widgets guide
Edit Quick Settings	Swipe down twice, then tap the edit control	Swipe down, tap the more options icon, then Edit buttons
Lock the layout	Google does not cover this on the pages used here	Touch and hold an empty spot, tap Settings, turn on Lock Home screen layout
Remove a shortcut	Google does not cover this on the pages used here	Touch and hold the shortcut, then tap Remove

To remove a Galaxy shortcut you no longer want, touch and hold it and tap Remove.

Dragging one shortcut onto another creates a folder, which helps if several settings shortcuts crowd the screen.

Is Nova Launcher still a good option?

Nova Launcher can create activity shortcuts, but its future is uncertain.

Android Authority reported in November 2025 that Branch bought Nova in 2022, laid off most of its developers in 2024, and that founder Kevin Barry left in September 2025.

The app was still available then, but the site advised against buying Nova Prime because of its uncertain future.

Why is the Settings icon missing or stuck?

If you see	Likely cause	Try this
Icon vanished from the bottom row on a Galaxy	It was removed from Favorites	Open the Apps screen, touch and hold Settings, and drag it into the Favorites row
Cannot move or remove icons	Home screen layout is locked	Touch and hold an empty spot, tap Settings, and turn off Lock Home screen layout
No Settings widget in the list	Your phone or launcher does not include it	Use Shortcut Maker or RegiStar instead
Shortcut opens the wrong page	Settings activities differ between phones	Delete it and create it again from the list on your phone

Where can you customize the Galaxy home screen further?

See our guides to customizing the Home screen layout on Galaxy S25 and adding or removing app widgets on Galaxy S25.

Official references: Google: add apps, shortcuts and widgets, Samsung: add app shortcuts and Samsung: organize the Home screen.