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How to Fix App Icons Disappeared or Missing on Android

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It is convenient to download and use an app with smartphones, as long as our storage capacity allows it. All we have to do is go to the Google Play Store, choose an app, and install. We can have a lot of apps that we can use at any time.

But, some users have reported missing app icons on their Android phones. One reason is when we accidentally press and delete an app icon without our knowledge. By the time we try to look for the app, it has gone missing.

So, is there a way to solve this Android issue? Yes, check our list of troubleshooting methods below to know how.

How to Fix App Icons Disappeared on Android Phones

Method #1 – Unhide the App Using the Launcher Setting

Your app may be hidden. To unhide or show the app, go to the launcher settings, and unhide the app that is missing. You can also arrange the apps so that you will be able to locate them quickly.

Android-Launcher-Setting

Method #2 – Access your Widgets

  • You can drag your missing icons back to your screen through your Widgets. To access this option, tap and hold anywhere on your home screen.
  • Look for Widgets and tap to open.
  • Look for the app that is missing. Tap and hold the app. Now, drag it to a space in your home screen to add the icon. You can do this to all the apps you think are missing.
  • Once you are done, arrange the app on your home screen.

Method #3 – Use your App Drawer

  • Access your app drawer. It is a six-circle icon that looks like a button.
  • Look for the missing app. If you have a lot of apps in your drawer, you can use the search bar.
  • Tap and hold the icon. Now, drag it to your home screen.
Android-App-Drawer

Method #4 – Reenable the Apps

The missing apps may be disabled at some point, so you will need to reenable it to show on your home screen.

  • Launch the Settings of your device.
  • Go to Apps or Manage apps.
  • Now, look for the missing app and open it.
  • Try to look for the Disable or Start/Enable option. If you see that the app is Disabled, you will need to tap the option to Enable it.

Method #5 – Check If the App is Deleted

It may not be that the app icon is missing but you have accidentally deleted the entire app. To check if the app is still installed on your phone or not, go to the Google Play Store. Search for the app. If the Install option appears, the app was deleted. Click install to open it again.

That’s it! Follow each method one at a time and check if the problem is resolved or not. Was the article helpful? Let us know in the comments below.

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Eddie Mendoza Jr
Eddie Mendoza Jr
Eddie has a degree in Information Technology with a natural inclination towards troubleshooting devices. With more than 10 years of blogging experience in different niches, he has found it most satisfying when writing easy-to-follow guides and simplified articles related to computers, smart TVs, mobile devices and Internet-based services.

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13 COMMENTS

  1. I fixed this following update from Android 9 to 10. Select settings/display/home screen, and choose Tile Layout rather than drawer. Icons are displayed if you swipe left; they can then be moved as necessary. This is on a Lenovo tablet.

  2. Nothing works. The only way I can get the missing icon apps to work is to try and download the app. It then gives me the option to open it, because it is there, but has no visible icon.

  3. I have used all of these methodss but am still unable to find the app icons. I’m missing about half of my icons which makes the phone virtually unusable. Luckily my phone app is still there. These methods are the commonly listed Troubleshooting options, but they just don’t work. OPPO A91 Color OS 11.1 Android 11.

  4. I had the same problem with the exact same phone. If you go into settings and select apps, you’ll see all your apps that are missing from the home screen and main app menu are still installed. Also, if you haven’t disabled your side menu for quick access from the home screen you can place your finger on the right side of your screen and swipe left. This will show you your recently closed apps (only two or three) as well as a shortcut menu. At the bottom left of this menu, you can open your apps and they will all be there with their icons. However, in my case, the problem was simply the game launcher app. I noticed that it was only game apps that were hidden(missing icons). I opened game launcher from the app menu and opened settings. It was set to only show games in the launcher as a default setting. I had to change this so my games would be visible on the home screen and main app menu. This fixed the issue. So check your app settings. You might have one that controls what you see on your home screen and app menu also.

    • Thank you, thank you, Alex! I tried many “problem solver” options and none worked, until I read your comments! Easy instructions and it worked in a hot second!!

  5. After much searching, this is how I solved it:
    My tablet (Android 11) updated then a few games I play disappeared from the home and all apps screens.
    I finally discovered Android hid them in the game launcher app without telling me (thanks for nothing).
    There is an option to allow the apps also appear on the home and all apps screens as well as the game launcher.
    If your missing app isn’t a game, maybe Google hid it away in another useless app like game launcher.

  6. I have apps(not games) that have no icon showing on s22 phone… they are installed, but how do I get icon to show?? This is VERY frustrating

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