Top 3 Ways to Change App Drawer on Samsung Galaxy Phones

Quick Tips

• Download and set Nova Launcher as your default launcher for a customizable vertical app drawer.
• Install the Good Lock app and its Home Up module to enable vertical scrolling and customize your app drawer.
• If you prefer an iOS-like experience, disable the app drawer by selecting Home screen only in your settings.

1. Use a Third-Party Launcher

While the One UI software packs several customization options, one can’t change the scrolling orientation. Let’s‘ use a third-party launcher.

In the example below, we will use the fan-favorite Nova launcher.

Step 1: Head to the Google Play Store and download the Nova Launcher on your phone.

Step 2: Open the app, which will take you to the Nova Settings menu.

Step 3: Close it and find the Nova Launcher app icon from the home screen or app drawer.

Step 4: Long-tap on the Nova Launcher app icon and select Set launcher.

Step 5: Select Nova7 as the default launcher on your phone and close the menu.

You will see Samsung applying Nova launcher as your phone’s default home screen and app drawer. Swipe up to open the app drawer, and voila! You will notice Nova’s default vertical app drawer is in action.

Step 6: Now, you can go to Nova Settings and select the App drawer menu.

Here, you have many editing options to customize the app drawer look on your Galaxy phone.

Nova allows you to change the app drawer grid, background color, transparency, animations, tab bar, search bar placement, accent color, and more. You have all the tools to customize the app drawer experience on your Samsung phone.

2. Use the Samsung Good Lock App

Although limited in certain regions worldwide, the Samsung Good Lock app is known for many customization options. The steps below show you how to use Good Lock and change the app drawer.

Step 1: Open Galaxy Store on your phone and search for Good Lock.

Step 2: Install the app and open it.

Step 3: From the Good Lock home screen, select Home Up.

The app will take you to the Galaxy Store and ask you to install the Home Up add-on.

Step 4: After successful installation, open Good Lock again and go to the Home Up menu.

Step 5: Enable the Home Up toggle and go to the Home screen.

Step 6: Enable Loop pages and Apps List toggle under the Scroll menu.

Now, go back to the home screen and swipe up to check the app drawer. You will see a new vertical app drawer appearing.

You can check the priority apps at the top for easy access and other apps and folders at the bottom.

3. Disable the App Drawer on Samsung Phones

If you are coming from the Apple camp, you might not prefer an app drawer on Android. iOS places all the apps and games on the home screen. You can get the same setup on your Samsung phone as well. Here’s’ how.

Step 1: Swipe down from the top and reveal the notification center.

Step 2: Go to Settings and select Home screen.

Step 3: Tap on the Home screen layout, select the Home screen only option, and hit Apply.

Give it some time to see all the installed apps and games appearing right on the home screen. They will be divided into home screen pages like iOS does on iPhone.

We hope to see Samsung offering a vertical app drawer in future One UI updates. That way, users don’t have to apply a third-party launcher or mess with Good Lock to change the app drawer scrolling orientation in Galaxy phones.