Unlock your devices in 3 steps
Recover data in 3 steps
Mar 20, 2025 • Filed to: Remove Screen Lock • Proven solutions
A locked home screen layout can be frustrating, restricting icon and widget customization. But don’t worry—it's not permanent! This guide will show you how to personalize your home screen on top Android brands like Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, and OPPO.
If your Redmi’s home screen is locked or your older Samsung no longer allows icon movement, don’t worry! This guide will help you unlock your home screen layout, remove restrictions, and freely arrange your apps and widgets.
First thing first, we need to define what it is when your Android phone is saying your "home screen is locked" or you have a "locked home screen layout".
Your phone locks the home screen to maintain its default layout, limiting customization. Once unlocked, you can freely move app icons, create folders, resize widgets, and personalize your home screen to suit your style.
The good news is, there are ways to unlock that home screen layout prison and break free from the shackles of disorganization! We'll dive into the specifics for different Android devices in just a bit. But first, understand that a locked home screen isn't permanent - it's just a setting that can (and should) be changed if you value flexibility and customization on your smartphone.
In this section, we'll go through the specific steps for unlocking the home screen layout on some of the biggest Android brands out there. The instructions can vary a bit depending on your specific model and Android version. But don't worry - we'll also cover some general troubleshooting tips if you can't find the layout lock option exactly as described.
For Samsung Galaxy users, unlocking that layout is usually just a few taps away:
Step 1: Long-press on an empty area of your home screen to enter edit mode
Step 2: Tap on "Home screen settings" option
Step 3: Look for an option labeled "Lock home screen layout" and toggle it off
And just like that, you should be able to long-press and freely drag app icons and widgets around again!
On newer Samsung models, the option may appear as "Remove/Delete Home Screen Panels". Simply toggling this off will unlock your layout, restoring full customization control over your home screen.
Pro Tip: If you don't see the layout lock option right away, try tapping the triple-line menu icon in the top corner first to expand the full settings list.
For Xiaomi and Redmi phones running the MIUI Android skin, follow these steps:
Step 1: Pinch inwards on the home screen using two fingers to enter edit mode.
Step 2: Tap the three-dot menu icon at the top.
Step 3: Select "Settings" then toggle off the option labeled "Lock layout".
Sometimes you might see the lock option nested under an "Advanced settings" or "More" menu instead. But once you find and disable that pesky layout lock setting, your Redmi home screen will be fully unlocked and ready for you to reorganize as you see fit!
Pro Tip: Can't find the "Lock layout" setting at all? Try heading to Settings > Home screen > More settings and see if it's lurking in there instead.
If you're using a Huawei or Honor device, here's what you'll need to do:
Step 1: Long-press an empty area of the home screen.
Step 2: Tap "Settings" and navigate to "Home screen style" section.
Step 3: Toggle off the option named "Lock home screen layout".
On some Huawei models, you might need to tap an "Unlock layout" button after turning that setting off as well.
Alternatively, on some Huawei devices, you might find the Layout Lock option under Settings > Display > Home Screen instead of the Home Screen Style section. Since Huawei's settings can vary between models, exploring both sections ensures you locate the right option to unlock and customize your home screen.
Pro Tip: If none of those settings paths work, try searching your phone's settings for terms like "lock" and "layout." With Huawei's dense settings menus, sometimes searching is quicker than manually navigating through each section.
For you Oppo fans out there, you've got the following path to unlock nirvana:
Step 1: Open the Settings app and navigate to Home Screen & Wallpaper > Home Screen Management
Step 2: Find and disable the "Lock layout" setting in this section
The exact location and wording of the Layout Lock option may differ across OPPO’s ColorOS versions. However, the two methods mentioned should help you regain full control over your home screen layout on most Oppo devices.
Pro Tip: If you still can't find the layout lock toggle anywhere, try checking under Settings > Special features. Oppo buries some home screen options pretty deep!
For our Infinix users out there running the XOS Android skin, it's a pretty straightforward process:
Step 1: Long-press any open space on your home screen to enter edit mode.
Step 2: Tap on "Home screen settings" option.
Step 3: Find and disable the "Lock home screen layout" toggle switch.
With a quick setting adjustment, you can break free from a locked home screen layout! Regain full control to organize app icons, create custom folders, and personalize your device just the way you like.
Pro Tip: XOS also lets you set an automatic home screen layout, which could potentially reset your organizational efforts. So after unlocking, check that the "Auto-update home screen layout" toggle is disabled too.
Okay, so now you know how to unlock home screen layout on various Android devices. But what if your issue is you can't get past the lock screen at all because you've forgotten your pattern, PIN, or password?
We've all been there - one minute you're merrily unlocking your phone like normal, and the next you've completely blanked on those magic digits or gestures. Rather than panic, turn to a trusty tool like Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) to regain access and remove home screen layout lock!
Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android) provides multiple methods for removing that stubborn lock screen security without any data loss. Let me show you how this lifesaver of an app works:
Unlock Android Screen Without A Password
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Step 1: Launch Dr.Fone and go to the Screen Unlock toolkit again.
Step 2: This time, choose the "Unlock Android Screen" option.
Step 3: You'll need to sign into your Google account associated with the locked device.
Step 4: Allow Dr.Fone to securely access your Find My Device data when prompted.
Step 5: The software will then display your current lock screen pattern, PIN or password - make a note of it!
Step 6: Now you can simply manually unlock your device using this code that Dr.Fone retrieved.
The Find My Device method is a great alternative if entering Download Mode isn’t an option. It retrieves your lock screen credentials without requiring a full factory reset, preserving your data. Regardless of the unlocking method you choose, Dr.Fone eliminates the stress of being locked out of your Android. With its user-friendly interface, you can quickly regain access in just a few clicks, making it an essential tool for device recovery.
The Ultimate Android Screen Unlock Tool!
And that's a wrap—your ultimate guide to unlocking rigid home screen layouts on Android! We’ve explored step-by-step methods for major brands like Samsung, Xiaomi/Redmi, Huawei, Oppo, Infinix, and more. With these insights, you can fully customize your home screen, rearrange app icons. But we went beyond just rearranging boring app icons. I also showed you how to fully regain access when you've forgotten that all-important lock screen password or pattern, thanks to the screen unlock prowess of Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (Android). With this comprehensive unlocking guide at your fingertips, your Android's custom layout potential is finally unlimited once again.
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