GoKawiilJoe Maring / Android Authority
As much as I love Google’s Pixel phones, I’ll be the first to admit that home screen customization has never been a strong suit. Pixels get so much right, but when it comes to deep customization options, they leave a lot to be desired.
Thankfully, Google has been making strides to change this. After adding system-wide app icon theming and AI-generated icon packs, Google has now added another home screen setting to let you fine-tune your Pixel even more. Specifically, you can now remove app icon names for a sleek, minimalist home screen setup.
Want to use this on your Pixel? Here’s what to do.
What's your favorite new feature in Android 17? 1588 votes Multitasking app bubbles 32 % New screen recording UI 7 % Hide app names 16 % Expanded dark theme controls 13 % Temporary precise location access 5 % Split Wi-Fi/data quick settings toggles 11 % Satellite quick settings tile 9 % Assistant volume 7 %
What you need to access this setting
To hide app names on your Pixel home screen, you’ll first need to ensure your phone is running Android 17. The setting is directly part of Android 17, so if you’re still on Android 16, you’ll need to update your Pixel first.
Google began rolling out Android 17 on Tuesday, June 16. If you haven’t checked your phone for the update yet, here’s what to do: Open the Settings app. Tap System. Tap Software updates. Tap System update. Tap Check for update. Within a couple of minutes, you should see an available system update to Android 17. The update is available for Pixels as old as the Pixel 6, so if you have a Pixel 6 or newer model, you can download Android 17 without a problem.
How to hide app names on your Pixel home screen
Joe Maring / Android Authority
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