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What's the difference between a widget, an app, a shortcut and a folder?

When you add an item to your homescreen, you're given four options ‐ widget, app, shortcut or folder.

Widgets – these are interactive icons that you can have on your homescreen. Sometimes they're used to display information about your phone (and they update as things change). For instance, there's a widget that will display how much battery life you have left.

Widgets are also used to control settings or apps on your phone. You could use a widget as a quick way to put your phone on silent, or to display a list of the latest emails you've received, live on your homescreen.

Apps – when you add an app, an icon appears on your homescreen which will take you directly to the app when tapped.

Shortcuts – when you add an app, an icon appears on your homescreen which will perform an action when tapped. It could open a specific part of the settings menu, dial one of your contacts or find a specific address in Google maps.

Folders – when you add a folder, an icon appears on your homescreen which will open the folder when tapped. You can put your apps in folders to stay organised and take up less space on your homescreen.

How do I add a widget to my Android homescreen?

First, decide which homescreen you want to add the widget to. Make sure there's enough space on the screen for the widget you're going to add. Press the homescreen and choose widget. Select the widget you want to add from the list. Depending on the app, the widget may be added directly to your homescreen or you may need to complete a configuration screen.

How do I install a new app on my Android phone?

Android Market is preinstalled on your phone, and this is where you can find new apps and update apps you've already installed. You can browse the top free and paid apps or search for apps by name or keyword.

You'll be alerted if any of your apps have been updated by the developer. If an update is available, you can see the changes that have been made and install it from the my apps section of Android Market.

How do I remove an app that's on my Android phone?

There are two ways to do this:

1. Open your apps drawer and go to settings, then applications and manage applications. You'll see a list of all the apps on your phone. Tap on an app and you'll see an option to uninstall it.
2. Open your apps drawer and tap the market icon, then the my apps icon. You'll see a list of all the apps you've installed from Android Market. Tap the uninstall button at the top of the app page to remove an app.

More Android Help & Support