How to create, use and manage app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen?

You can use app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen to organize apps in the home screen so that you can access the apps faster.

App folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen also help you reduce the number of home screen pages (panels) so that you can scroll through Galaxy S8 Home screen panels faster.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide shows you how to create (3 different methods) , use, delete and manage app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen for your Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

What are app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen?

As explained in this page, app folder is one of the most frequently used components in the home screen of Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

Basically, an app folder is a placeholder for multiple app icons in Galaxy S8 Home screen.

Without app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen, each app icon will occupy one spot. Now, you can put several apps with similar functions or from same developer into an app folder.

This will help you increase your productivity in Galaxy S8 and S8+:

• App folders will reduce the number of Home screen pages (panels) needed in Galaxy S8 and S8+. You can then cycle through home screen panels faster.
• App folders can group apps so that you can find individual apps quickly.
• You can remove all apps inside the app folder from Galaxy S8 Home screen by deleting the app folder, instead of selecting them individually.
• You can clear number badges of all apps inside an app folder with one tap.

Please note, app folders in Galaxy S8 and S8+ do not support nested app folders. In other words, you cannot add an app folder to another app folder.

This is similar to other Android devices.

But, the implementation of app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen has one major defect: app folder does not disappear automatically after you start an app inside this folder.

This means if you exit the app by tapping Back button, you need to tap Back button again to exit the folder after exiting from the app.

Such a design defect was observed in all Galaxy devices with Android Nougat.

Just FYI, in stock Android and most other Android phones, after you start an app from the app folder, the folder should disappear immediately.

How to create app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen?

There are at least three different ways to add/create app folders to Galaxy S8 Home screen:

• Drag and drop method.
• App context menu method.
• Adding app folders or apps from Apps screen.

Method 1: Use drag and drop method to create app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen

Drag and drop method works in almost all launchers which support app folders.

To use this method, you may follow these steps.

Step 1: Tap and hold one app icon and drag it to another one

For example, as shown in the screenshot below, tap and hold (aka long tap) Google Fit app.

Without releasing your finger from the screen, drag the app icon to the Google Home app as shown below.

Step 2:  Drop and app to the second app 

As shown above, once Google Fit app is close to Google Home icon, you will notice that Google Home icon will expand a bit.

This expansion indicates it is ready to accept Google Fit app to create an app folder.

Now, release your finger from the touchscreen. The first app (Google Fit) will be drop to the second app (Google Home).

Immediately, an app folder is created as shown below.

Step 3: Name the app folder (optional)

Once the app folder is created in Galaxy S8 Home screen, you can name it so that it is easy for you to identify it in the home screen of Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

Of course, if you want, you can choose not to give the app folder a name.

In this example, we just name it as DemoFolder as shown below.

Step 4: Add more apps to the app folder (optional)

Tap Add apps button as shown above to add more apps to this app folder.

Now, Galaxy S8 or S8+ opens app selector as shown below for you to select apps to the folder.

The app list includes all apps installed in Galaxy S8 or S8+, not just apps in the home screen.

For example, we want to add Google Chrome browser app to the folder.

So, tap Chrome icon to select it.

In the top of the screen as shown below, you can notice that 0/169 is changed  to 1/169. this means one of the 169 apps was selected.

If you want, you can select more apps.

Once you finish the selection, tap Add button in top right as shown below to add all selected apps to this folder.

As shown above, you can find Chrome app was added to the DemoFolder.

Step 5: Customize the background color of app folder (optional)

By default, the background color of app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen is white.

You can tap the color palette icon as shown above to change the background color.

As shown in the screenshot above, there are 5 possible background colors including white.

For example, we choose the cyan (a bit greenish) color.

As shown below, you can find the app folder we just created with a name of DemoFolder and a cyan/green background color.

Now, if you check the app folder, as shown below, you can find the color of the palette is cyan/green indicating current setting for the background color.

Method 2: Use app context menu method  to create app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen

As explained in this guide,  Samsung introduced context menu in Galaxy S8 Home screen.

You can also use app context menu to create app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen for your Galaxy S8 or S8+.

To use this method to create app folders, you may follow these steps.

Step 1: Tap and hold (long tap) the first app icon

For example, you want to create an app folder for Samsung themes and Chrome app.

Tap and hold either of them. For example, Samsung Themes as shown below.

Step 2: Tap Select multiple items in the app context menu

As shown below, tap Select multiple items to include in the app folder.

Step 3: Select apps

As shown above, you can select all app icons in the Home screen only.

For example, tap Chrome to select it.

As shown in the screenshot above, before you select any apps, the create folder button is grayed out.

Please note, if you select any app folders, the create app folder button will also be grayed out.

So, you should not select app folders because Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ does not support nested app folders (app folders inside app folders).

You can swipe to other home screen panes to select apps in other home screen pages. But you cannot navigate to apps screen when you are in selection mode.

Step 4: Create app folder

Once you finish the selection, tap Create folder button in top right as shown below.

A new app folder will be created immediately as shown below.

You can now add more apps to the app folder, name the app folder and customize the background color for the app folder exactly as in Method 1 discussed above.

Method 3:  Adding app folders from apps screen

You can tap and hold an app folder in Galaxy S8 apps screen, then add the app folder to the home screen.

You can also add an app from apps screen, then drop it over another app to create an app folder similar to method 1.

How to use apps inside app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen?

App folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen can be moved to any locations just like app icons.

To use any apps inside an app folder in Galaxy S8 Home screen, you can tap the folder, then tap the app.

Please note, if you exit the app through Back button, you will exit to the app folder page, instead of home screen panel. This is a bit annoying. You have to live with it for the time being.

For apps inside an app folder, you can use context menu as shown below just like apps outside of app folders as explained in this guide.

But when an app is inside an app folder, the context menu has one more option “Move from folder” as shown in the screenshot below.

This is for you to move the app out of this app folder and keep it in the home screen.

In addition, for apps inside an app folder, you can also tap and hold the app, then drag it out of the app folder as shown below.

How to manage and delete app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen?

App folders are managed through context menu. Please refer to this guide on how to use context menu in Galaxy S8 Home screen.

Please note, when you delete an app folder, as shown below, all apps inside the app folder will be removed from Galaxy S8 Home screen.

Do you know how to create, use and manage app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen in Galaxy S8 and S8+ now?

If you have any questions or encounter any problems on app folders in Galaxy S8 and S8+, please let us know them in the comment box below.

The community will help you find the answer or solution.

You may also check our Galaxy S8 guides:

• Galaxy S8 new features guide covers all new and unique features of Galaxy S8 and S8+.
• Galaxy S8 how-to guides give you detailed step-by-step guides on using most features of Galaxy S8 and S8+.
• Galaxy S8 user manuals lets you download official Samsung Galaxy S8 user manuals in your won language.
• Galaxy S8 camera guides covered everything related to Galaxy S8 camera is covered in Galaxy S8 camera guides section.
• Galaxy S8 accessories guides help you find the perfect accessories for Galaxy S8 and S8+.

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