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How to Hide App Names on Pixel Home Screen

Step-by-step guide to hide app names on your Pixel home screen in Android 17 for a cleaner, minimalist look.

November 2, 2026 Yum News

Android 17 brings a long-requested customization to Pixel phones: the ability to hide app names on the home screen. This creates a cleaner, more minimalist layout where icons stand alone against your wallpaper. Labels remain available in the app drawer and folders, so you lose nothing in usability.

The option lives in the Pixel Launcher’s Wallpaper & style settings. It takes under a minute once your phone runs Android 17. Supported devices include the Pixel 6 series and newer models that receive the update.

Google Pixel phone showing a clean home screen

Check that your Pixel runs Android 17

The hide-app-names toggle is part of Android 17. Earlier versions of the Pixel Launcher do not include it.

Open the Settings app.
Tap System.
Tap Software updates.
Tap System update.
Tap Check for update.

If Android 17 is available, download and install it. Google began the rollout for eligible Pixels in June 2026. Updates arrive in waves, so you may need to check again later if nothing appears immediately. Restart the phone after the update finishes.

Hide app names in five taps

Once Android 17 is installed, open the home screen customization menu and flip a single toggle.

Press and hold any empty area of your home screen.
Tap Wallpaper & style.
Tap Icons.
Tap Names.
Turn off the Show app names toggle.
Tap Apply in the upper-right corner.

Your home screen refreshes instantly. Icons appear without text labels underneath. Open the app drawer to confirm that names still display there. Folders on the home screen keep their labels as well.

The change applies only to icons placed on the home screen. Search, the app drawer, and folder names stay unchanged. You can reverse the setting at any time by returning to the same menu and turning Show app names back on.

Smartphone displaying colorful app icons

What changes and what stays the same

Hiding names improves the visual balance of busy wallpapers. Text no longer competes with image details or creates clutter when you use many icons. Many Pixel owners prefer this look because it matches the clean aesthetic of the rest of the Material You interface.

You do not lose access to app identification. The app drawer still shows full names. Long-pressing an icon on the home screen still reveals its name and shortcuts. Search continues to work exactly as before. If you use folders, their labels remain visible so you can still tell groups apart at a glance.

The setting is currently limited to Pixel phones running the stock launcher. Other manufacturers have offered similar options for years through their own launchers. On Pixel, Android 17 makes it a native choice without third-party apps.

Tips for the cleanest result

Pair the hidden-name look with a wallpaper that has clear space for icons. Abstract or photographic backgrounds work well once labels no longer overlay them. You can also adjust icon size and shape in the same Icons menu if you want even more control.

If you frequently add or remove apps, the app drawer remains the fastest way to find them. Some users create a single home-screen folder for less-used apps so the main grid stays sparse. The hide-names toggle works inside folders on the home screen only for the icons themselves; the folder title stays visible.

For related multitasking improvements in the same Android 17 release, see the guide on App Bubbles on Android 17. Bubbles let you float any app above others, which pairs naturally with a less cluttered home screen.

Conclusion

Android 17 finally gives Pixel owners a built-in way to remove app names from the home screen. The process takes less than a minute and is fully reversible. You gain a cleaner layout while keeping full labels in the app drawer and folders.

Update your Pixel to Android 17, open Wallpaper & style, and turn off Show app names. The result is a minimalist home screen that still remains practical for daily use.