How to Change Galaxy S8 App Icon Size

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to enlarge or shrink the app icons on your Samsung Galaxy S8 home screen. You’ll adjust the screen zoom and icon grid settings, which changes the size of every app icon at once. No special apps or root access are needed—just a few taps in the Settings menu.

What You’ll Need

A Samsung Galaxy S8 with the stock One UI or Samsung Experience launcher (the default home screen app).
Your phone unlocked and on the home screen.

Step-by-Step

Unlock your Galaxy S8 and go to the home screen where you want the icons to appear larger or smaller.
Open the Settings app. You can find the gear icon in the app drawer or swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon in the notification panel.
Scroll down and tap “Display.� This is usually near the top of the Settings list, but on some versions it’s under “Device� or “Display & brightness.�
Tap “Screen zoom and font.� On older Android versions it might be labeled “Font size and screen zoom� or simply “Screen zoom.�
Adjust the “Screen zoom� slider. Drag it to the left to make icons smaller, or to the right to make them larger. The preview at the top shows how the icons and text will look. Note: This also changes the size of text and other interface elements, not just icons.
Tap “Apply� or “Done� to save the change. Your home screen icons will resize immediately.
If you want even more control, change the home screen grid. Go back to the home screen, press and hold on an empty area (or pinch your fingers together on the screen) to open the home screen settings.
Tap “Grid� or “Home screen grid.� You’ll see options like 4×5, 4×6, or 5×5. A smaller grid (like 4×5) makes icons larger because they have more space; a larger grid (like 5×5) makes icons smaller because more fit on the screen.
Select the grid you want and tap “Apply.� The icons will rearrange and resize.
If you’re using a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Action Launcher), you can change icon size within that app’s settings. For example, in Nova Launcher, go to Nova Settings > Home screen > Icon size.

Common Mistakes

Changing the font size instead of screen zoom. The “Font size� slider only changes text, not icons. Make sure you’re moving the “Screen zoom� slider.
Using a third-party launcher without realizing it. If you’ve installed a launcher like Nova or Apex, the stock Settings method won’t work. You must adjust the icon size within that launcher’s own settings.
Expecting individual icon resizing. The Galaxy S8 does not allow you to resize a single icon; the change applies to all icons on the home screen and app drawer.
Forgetting to press “Apply.� Some versions require you to tap “Apply� or “Done� after moving the slider; otherwise the change doesn’t take effect.

Tips

Use the preview. The screen zoom settings show a live preview of your home screen. Use it to gauge the icon size before applying.
Combine zoom and grid. For the biggest icons, set screen zoom to maximum and choose the smallest grid (like 4×4 or 4×5). For the smallest, set zoom to minimum and use a 5×5 grid.
Reset to default. If you want to revert, go back to Settings > Display > Screen zoom and font, and set the slider to the middle (default) position.
Consider a third-party launcher for fine control. If the stock options aren’t enough, launchers like Nova allow you to set an exact icon size percentage and even change icon shape.
Check the app drawer too. The screen zoom affects icons in the app drawer as well, but the grid setting only affects the home screen. If you want the app drawer to match, you may need to adjust its grid separately (if your launcher supports it).

Troubleshooting

Icons didn’t change after adjusting the slider. Make sure you tapped “Apply� or “Done.� If you’re using a third-party launcher, the stock settings won’t affect it—go to that launcher’s settings instead.
The icons are still too big/small after maxing the slider. Try changing the home screen grid as described in steps 7-9. If you’re already on the smallest grid and the icons are still too big, you might need a third-party launcher for finer control.
The screen zoom option is grayed out. This can happen if you have a “Large text� or “High contrast� accessibility feature enabled. Go to Settings > Accessibility and turn off any text scaling options, then try again.
Icons overlap or look distorted after resizing. This is rare, but if it happens, try setting the grid to a standard option (like 4×5) and then adjust the zoom slider. If the problem persists, restart your phone.
I can’t find the home screen grid option. On some Galaxy S8 units with the older Samsung Experience UI, press and hold on an empty home screen area, then tap “Home screen settings.� If you don’t see “Grid,� you may be on a newer One UI version where the option is under “Home screen� in Settings > Display.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I resize only one app icon on the Galaxy S8?
A: No, the stock launcher doesn’t support individual icon resizing. You can only change the size of all icons at once via screen zoom or grid settings. A third-party launcher might allow per-icon size, but that’s not a built-in feature.

Q: Will changing icon size affect battery life?
A: No, icon size has no impact on battery life. It’s purely a visual setting.

Q: Does the icon size change apply to the app drawer too?
A: Yes, the screen zoom setting affects both the home screen and the app drawer. However, the home screen grid setting only affects the home screen, so the app drawer may have a different number of columns.

Q: How do I reset icon size to the default?
A: Go to Settings > Display > Screen zoom and font, and move the screen zoom slider to the middle (default) position. Also set the home screen grid to the default (usually 4×5) if you changed it.

Q: Why do my icons look blurry after resizing?
A: This can happen if you enlarge icons beyond their native resolution. Most icons are designed to scale, but extreme zoom may cause slight blur. Try a moderate zoom level or use a third-party launcher that handles scaling better.

Q: Can I change icon size without going into Settings?
A: Yes, you can pinch on the home screen (or long-press an empty area) to open home screen settings, then tap “Grid� to change the grid size. This changes icon size indirectly. For the screen zoom slider, you must use the Settings app.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.