Are you a Samsung Galaxy S20 user and have you noticed that apps on your home screen have disappeared?

Don’t panic! Most of the time, this happens because the apps are either hidden or disabled in the app settings. In some rare cases, software glitches can also cause apps to disappear. 

Since this is a software issue, you can easily fix this. In this guide, we will give you 6 solutions to bring back missing app icons from the home screen of your Galaxy S20.

Note: Solutions in this guide will work on any Samsung Galaxy S20 model (S20, S20 Plus, S20 Fe, and S20 Ultra models.)

Editor’s note: We created these instructions using a Samsung Galaxy S20 running Android 12. Depending on your device’s software version, some steps and menu positions may look slightly different.

Fix 01: Unhide Apps From Home Screen

In One UI, there is a feature that allows you to hide apps from the home screen for privacy reasons. If you or a third-party app has accidentally hidden the apps, they won’t be visible on the home screen.

Here’s how to check your home screen settings and unhide the apps:

1. Swipe up on the home screen to open the app drawer.
2. Tap on the three-dot menu at the top right corner of the screen.

3. Select “Home screen settings” from the dropdown menu.

4. Scroll down and tap on Hide apps.

5. If any apps are hidden, they will be displayed here. Simply uncheck the apps you want to unhide.
6. Tap on Apply to save the changes.

Now, check your home screen. The previously missing apps should now be visible.

Fix 02: Enable Disabled Apps

Disabled apps are applications that are not currently active on your device. They are not deleted but are simply not in use. If there are such apps that have been accidentally disabled, they will disappear from your home screen.

To check if this is the case, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap on Apps.
3. Tap on the filter button, and select “Disabled” apps to bring only disabled apps (You can also select “Show system apps” to show disabled system apps).

4. If you find the missing app in the list of disabled apps that you want to see on home screen, tap on it.

5. Tap on Enable to restore the app.

After enabling the app, it should reappear on your home screen.

Fix 03: Run App Repair in Recovery Mode

The Recovery Mode in your Samsung Galaxy S20 is a separate bootable partition that comes with a set of tools to help you troubleshoot, repair, and restore your device. 

One of these tools is the “Repair apps” option, which initiates app optimization and can help fix the issue of missing app icons.

Here’s how to use this option:

1. Switch off your Samsung Galaxy S20.
2. Press and hold the Volume Up button and the Power button simultaneously and release both buttons when the Samsung logo appears.
3. Use the Volume Down button to navigate through the options and highlight “Repair apps”.

4. Press the Power button to select this option.
5. Your device will initiate the app optimization process. This may take a few minutes, so be patient.
6. Once the process is complete, use the Volume buttons to navigate to the “Reboot device now“ option and press the Power button to select it.

Your device will reboot normally. Check your home screen to see if the missing app icons have been restored.

Fix 04: Update All Apps

If apps are still missing from the home screen of your Galaxy S20, updating the apps could potentially solve the problem. 

The reason is apps can disappear due to bugs or glitches that can be fixed with an update. 

Here’s how to update your apps:

Update Apps on Google Play Store

1. Open the “Google Play Store” app on your Galaxy S20.
2. Tap on the “Profile” icon located at the top-left corner of the screen.

3. From the drop-down menu, select Manage apps and device.
4. Then select the “Manage” tab. If any apps need updating, they will appear under the “Updates available” tab. Tap on “Update All” to update all apps at once.

Update Apps on Galaxy Store

1. Open the Galaxy Store app on your device.
2. Tap on the Menu icon (three horizontal lines) located at the top-left corner of the screen.
3. From the menu, select Updates.

4. If any apps need updating, they will appear under the Available Updates tab. Tap on Update All to update all apps at once.

After updating all apps, restart your device. This will ensure that all updates are properly installed.

Fix 05: Update Device Software

If the apps that are missing are inbuilt ones, updating your device software will ensure that any bugs or glitches that might be causing the issue are fixed.

Here are the steps to update your Samsung Galaxy S20:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Battery and device care.
3. Tap on Software update.

4. Then, tap on Download and install.

Remember to connect your device to a stable internet connection (WiFi/Mobile Data) before starting the update to avoid any interruptions. Also, make sure your device has enough battery or is connected to a charger to avoid it switching off during the update process.

Fix 06: Do a Factory Data Reset

If none of the above solutions work, your last resort is to perform a factory data reset on your Galaxy S20. 

Please be aware that this will erase all data on your device, including your personal files, settings, and installed apps. Therefore, back up all your data before proceeding with this step.

Here’s how to do a factory data reset:

1. Go to Settings > General management.
2. Tap on Reset.

3. Under the reset menu, tap on Factory data reset.

4. Enter the lock screen password, and then confirm.

Once the reset is complete and your phone has restarted, check to see if the missing apps have reappeared on your home screen. If they have, you can then proceed to restore your data from the backup you created earlier. Go to Settings > Accounts and backup > Backup and restore and tap on Restore data to start the process.