I have a Pixel 4a. One icon on the home screen has suddenly become
superimposed on the one to its left, leaving a blank space where it
was. How can I fix this?

On 2/2/2023 4:31 PM, Ken Blake wrote:
> I have a Pixel 4a. One icon on the home screen has suddenly become
> superimposed on the one to its left, leaving a blank space where it
> was. How can I fix this?

Have you tried dragging it to where you want it? That is the normal method
of moving things about and it has always worked for me.

On Thu, 2 Feb 2023 17:12:55 -0500, Bodger <nobody@nowh.ere> wrote:

>On 2/2/2023 4:31 PM, Ken Blake wrote:
>> I have a Pixel 4a. One icon on the home screen has suddenly become
>> superimposed on the one to its left, leaving a blank space where it
>> was. How can I fix this?
>
>Have you tried dragging it to where you want it? That is the normal method
>of moving things about and it has always worked for me.

Yes, it's the normal method, and yes, I've tried it.

It doesn't work. It drags both icons.

On 2/2/2023 6:13 PM, Ken Blake wrote:
> On Thu, 2 Feb 2023 17:12:55 -0500, Bodger <nobody@nowh.ere> wrote:
>
>> On 2/2/2023 4:31 PM, Ken Blake wrote:
>>> I have a Pixel 4a. One icon on the home screen has suddenly become
>>> superimposed on the one to its left, leaving a blank space where it
>>> was. How can I fix this?
>>
>> Have you tried dragging it to where you want it? That is the normal method
>> of moving things about and it has always worked for me.
>
>
> Yes, it's the normal method, and yes, I've tried it.
>
> It doesn't work. It drags both icons.

Take a look at https://www.wikihow.com/Group-Apps-on-Android

IIRC I've seen this behaviour before and it confused me until I realized
what had happened.

On Thu, 2 Feb 2023 18:59:03 -0500, Bodger <nobody@nowh.ere> wrote:

>On 2/2/2023 6:13 PM, Ken Blake wrote:
>> On Thu, 2 Feb 2023 17:12:55 -0500, Bodger <nobody@nowh.ere> wrote:
>>
>>> On 2/2/2023 4:31 PM, Ken Blake wrote:
>>>> I have a Pixel 4a. One icon on the home screen has suddenly become
>>>> superimposed on the one to its left, leaving a blank space where it
>>>> was. How can I fix this?
>>>
>>> Have you tried dragging it to where you want it? That is the normal method
>>> of moving things about and it has always worked for me.
>>
>>
>> Yes, it's the normal method, and yes, I've tried it.
>>
>> It doesn't work. It drags both icons.
>
>Take a look at https://www.wikihow.com/Group-Apps-on-Android
>
>IIRC I've seen this behaviour before and it confused me until I realized
>what had happened.

I realized what happened and this morning I finally figured out myself
how to fix it. I clicked and held the joint icon, then dragged one
icon off it.

Ken Blake wrote:

> I have a Pixel 4a. One icon on the home screen has suddenly become
> superimposed on the one to its left, leaving a blank space where it
> was. How can I fix this?

Sounds like you've dragged icon1 on top of icon2 creating a group
containing both icons?

Tap the group and it should open up, letting you launch either of the
icons, or drag them back to the home screen, when there's only one icon
left in the group, it ought to dissapear back to that single icon.

On Fri, 3 Feb 2023 18:52:41 +0000, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk>
wrote:

>Ken Blake wrote:
>
>> I have a Pixel 4a. One icon on the home screen has suddenly become
>> superimposed on the one to its left, leaving a blank space where it
>> was. How can I fix this?
>
>Sounds like you've dragged icon1 on top of icon2 creating a group
>containing both icons?
>
>Tap the group and it should open up, letting you launch either of the
>icons, or drag them back to the home screen, when there's only one icon
>left in the group, it ought to dissapear back to that single icon.

Thanks. That's what I finally found for myself earlier today. See my
recent reply.

On Friday, February 3, 2023 at 11:33:51 AM, Ken Blake wrote:

>>Tap the group and it should open up, letting you launch either of the
>>icons, or drag them back to the home screen, when there's only one icon
>>left in the group, it ought to dissapear back to that single icon.
>
> Thanks. That's what I finally found for myself earlier today. See my
> recent reply.

This Ken Blake weirdo is a MENSA genius for sure given it took a dozen
posts and a few days for him to figure out how to move an Android icon.

On 2/3/23 11:58 AM, Thomas wrote:
> On Friday, February 3, 2023 at 11:33:51 AM, Ken Blake wrote:
>
>>>Tap the group and it should open up, letting you launch either of the
>>>icons, or drag them back to the home screen, when there's only one icon
>>>left in the group, it ought to dissapear back to that single icon.
>>
>> Thanks. That's what I finally found for myself earlier today. See my
>> recent reply.
>
> This Ken Blake weirdo is a MENSA genius for sure given it took a dozen
> posts and a few days for him to figure out how to move an Android icon.

Well, I AM a genius (and I have the transcript to prove it) and I had
the same problem once. I have no idea why anyone would WANT to group
their icons just like I have no idea why anyone would want a hiearchical
menu system.

In any case, I see no need for a snotty response to a non-snotty message.

--
Cheers, Bev
The Marketing Professional's Motto: "We don't screw the customers. All
we're doing is holding them down while the salespeople screw them."
-- Scott Adams

On Fri, 3 Feb 2023 13:33:01 -0800, The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com>
wrote:

>I have no idea why anyone would WANT to group
>their icons just like I have no idea why anyone would want a hiearchical
>menu system.

I group all of my home-buying apps into a folder, all of my car-buying
apps into a folder, all of my Google apps into a folder, all of my
Amazon apps into a folder, all of my sports apps into a folder, etc. I
think doing so makes it much easier to find what I'm looking for.

On Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 3:03:01 AM, The Real Bev wrote:

> I see no need for a snotty response to a non-snotty message.

Have you never seen what Ken Blake often posts or are you basing your
assessment of his MENSA like genius on this one thread where he showed true
talent for misunderstanding how to move icons on his phone's home screen.

On 2023-02-04 05:22, Char Jackson wrote:
> On Fri, 3 Feb 2023 13:33:01 -0800, The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> I have no idea why anyone would WANT to group
>> their icons just like I have no idea why anyone would want a hiearchical
>> menu system.
>
> I group all of my home-buying apps into a folder, all of my car-buying
> apps into a folder, all of my Google apps into a folder, all of my
> Amazon apps into a folder, all of my sports apps into a folder, etc. I
> think doing so makes it much easier to find what I'm looking for.

Sure, I also use folders. But my folders look like folders, not two
icons joined together, normal sized.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 2/4/2023 3:28 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
> On 2023-02-04 05:22, Char Jackson wrote:

>> I group all of my home-buying apps into a folder, all of my
>> car-buying apps into a folder, all of my Google apps into a folder,
>> all of my Amazon apps into a folder, all of my sports apps into a
>> folder, etc. I think doing so makes it much easier to find what I'm
>> looking for.

My Amazon Fire OS (Android) tablets have ONLY a home screen for ALL
apps. And there are several apps that came with the tablets that I
seldom use and can't delete. Being able to group them in a single icon
titled 'Unused' and sticking them at the bottom saves clutter.

> Sure, I also use folders. But my folders look like folders, not two
> icons joined together, normal sized.

Don't think I've seen an Android device with folders. What brand? All
mine show small app icons inside the grouped icon. The Amazon tablets
only show 4 app icons inside the group icon after which you have to open
it and scroll to see the rest. My phone (Galaxy S10+) shows 9 icons in a
group icon. Surprisingly I can ID them all even on that small screen...

On 2/3/23 9:41 PM, Thomas wrote:
> On Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 3:03:01 AM, The Real Bev wrote:
>
>> I see no need for a snotty response to a non-snotty message.
>
> Have you never seen what Ken Blake often posts or are you basing your
> assessment of his MENSA like genius on this one thread where he showed true
> talent for misunderstanding how to move icons on his phone's home screen.

I don't read everything. Ken Blake has been here for a long time and
has offered useful information. Using software devised by others
frequently provides annoying surprises because we do not all think the
same way. We have blind spots, which is why it's good to have
proofreading done by someone who didn't write the material.

There ARE dumb questions, but there are more dumb answers.

--
Cheers, Bev
"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the
American Public." -- H.L. Mencken

On Sat, 4 Feb 2023 11:28:54 +0100, "Carlos E.R."
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

>On 2023-02-04 05:22, Char Jackson wrote:
>> On Fri, 3 Feb 2023 13:33:01 -0800, The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I have no idea why anyone would WANT to group
>>> their icons just like I have no idea why anyone would want a hiearchical
>>> menu system.
>>
>> I group all of my home-buying apps into a folder, all of my car-buying
>> apps into a folder, all of my Google apps into a folder, all of my
>> Amazon apps into a folder, all of my sports apps into a folder, etc. I
>> think doing so makes it much easier to find what I'm looking for.
>
>Sure, I also use folders. But my folders look like folders, not two
>icons joined together, normal sized.

Fair point. I, too, haven't seen the two icons thing.

On 2023-02-04 17:19, AJL wrote:
> On 2/4/2023 3:28 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>> On 2023-02-04 05:22, Char Jackson wrote:
>
>>> I group all of my home-buying apps into a folder, all of my
>>> car-buying apps into a folder, all of my Google apps into a folder,
>>> all of my Amazon apps into a folder, all of my sports apps into a
>>> folder, etc. I think doing so makes it much easier to find what I'm
>>> looking for.
>
> My Amazon Fire OS (Android) tablets have ONLY a home screen for ALL
> apps. And there are several apps that came with the tablets that I
> seldom use and can't delete. Being able to group them in a single icon
> titled 'Unused' and sticking them at the bottom saves clutter.
>
>> Sure, I also use folders. But my folders look like folders, not two
>> icons joined together, normal sized.
>
> Don't think I've seen an Android device with folders. What brand? All
> mine show small app icons inside the grouped icon. The Amazon tablets
> only show 4 app icons inside the group icon after which you have to open
> it and scroll to see the rest. My phone (Galaxy S10+) shows 9 icons in a
> group icon. Surprisingly I can ID them all even on that small screen...

Folders, groups... same thing :-)

I can assign a name to the whatever.
I use Motorola.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 2023-02-04 18:59, The Real Bev wrote:
> On 2/3/23 9:41 PM, Thomas wrote:
>> On Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 3:03:01 AM, The Real Bev wrote:
>>
>>>  I see no need for a snotty response to a non-snotty message.
>>
>> Have you never seen what Ken Blake often posts or are you basing your
>> assessment of his MENSA like genius on this one thread where he showed
>> true
>> talent for misunderstanding how to move icons on his phone's home screen.
>
> I don't read everything.  Ken Blake has been here for a long time and
> has offered useful information.  Using software devised by others
> frequently provides annoying surprises because we do not all think the
> same way.  We have blind spots, which is why it's good to have
> proofreading done by someone who didn't write the material.
>
> There ARE dumb questions, but there are more dumb answers.

I have been using computers since maybe 1980, if one can consider a
programmable calculator a computer (a TI 57 or 58). I did programming
for a living for some time. Yet, when I bought my first Android smart
phone, a Samsung Mini 2 (plus?), and got my first call, I was unable to
answer it. Nothing worked.

I think I phoned back and asked my friend how the heck was I supposed to
answer a call, if pressing the button doesn't work. "You have to slide
it to the side". One side (red) to cancel, another (green) to accept.

Argh.

It is obvious once you know it. Different user paradigm than a computer.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 2/4/2023 11:50 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
> On 2023-02-04 17:19, AJL wrote:
>> On 2/4/2023 3:28 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

>>> I also use folders. But my folders look like folders, not two
>>> icons joined together, normal sized.

You said folders that look like folders.

>> Don't think I've seen an Android device with folders.

> Folders, groups... same thing :-)

So I pictured icons that look like folders (like Windows). My error.

>> What brand?

> I use Motorola.

OT: I worked for Motorola's Western Military Division for several years
in the 60s. Interesting work. Some of the stuff we built is laying on
the moon now...

On 2023-02-04 22:58, AJL wrote:
> On 2/4/2023 11:50 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>> On 2023-02-04 17:19, AJL wrote:
>>> On 2/4/2023 3:28 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>
>>>> I also use folders. But my folders look like folders, not two
>>>> icons joined together, normal sized.
>
> You said folders that look like folders.

Yes. I call them folders, but I don't know the actual proper name.

>
>>> Don't think I've seen an Android device with folders.
>
>> Folders, groups... same thing :-)
>
> So I pictured icons that look like folders (like Windows). My error.

It is a blank icon, that pictures inside up to four of the icons that
are inside. As this is similar to a folder in the computer desktop, I
called them folders.

>>> What brand?
>
>> I use Motorola.
>
> OT: I worked for Motorola's Western Military Division for several years
> in the 60s. Interesting work. Some of the stuff we built is laying on
> the moon now...

I always liked Motorola. A mobile phone like a small brick that worked
much better than the nice alternatives my first provider offered. But
then they stopped making good enough phones and they dwindled.

And now they are doing reasonable phones again, but they are actually
Lenovo. But they have problems... my first one, stopped accepting the
flash card. The second one I now noticed fails with 4G, and now that my
provider switched off 3G, it no longer has data. The third one is
working fine.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 2/4/23 10:57 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
> On 2023-02-04 18:59, The Real Bev wrote:
>> On 2/3/23 9:41 PM, Thomas wrote:
>>> On Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 3:03:01 AM, The Real Bev wrote:
>>>
>>>>  I see no need for a snotty response to a non-snotty message.
>>>
>>> Have you never seen what Ken Blake often posts or are you basing your
>>> assessment of his MENSA like genius on this one thread where he showed
>>> true
>>> talent for misunderstanding how to move icons on his phone's home screen.
>>
>> I don't read everything.  Ken Blake has been here for a long time and
>> has offered useful information.  Using software devised by others
>> frequently provides annoying surprises because we do not all think the
>> same way.  We have blind spots, which is why it's good to have
>> proofreading done by someone who didn't write the material.
>>
>> There ARE dumb questions, but there are more dumb answers.
>
> I have been using computers since maybe 1980, if one can consider a
> programmable calculator a computer (a TI 57 or 58). I did programming
> for a living for some time. Yet, when I bought my first Android smart
> phone, a Samsung Mini 2 (plus?), and got my first call, I was unable to
> answer it. Nothing worked.
>
> I think I phoned back and asked my friend how the heck was I supposed to
> answer a call, if pressing the button doesn't work. "You have to slide
> it to the side". One side (red) to cancel, another (green) to accept.

I had a similar experience. Sliding is not at all intuitive.

> Argh.
>
> It is obvious once you know it. Different user paradigm than a computer.

Long ago hubby was sent back to DC to troubleshoot a FORTRAN problem At
the time he knew nothing about programming. The first time he looked at
a listing he saw the problem -- "There it is! J=J+1 How could they be
so stupid?"

Actually, he DID solve the problem. Both he and our son are really good
at that shit!

Even so, hubby (a text-only person) is driven nuts by UIs which seem to
him in no way intuitive.

--
Cheers, Bev
"When I was a kid my dad once joked that the best way to
prevent being on a plane with someone carrying a bomb
would be to bring your own bomb and not detonate it.
Sounded convincing. What are the odds that two people
board, each with a bomb?" -- Rowdy

On 4 Feb 2023 at 05:41:57, Thomas <canope234@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 3:03:01 AM, The Real Bev wrote:
>
>> I see no need for a snotty response to a non-snotty message.
>
> Have you never seen what Ken Blake often posts or are you basing your
> assessment of his MENSA like genius on this one thread where he showed true
> talent for misunderstanding how to move icons on his phone's home screen.

Beware : there are two 'Ken Blake's

On Sat, 4 Feb 2023 19:57:16 +0100, "Carlos E.R."
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

>On 2023-02-04 18:59, The Real Bev wrote:
>> On 2/3/23 9:41 PM, Thomas wrote:
>>> On Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 3:03:01 AM, The Real Bev wrote:
>>>
>>>>  I see no need for a snotty response to a non-snotty message.
>>>
>>> Have you never seen what Ken Blake often posts or are you basing your
>>> assessment of his MENSA like genius on this one thread where he showed
>>> true
>>> talent for misunderstanding how to move icons on his phone's home screen.
>>
>> I don't read everything.  Ken Blake has been here for a long time and
>> has offered useful information.  Using software devised by others
>> frequently provides annoying surprises because we do not all think the
>> same way.  We have blind spots, which is why it's good to have
>> proofreading done by someone who didn't write the material.
>>
>> There ARE dumb questions, but there are more dumb answers.
>
>I have been using computers since maybe 1980, if one can consider a
>programmable calculator a computer (a TI 57 or 58). I did programming
>for a living for some time. Yet, when I bought my first Android smart
>phone, a Samsung Mini 2 (plus?), and got my first call, I was unable to
>answer it. Nothing worked.

I've been using computers for 60 years--since 1962. I started working
as a programmer then and was a computer professional with various jobs
until I retired in 1993. These days, I know Windows well, and also
several programs (Microsoft and third-party) that run under it, but
what I still know the least about is how to use my Android smart
phone.

>I think I phoned back and asked my friend how the heck was I supposed to
>answer a call, if pressing the button doesn't work. "You have to slide
>it to the side". One side (red) to cancel, another (green) to accept.
>
>Argh.

On my Android phone (Pixel 4a) I have to slide it up. To me, that's
very counterintuituve. I couldn't figure out how to do it until
someone here (Vanguard, I think) told me how.

>It is obvious once you know it. Different user paradigm than a computer.

It *is* a computer, as far as I'm concerned, just a very small one.
But yes, it's a very different user paradigm from a Windows computer,
and that's a good part of the reason I know relatively little about
it.

On 5 Feb 2023 05:28:30 GMT, Bob Martin <bob.martin@excite.com> wrote:

>On 4 Feb 2023 at 05:41:57, Thomas <canope234@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 3:03:01 AM, The Real Bev wrote:
>>
>>> I see no need for a snotty response to a non-snotty message.
>>
>> Have you never seen what Ken Blake often posts or are you basing your
>> assessment of his MENSA like genius on this one thread where he showed true
>> talent for misunderstanding how to move icons on his phone's home screen.
>
>Beware : there are two 'Ken Blake's

There's another "fake" (it's not his real name) Ken Blake who posts
now and then in alt.usage.english, but I don't think I've ever seen
him here.

On 2/5/2023 12:26 PM, Ken Blake wrote:
> On Sat, 4 Feb 2023 19:57:16 +0100, "Carlos E.R."

>> I think I phoned back and asked my friend how the heck was I
>> supposed to answer a call, if pressing the button doesn't work.
>> "You have to slide it to the side". One side (red) to cancel,
>> another (green) to accept.

>> Argh.

> On my Android phone (Pixel 4a) I have to slide it up. To me, that's
> very counterintuituve. I couldn't figure out how to do it until
> someone here (Vanguard, I think) told me how.

On my phone (Galaxy S10+) there's a setting that when set allows me to
answer the phone by simply pushing the up button on the case. I don't
have to look at or touch the screen at all. Check yours, maybe you have
such a setting. It's very handy, especially on the freeway... 8-O

On 2023-02-05 20:26, Ken Blake wrote:
> On Sat, 4 Feb 2023 19:57:16 +0100, "Carlos E.R."
> <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>
>> On 2023-02-04 18:59, The Real Bev wrote:
>>> On 2/3/23 9:41 PM, Thomas wrote:
>>>> On Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 3:03:01 AM, The Real Bev wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>  I see no need for a snotty response to a non-snotty message.
>>>>
>>>> Have you never seen what Ken Blake often posts or are you basing your
>>>> assessment of his MENSA like genius on this one thread where he showed
>>>> true
>>>> talent for misunderstanding how to move icons on his phone's home screen.
>>>
>>> I don't read everything.  Ken Blake has been here for a long time and
>>> has offered useful information.  Using software devised by others
>>> frequently provides annoying surprises because we do not all think the
>>> same way.  We have blind spots, which is why it's good to have
>>> proofreading done by someone who didn't write the material.
>>>
>>> There ARE dumb questions, but there are more dumb answers.
>>
>> I have been using computers since maybe 1980, if one can consider a
>> programmable calculator a computer (a TI 57 or 58). I did programming
>> for a living for some time. Yet, when I bought my first Android smart
>> phone, a Samsung Mini 2 (plus?), and got my first call, I was unable to
>> answer it. Nothing worked.
>
> I've been using computers for 60 years--since 1962. I started working
> as a programmer then and was a computer professional with various jobs
> until I retired in 1993. These days, I know Windows well, and also
> several programs (Microsoft and third-party) that run under it, but
> what I still know the least about is how to use my Android smart
> phone.
>
>
>> I think I phoned back and asked my friend how the heck was I supposed to
>> answer a call, if pressing the button doesn't work. "You have to slide
>> it to the side". One side (red) to cancel, another (green) to accept.
>>
>> Argh.
>
> On my Android phone (Pixel 4a) I have to slide it up. To me, that's
> very counterintuituve. I couldn't figure out how to do it until
> someone here (Vanguard, I think) told me how.

Thinking later, I see that it is better, can't happen by accident, as
can happen to a push button.

>
>
>> It is obvious once you know it. Different user paradigm than a computer.
>
>
> It *is* a computer, as far as I'm concerned, just a very small one.
> But yes, it's a very different user paradigm from a Windows computer,
> and that's a good part of the reason I know relatively little about
> it.

I meant a "normal" computer :-D

--
Cheers, Carlos.