I built a shortcut-only home screen and reduced my screen time without trying

I started this experiment because I was trying to make my phone less distracting the moment I unlocked it. I didn’t want a wall of apps and widgets competing for attention.

I cleared out everything and created a home screen that consists only of shortcuts, providing direct access to the apps and tasks I use most frequently.

The reasoning behind this choice is straightforward: While widgets often claim to offer quick access to information, they frequently fail to deliver on that promise.

By removing them entirely and focusing on shortcuts, I could complete work faster and with fewer distractions.

The built-in shortcut system most people ignore

One thing I realized while rebuilding my home screen was that Android already has a shortcut system most people overlook.

You don’t need third-party launchers or widgets to get quick access to key tasks. It’s built right into the app icons themselves.

On most apps, a long press reveals a list of shortcuts. You can drag those actions straight onto your home screen as standalone icons. They open directly onto a specific task.

For instance, you can compose a new email in Gmail, start navigation to home in Maps, create a note in Keep, or start a timer without even opening the app.

However, it’s worth noting that you can only use the shortcuts the app actually offers. There’s no combining actions, no logic, and no access to deeper sections unless the app supports them.

That’s when I tried third-party apps for deeper customization.

Going beyond what apps provide

Credit: Lucas Gouveia/Android Police | semprong/Shutterstock

After a week of using native shortcuts, I wanted more control over app actions.

The most reliable options are Tasker, which is incredibly powerful but complex, MacroDroid, which is easier to learn, and Shortcut Maker, which is excellent for creating deep-link shortcuts.

With them, I can chain multiple actions together: start a timer, open a note, and launch a navigation route with one tap.

It effectively lets me create my own “super-shortcuts” that the apps themselves never provide.

Shortcut Maker became my preferred option because it doesn’t require scripting. It allows you to access internal app activities, which are the hidden entry points most people never see.

The shortcuts that changed my daily workflow

After I started relying on built-in app shortcuts instead of widgets, a few of them quickly became non-negotiable.

The first one I reach for constantly is Compose in Gmail. Instead of opening my inbox and scanning unread emails, I go straight to writing.

For capturing ideas, New audio note in Google Keep has been surprisingly useful. I don’t type well when I’m walking or mid-task, and opening a note-taking app often leads to scrolling through old notes. This shortcut skips all of that. I tap it, speak, and the note is saved without any extra steps.

Then there’s New contact in Phone by Google. When someone gives me their number, I don’t open the dialer, switch tabs, and search for the add button. One tap and I’m in the contact form.

My Home shortcut in Google Maps is another daily staple. It navigates to my home address instantly. When I’m traveling, that direct route saves time and mental energy.

But the shortcut I use most is Scan in Google Drive. It opens the camera immediately, detects the document, scans it, and lets me save it straight to Drive. It feels like having a dedicated scanner app, except it’s already built into something I use every day.

How to customize your shortcuts

Built-in app shortcuts are a great starting point, but they’re only as flexible as the app allows.

For deeper control, such as opening a specific folder, launching a hidden activity, or chaining multiple actions, you can use a third-party app.

Using Shortcut Maker for deeper access

The Shortcut Maker app lets you create shortcuts that go beyond the obvious long-press options. With it, you can create shortcuts for specific app activities, folders, individual files, websites, system settings, contacts, and call actions.

For example, instead of opening a cloud storage app and navigating to a folder, you can create a direct shortcut to that exact folder. Or you can link to a specific document you edit frequently.

You can even customize the icon and label so it blends seamlessly into your layout.

Using MacroDroid to chain actions

If you want to combine multiple steps into one tap, automation is the next level. I use MacroDroid for this.

Here’s how to create a shortcut-based macro:

1. Open MacroDroid and tap Add Macro.
2. Set the Trigger to MacroDroid Icon Long Press Shortcut.
3. Add the actions you want. It could be opening an app, turning on Do Not Disturb, launching navigation, starting a timer, or multiple actions in sequence.
   

   
4. Save the macro.

After you save it:

1. Go to the Macros tab.
2. Long-press the macro you just created.
3. Tap Create home screen shortcut.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to place it on your home screen.
   

   

Now you have a single shortcut that performs multiple actions instantly. For example, you could create a Focus Session shortcut that turns on Do Not Disturb, opens your task manager, and starts a timer.

A simpler home screen works better

Clearing my home screen forced me to rethink how I use my phone. Instead of filling the space with apps and panels, I rebuilt it around actions.

Now, when I unlock my phone, there’s no visual clutter nudging me to check something. It’s also made things easier to find. Because each shortcut is intentional, I know exactly where everything is.