Home Screen Bottom Icons

[KathyinCA]

I have a a question about the icon area at the bottom of the home screen. Not the navigation bar with the back/home/recent buttons - I mean the customizable icon area just above that, which stays visible when scrolling among screens.

I had the Ask Alexa icon there but lost it when I had to uninstall and reinstall the Alexa app. Now it won't let me add it back. Apparently it's a widget, which can't be added to that bar, but I had it before - or maybe I had a non-widget icon that launched Ask Alexa? I use it a lot because it's quicker than using the full Alexa app. Anyone know how I can get it back - or add something else to that bar that will launch Ask Alexa? 

[GaryB82]

They wanted the widget in the bar 

 

[BrüZZi]

You can make an icon shortcut to "Ask Alexa" and place it at the dock using the Activity Launcher App. It's not a widget.

Nova Launcher can also do it.

[GaryB82]

I wouldn’t know since I don’t use those just factory Samsung apps on my phone 

[KathyinCA]

Thanks, but I don't want to use another launcher. I did years ago when the native launchers weren't very good, but now that they're improved I'd rather not add that extra layer. I have enough complexity already with numerous apps, five home screens of icons and icon folders, etc. 🙂

[BrüZZi · Accepted solution]

The Activity Launcher app isn't really a launcher. It just creates shortcuts to activities.

I mentioned Nova Launcher just in case you were using it as your default launcher. As It has the same ability to create shortcut to activities.

[KathyinCA]

Thanks! I installed it, and it does exactly what I needed. (Though my adult children would roll their eyes at mom installing yet one more app on what they already think is a too-cluttered phone. But I'm very tech savvy and actually use all that stuff! 🙂)

It actually improved something. Some time ago they changed the Ask Alexa widget to add a second click in order to get to a voice command, because it opens to a typing bar. This launcher opens directly to voice, and I have to do an extra click to type - which is exactly what I prefer and so do a lot of other people according to the online comments. Thanks so much for the suggestion!

[BrüZZi]

Great !!!

I'm glad it worked for you.

🙂🙂🙂