App Predictions (often branded as “Suggested Apps” on the Home Screen or App Drawer) is an Android feature that uses on-device machine learning to anticipate which application you are going to launch next. By tracking your daily routines, location, and application usage frequency, the operating system continuously updates a row of icons in your app drawer to display the most statistically likely apps. While this can speed up navigation, it requires the operating system to constantly monitor and record your behavioral patterns. For privacy-focused users or corporate devices governed by strict data minimization policies, allowing the OS to maintain an active, predictive behavioral profile is unacceptable.
This guide explains how to completely disable App Predictions system-wide on an Android device, preventing the launcher from analyzing your usage habits to suggest applications.
Disable App Predictions System-Wide
This setting is typically managed directly within the default launcher’s preferences, which control both the Home Screen and the App Drawer.
- Navigate to your Android device’s main Home Screen.
- Long-press (tap and hold) on any empty space on the screen where there are no widgets or icons.
- A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap on Home settings.
- Scroll down and tap on Suggestions (or “App suggestions”).
- You will see toggle switches for different prediction zones. Locate Suggestions in all apps list (which governs the top row of the app drawer) and Suggestions on Home screen (if applicable).
- Toggle these switches to the Off (grey) position.
Verify the System State
By toggling these switches off, you immediately sever the launcher’s connection to the local machine learning prediction database.
To verify the change is successful, return to your Home Screen and swipe up to open the main App Drawer. The top row of dynamically changing, suggested app icons will be completely gone. The App Drawer will now display a static, alphabetical list of all your installed applications, starting directly with the letter ‘A’ at the top. The operating system is no longer dynamically curating shortcuts based on your behavioral telemetry.