If you use Android, you've probably touched the share button more than once and found a panel full of apps and shortcutsAlthough it's very practical, it doesn't always show what you need, and sometimes the app you need doesn't appear in the foreground. With recent versions of the system and some manufacturers' overlays, this panel can be customized to save time and clicks on a daily basis. Here's how to customize it to your liking, both on pure Android and on Samsung phones.
It's important to keep in mind that the default order Android offers isn't ideal for everyone. In fact, it often mixes contact shortcuts with recent apps, and if you don't do anything, you can end up searching through an endless carousel. The good news is that you can now Pin and sort your favorite apps in the Share menu, and if you have a Samsung Galaxy, you can even fine-tune it further with official tools like Good Lock and its Home Up module.
What exactly is the Share menu and how does Android decide what to display?
The Share menu is the interface that appears when you choose to send a photo, video, link, or document from almost any app. In it, you'll see two distinct areas: one with shortcuts to specific actions or contacts (what Android calls 'Direct Share') and another with compatible apps to complete the sharing. Depending on your phone and version, the system automatically organizes these suggestions based on recent use, relevance, and, in some layers, even in alphabetical order for the rest.
Why is it worth customizing the Share menu?
While Android tries to get it right, it doesn't always put what you need front and center. By customizing this panel, you can always keep your key apps at hand, reduce scrolling, and avoid opening the entire list each time. In the long run, if you frequently share content via WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail, or social media, the time savings are obvious.
Pin and sort apps on Android 11 or higher
Since Android 11, the ability to pin apps within the Share menu has been introduced. With this gesture, Pinned apps take priority positions, in a stable manner, without depending on recent usage. It's the most straightforward method on stock Android.
- Open an app you usually share from, such as your photo gallery, and tap the share button. Once the panel opens, locate the application that you want to put among the first.
- Long press on that app icon until you see the 'Pin' option. Tap it to make it a favorite.
- Repeat the process with the rest of the applications you use most frequently. Some implementations show only the first 4 anchored in the visible row, leaving the rest accessible by sliding.
Once pinned, these apps will remain at the top. Keep in mind that You can only pin compatible apps With Android's sharing mechanism, if an app doesn't offer a sharing destination, it won't appear, and there's no way to force it from the system.
How does Samsung One UI manage the Share menu?
On Samsung Galaxy phones, One UI adds layers of customization to the menu. On many models, tapping share will show you a 'More' option and a pencil icon to edit. This editor separates a Favorites area at the top and the rest of the apps below, allowing for drag and drop.
- After opening the Share panel, tap 'More' to expand and tap the pencil icon. This will open 'Edit Apps', where you can drag apps to the Favorites area.
- To reorder from left to right, long press and move each app until you stop the most used ones on the left. Confirm by exiting with the back arrow.
- If you change your mind, repeat the process to remove an app from Favorites or adjust the order. It's quick and doesn't require any additional installation.
This editing method is very visual, and in everyday use it will allow you to access WhatsApp, Instagram, Gmail, or any other application at a glance. Additionally, on some models, the system may continue to display other apps in alphabetical order, but always respecting those you have set above.
Advanced customization on Samsung with Good Lock and Home Up
If you want to go further on Samsung, the solution is called Good Lock, available in the Galaxy Store, and its Home Up module. Within Home Up, the 'Share Manager' section offers granular control over the Share menu: from which apps appear to which contacts and actions are shown first.
- Install 'Good Lock' from the Galaxy Store, open it, and add the 'Home Up' module. Go to Home Up and access 'Share Manager' to activate deep editing options.
- If you enable 'Direct Share', you can define which contacts appear first in 'Add Favorite Direct Share'. This is useful if you always share with a WhatsApp group or with a recurring Instagram contact.
- In 'Select Share Applications' select your preferred apps to share and decide if you want to add all your actions or just the ones you normally use (e.g. 'Send to chats', 'Upload to stories').
- Activate 'Add an icon to reveal hidden apps' so that the 'All apps' icon appears and you have quick access to any compatible application, even if you don't have it in Favorites.
- There are extra options to show or hide the previous information of what you share and to prioritize 'Share with Nearby' in first position if you use it often.
With Home Up, the menu becomes a tool tailored to you. You can organize apps, actions, and contacts to minimize the number of taps needed to send content.
The two rows of the panel: apps and 'Direct Share'
When you open the menu, there's usually a top row with shortcuts to people, chats, or specific actions, and a bottom row with apps. The top row is powered by 'Direct Share,' which suggests frequently used destinations. In 'pure' Android, control over this row is very limited or non-existent, since it is decided by the system.
If you're bothered by seeing contacts you no longer talk to, or entries from apps you don't want, there's little you can do on stock Android. On some Samsung devices, you can disable 'Direct Share' in One UI's advanced settings, but the option varies depending on the version. With Home Up, you can. mark favorite contacts and prioritize them, preventing old suggestions from appearing.
Can more apps be added to the menu? Typical case: Samsung S21 FE
A common question is what to do when tapping Share on your phone only shows a small set of apps, and the one you need isn't there. This happens because only compatible applications are listed with the share sheet. If an app doesn't implement the appropriate sharing destination, the system won't display it.
On Galaxy phones, if this happens to you on an S21 FE or similar, go to the panel edition and check if it appears when you tap 'More' or open 'All apps'. With Home Up, activate the option show the 'All apps' icon to reveal the full list. If it still doesn't appear, check that the app is updated or install an alternative that does show the sharing destination (for example, a file explorer with upload support if you want to share to local or network storage).
On Xiaomi phones it is common to be able to share to your browser or to local destinations from MIUI. On Samsung, if you don't see the same, it's not that something is missing in the system, but that Each app decides whether to offer itself as a destination. That's why switching file management or notes apps can make all the difference.
Limits and important considerations
There are several points to keep in mind to avoid frustration in the attempt. First, the system It does not allow you to completely remove apps from the listYou can unpin or highlight them, but if they're installed and supported, they'll appear somewhere. The only way to make them disappear is to uninstall them or disable them if they're system-wide.
Second, although you can pin many, in practice You will only see the first 4 at a glance or as many as fit in your visible row; the rest require swiping. Third, the positions and order of the rest can be given by recent use or alphabetical order, according to the manufacturer.
Fourth, Direct Share isn't always editable on stock Android. Alternatively, in One UI you can set favorite contacts with Home Up or, if the version allows it, disable Direct Share to clean up the top row.
Quick Start Guide: Pinning Apps on Android 11 or Higher
This is the shortest route for Android without any special layers: open content, tap share, find the app, long press, and tap 'Pin'. From there, that app will be prioritized in your share sheet, provided it's installed. Repeat with the others until you build your ideal row.
Quick Start Guide: Sort Favorites in Samsung One UI
From the Share panel tap 'More' and then the pencil icon to editDrag apps to Favorites and place them in the order that best suits you (most used, on the left). Exit with the back arrow to save. If you want to go further, open Good Lock and Use Home Up to adjust contacts, actions and the 'All apps' icon.
Specific actions: not just apps, but also useful shortcuts
Some apps expose specific actions within the Share menu. For example, Gmail may offer 'Compose' with a specific account, or a specific chat in a messaging app may appear as direct access to the groupWith Home Up you can decide if you want to see all the actions of an app or just the ones you use, making the panel cleaner and faster.
Tricks to make the Share menu even faster
- Activate the 'All apps' icon if you use Samsung with Home Up so you are not limited to the initial view and find any compatible app in one touch.
- If you share by QuickShare often set it to appear in the first position in One UI to avoid displacement unnecessary.
- In file apps, use the 'Send' or 'Share' option in the browser itself if you want to send to local or network storage; this way you make sure that the destination appears.
- Review your Favorites periodically: over time your routines change and tweaking the order will save you steps.
Solve common problems
Is the app you need not appearing? First, check that it is up to date and that its developer offers it. a standard 'sharing' destinationOtherwise, the system won't list it. Try another similar app that does (for example, another file explorer with a 'Send To' option).
Does the top row show old contacts you don't use? On unencrypted Android, there's no official way to completely clear it. On Samsung, check if you can. disable 'Direct Share' in Advanced Settings Or, better yet, use Home Up to define favorites. This way, the panel prioritizes your real recipients.
Is the order below chaotic? Set at least four key apps. That way, the rest can be sorted alphabetically or by usage, but your first row will always be usefulAnd if you're using One UI, take advantage of the stylus editor to visually adjust the Favorites area.
Best practices for a more productive Share menu
Think in terms of tasks: if you normally share photos to WhatsApp, links to an email client, and documents to Drive, create a first block with those three and a fourth as a backup (for example, Telegram). It's better a small and stable set 10 pinned apps that hide what's important again.
Don't forget to take advantage of app-specific actions if available. Setting it to show only the ones you use reduces visual clutter. On Samsung, with Home Up, you can choose actions by application and surgically fine-tune the panel.
Finally, remember that this panel is cross-functional: you'll use it when sharing from the browser, the gallery, the file manager, or a PDF reader. The more consistent you make it, the faster you'll move between apps without thinking.
FAQs
Can I completely remove apps I don't use from the menu? No, unless you uninstall or disable them if the system allows it. What you can do is do not fix them so that they do not come out in front and be left with a clean row of favorites.
How many apps can I pin? The system allows you to pin multiple apps, but you'll usually see only 4 in the visible areaThe rest will require swiping. On Samsung, the Favorites area works similarly.
How do I control the top row of 'Direct Share'? On stock Android, it's not fully controllable. On Samsung, with Home Up, choose favorite contacts and prioritize them. If you don't want this behavior, check Settings to see if there's a Direct Share toggle in your version.
Why could I share with the file system on my Xiaomi but not on my Samsung? Each manufacturer and app decides which destinations they expose. If you don't see that destination on your new phone, install a file explorer that supports 'Sharing' and favorite it, or on Samsung, use the 'All apps' icon to discover it.
Is the order alphabetical or by usage? It depends on the implementation. The important thing is that pinned apps They always have preferenceThe rest can be sorted by recent use or alphabetically by manufacturer.
Tuning your Share menu makes a huge difference if you share often. With pinning in Android 11+ and One UI tools, especially Home Up, it's easy to put your key apps and contacts where they work best. Spending a few minutes pinning, sorting, and choosing actions will give you a panel that responds to your actual way of working, without endless lists or phantom contacts taking up space. Share this tutorial and more users will know how to manage the Share menu on Android..