In this guide, we will show you the steps to fix the issue of the increased spacing and padding in the app icons, widgets, and folders on Pixel devices after the latest March 2023 update. The latest Feature Drop has bought in a slew of intriguing features and UI changes [alongside the usual monthly security updates]. However, one such UI/UX tweak hasn’t gone down too well with many users.
Many users have reported that after installing the march 2023 update on their Pixel device, they are now witnessing large padding and spacing across the app icons present on the home page as well as the app drawer. Likewise, a similar phenomenon has been witnessed in the app folders as well. It has become quite challenging now in reaching far-off icons. Moreover, due to the increase in padding, the app names also have been cut off short.
For example, before the March update, our Pixel 7 Pro could display the entire Authenticator and Google One, but after installing the update [and the subsequent increase in spacing] they have been cust short to Authenticat…. and Google O… What is even more infuriating to note is the fact that this change was first introduced in the beta build [Android 13 QPR2 Beta 1].
At that point in time, it was heavily criticized as well, but user feedback didn’t matter in the past and will never matter in the future as well. So it’s left completely onto us to iron out this issue. In this regard, there does exist a nifty workaround that might help you mitigate this problem. So without further ado, let’s check it out.
Fix Pixel app icon spacing & padding increased after the March update
As of now, the best workaround that is spelling out success for the users involves tweaking the Font and Display. Here’s how it could be done:
- Head over to Settings > Display > Display size and text.
- Then adjust the Font Size and Display Size accordingly.
That’s it. These were the steps to fix the issue of the increased spacing and padding in the app icons, widgets, and folders on Pixel devices after the latest March 2023 update. If you don’t want to take this route, then the alternate approach will be to downgrade to an earlier OS build [either via Android Flash Tool or via Fastboot Script].
However, that might not be the best route forward, not just because it requires an unlocked bootloader but also the fact that sooner than later you might have to perform the upgrade [due to security cocnners], and whenever you perform the update, you will be back tot he increased spacing [as Google has no intention to undo this change].
Stuart
That’s not a fix and looks rubbish. It’s the padding that’s wrong.
steve
Useless article.