That an app like QuickShortcutMaker has made it into the top 25 most downloaded apps right now on Uptodown should tell you all you need to know about how useful it is. The point of it is super simple: this free tool lets you create shortcuts on your Android home screen not just to apps but also to system services, plus customize the name and icon for each so everything is exactly how you like it.

quickshortcutmaker feat Make your own custom shortcuts with QuickShortcutMaker

What’s so useful about QuickShortcutMaker?

Get in touch with your dark side and you’ll be right on target. One of the tool’s main uses is to mask apps so people don’t notice them. In other words, you take Tinder, swap out its icon, and give it a name like Flappy Bird. In both cases, you’ll – ahem – be getting a bird’s-eye view. Do note that to add the “fake” icon you have to have it saved somewhere first, either as a static image in your phone’s gallery or in one of the many launchers whose library is supported by QuickShortcutMaker to extract icons from.

The other thing it can do – which is in fact its original purpose – is create shortcuts to hidden or inaccessible system items. This means you can look up the setting to turn on your flash, for instance, and place it on your desktop to have it close at hand for use as a flashlight.

quickshortcutmaker screenshot 1 Make your own custom shortcuts with QuickShortcutMaker

How does QuickShortcutMaker work?

  • When you open the app you’ll find a list of all apps installed on the device. Or you can go to the Activities section up top to find other services, many of them divisible into different processes that do various tasks. Once you find what you’re looking for, tap it to access the next step in the setup.
  • In the editing section you can change the font and the icon. Plus there’s a “Try” feature where you can see where the selected link takes you, which is useful given that finding the service you want to launch is more a matter of trial and error than anything else. If you need more info, tap App to go to the Android info section that shows how much space it takes up, how much data it consumes, and what permissions it requires.
  • After doing these steps your spanking-new icon will be automatically inserted on your home screen, and you can move it around or remove it just like with any other app.

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