IssueTracker

Use an alternative home launcher.

Using the  stock 2.3 launcher this happens..there is also times when the screen will not scroll and only will scroll once the phone is rebooted..

Got my Nexus S today from the Carphonewarhouse.  Phone updated to 2.3.1 and after having it plugged in I added two email accounts.  When I returned to the home screen via the 'home' button I have the same issue as the OP.  A reboot was the only way to resolve this.

I am also having this issue but it did not happen until I deleted an app that was on the home screen.

I have also encountered this problem many times. I had to restart the device to be able to drag and drop again.

I am having the same problem on the Nexus S.  When I have the problem, I have to reboot the phone.  Then when I reboot it, I sometimes find these icons that went missing in one of the created folders (even though I never dragged it to any folders).  I am also usually unable to move folders into a different location without fully shutting down and rebooting the phone.  It will work after a fresh reboot but very quickly start to experience the same issue again.  The only way I have been able to get icons where I want them in some cases is to long hold the desktop where I want to set it and create the shortcut manually there.  Opening up the "all applications" menu and dragging to the desktop fails to work unless it is freshly rebooted.  Sounds like another Nexus S bug.

Try to kill the launcher and not restarting the phone it works for me

@shahamk what do you mean by "kill the launcher", these are unrooted phones running stock android on the Nexus S.

Unrooted too
Goto setting->application settings->running services->choose all (top of the screen)
Find 'launcher' and press on it
Press force stop

This should fix the problem like restart does
I created a shortcut to running services on my home screen but I'm not if this is an option of one of my many installed apps :-)

Ahh good to know. Well this is a temp solution but yes this is another bug Google needs to resolve on 2.3.

Yes, hopefully it will be resolved soon.  My friend is always complaining about it.

I am running Gingerbread 2.3.1 on a Nexus S.

This has happened to me many times when I was rearranging icons on the homescreen or bringing in new icons to the homescreen from the app drawer using the long-press-on-icon, move, and release-to-drop method. Sometimes as soon as I let go of my finger to set the icon down where I want it, the icon disappears. After a while, I discovered that these disappeared icons had somehow ended up inside random folders on my homescreen. One solution around this that worked for me was to long press on the empty homescreen area where you want your icon, select Shortcuts > Applications, and choose your app from the list.

The UI for rearranging icons on the homescreen should be changed to exactly resemble that of the iPhone's (maybe without the shaking icons thing). Please fix this, Google!

I ended up installing a third party launcher called "Launcher Pro".  It is free of this bug plus lets you do more with your launcher page anyway.  It is still bad that Google released this phone/software with so many bugs (plenty of other serious bugs reported on Nexus S).

Adw ex is way better than launcher pro btw.

@mco hey thanks for telling me about adw. I just downloaded it and it has a lot more features. I think I will start using that from now on :)

I have verified this issue on two Nexus S phones (mine and my wife's).  I've also discovered one method to reproduce it, hopefully someone can verify for me:

1. First, reboot the phone.  This is just to ensure we're starting fresh
2. Verify any icons, widgets, etc on the home screen can be repositioned.
3. Create a folder on a home screen.  You can leave it empty if you want.
4. Open the folder.
5. Leaving the folder open, launch the Market and install an app.  Don't leave the market until the app has successfully installed.
6. Now hit the home key to return to the home screens.
7. You should notice that the folder is closed.  Now try to move an object to a new position.

I have found that after doing these steps, I can no longer re-arrange objects on the home screen.  They just snap back to their original positions.  This keeps happening until I reboot the phone or "Force Close" the launcher. (The latter seems to make the phone unstable, though).

As a work around, I make sure any folders on the home screen are closed before installing or removing apps.

Hopefully my notes can assist in a fix.

Thanks,
Mark

Same issue on brand new Nexus S with stock rom and launcher. I have  2 gmail accounts too, links appear in random folders.

I am running Gingerbread 2.3.1 on a new Nexus S.
The only way I can add a shortcut to a homescreen now is by long pressing exactly where I want it and choosing my shortcut from the pop-up menu. I cannot move icons once they are on the homescreen - they just disappear. The only exception to this is a folder icon - it won't disappear, it just snaps back to its original position. I cannot drag icons from the app menu - they also disappear. All of the disappearing icons eventually show up later in one of the folders, after a reboot or sometimes after a few hours have passed. If I try to drag an icon like music, for example, five times (each time disappearing) then five copies of the music icon will show up later in one of the folders. I believe this bug may be related to having folders on the homescreen. I say that because I didn't have the problem for the first few days of owning the phone and it was only after several days that I began creating folders on the homescreen. I'll have to test this by eliminating all my folders. Oh, and rebooting is not solving my problem.

I know this bug has been around for several months (at least since June of 2010) and affects Froyo as well. This bug needs to have a higher priority, since it affects the primary interface between Android and user - the homescreen. As a new Nexus S owner and also new to Android, I can say that it's more than a little frustrating.

As a side note, this only happens in the Google launcher.  3rd party launchers I have installed do not have this issue so Google needs to look into this bug.  I have installed a 3rd party launcher to clear the issue (plus have additional features anyway).

Gingerbread 2.3.1 on Nexus S

Followup to my post of yesterday... I deleted all my folders on the home screens and voila... problem solved. All shortcuts are acting as they should - I can drag them around, place them where I want them and not one has disappeared. I can create new ones by dragging from the app menu - in short, everything is back to normal. I have been testing this for about 24 hours. I will wait another day and then go back to creating folders on the home screen. I'd be willing to bet the problem will reappear quickly. I'll post the results in a couple of days.

Also experience the same thing as Martin in comment 18 and 20.

In my testing, if you have a folder on the home screen, move to another screen and try to move an icon to the same place on that screen, the icon will just go missing. After reboot, it will show up in the folder that was on the home screen.

A bit irritating. Using Nexus S with 2.3.2.

Update to my post of Jan. 21st.  Less than 48 hours after recreating folders on the home screen the bug is back. Shortcuts disappearing when created or moved - it seems that the launcher erroneously acts as if there is a folder open and this is where these shortcuts are going. Hours later or after rebooting they appear in one of the folders. The last thing I did before the bug reappeared was update a few of my apps in the Market.
I am reluctantly going to a third party launcher until the bug is resolved. More than a little disappointed - doesn't seem like a very hard bug to find.

What I am really curious about is how bugs like this and issue 36924045 ever made it into final production and never discovered during testing phases. I think they released the phone and software prematurely just to get it out before the Christmas season. It was released full of critical bugs.

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I got the same issue on my nexus s. I think the bug is due to its default launcher. So far, I have two solutions: 1)Go to the Application Manager->All->Find "Launcher" -> Force close it. (Don't clear the data otherwise all the shortcuts will be gone.); 2)Install and apply alternative launcher such as "Go Launcher EX". It's free!

Anyway, I do think google need to fix this bug as early as possible. It's upsetting.

I'm new to Android.  Got my Nexus S about a week ago and just started seeing this bug.  I was so happy with my android experience until this.  This is a serious confidence shaker, that something so basic as moving icons around on the home screen could be broken.  This needs to be fixed asap and it shouldn't be difficult thanks to the clear repro steps provided in #16.  Get on it Google!

Appears to be a duplicate of issue 36918936.
(It looks like issue 36918936, issue 36921054, issue 36923987, issue 36923988, and issue 36924063 are all the same bug).

To wbax in comment 26,
I couldn't agree with you more. Like you, I am new to Android. I waited for the Nexus S release to purchase a new phone with Android. I am really surprised. I was expecting something much more professional from Google. I can understand bugs that are buried deep and are hard to reproduce. But something as basic as this? What is really surprising is that third party launchers don't exhibit the bug! What can they get right that Google can't? I really can't understand why this hasn't been resolved before now.

FWIW... I have a non-rooted LG Optimus S with Froyo 2.2.1. I thought the phone was defective, or (more likely) I thought I'd installed some bad widget apps. I was killing Launcher at least twice a day. And also rebooting once a day. Oh, and restored to factory settings 3 times. Unfortunately, it took me a while to find this thread, and I'm pro at Googling!

To aid in my constant task-killing, I made a shortcut on my home screen to App Management... (Add Shortcut > Settings > Manage applications). From the icon launch, it's one click onto the Running apps, then a scroll down to Launcher, then Force Stop. Other task killers I tried didn't seem to be able to kill Launcher.

Not being satisfied at the efficiency that I could kill a horrendously buggy core app -- and realizing the ridiculousness of what I'd been reduced to doing -- I started searching for alternatives.

The two I tried are GO Launcher EX and Zeam. They're both very good, but Zeam is the one I have installed -- I like their dock interface better and it takes up less memory space.

This is really sad, as I've already replaced the stock contacts, messaging app, email and gmail, browser, alarm clock, calculator, weather... all out of necessity because of bugs or missing features -- some features that I had in my old flip phone! (I'm running out of space from having to replace all these apps, but that's another issue...)

Come on, Google! Where's the Service Pack (*cough* Microsoft)?

BTW, my friend said, "I can't do half the stuff with my iPhone that you can do on your Android, but at least mine works and I don't have to spend days fixing it." I blame you directly, Google, for my being on the losing end of that argument.

At least I have the flexibility of replacing all the deficient stock apps. I understand that I need options or features in apps that many others don't. But I never would have expected that I'd have to replace so many apps, especially the LAUNCHER, to have a properly working phone!

This actually works for me now with the Gingerbread 2.3.3 that I got today to my Nexus S. Hooray!

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Got the same bugs, some icons are disapearing and when I reboot I found them in a folder wich is on the same screen position but not on the same home screen.

Example : I got a folder on the first screen on x=1, y=1. I try to move an app shortcut on the second screen on position x=1, y=1. The shortcut disappear, i reboot, and I found it in the folder located on screen 1 (x=1, y=1).

For the widget it's juste impossible to move a widget on a position where a folder is on another screen.

Hope this will be fixed soon.

Note : I got the Nexus S with Android 2.3.2

Nexus One with 2.3.3. Icons still disappear when I try and move them from time to time. After restarting phone or force-closing Launcher, they reappear in folders.

After reading the comment above, I believe that to be accurate in my case, as well - the folders they appear in are always in the same spot as the destination for the icon, just on a different screen.

I don't often move items, but when I do, this bug becomes a hassle.

Using the long-hold menu (Shortcuts>Applications>etc) on the desired location for the shortcut does work fine as a workaround.

Yes, I thought it worked for 2.3.3 since it works fine just after rebooting, but after a while the bug still reappeared. Irritating :)

This is one of those bugs that should be fixed by Google, but since it's not, I'm just going to use a different launcher such as adw.

I just installed 2.3.3 on my Nexus One yesterday and same problem persists. Forcing closing the launcher solves issue as a temp but Google need to get onto this since it annoyed me so much in the beginning.

:/ doesn't fix in 2.3.3

I downloaded Launcher Pro and Home Switcher a couple days ago and my home screen no longer lags or freezes up.

I was reluctant about doing this because I hate bloatware so much but these two apps work really wonderfully and are not bloated at all. I forgot the download size but it took less than a minute on a 5Mbit/s connection.

I encourage anyone having problems with the stock launcher to at least give it a try.

N1 running 2.3.3 dragging from applications drawer to drop on home screen does not work 90% of the time whether dropping on bottom row or top row. I've had the same issue in froyo as well.

Simplest thing being screwed up 90% of the time is hugely disappointing and frustrating. Embarrassing as well if you're trying to show your iphone using buddy how cool your nexus is :) Reboot to fix? You're kidding me? M$?

I have nexus s 2.3.2 and sometimes I can't create or move shortcuts in the home screen.
After rebooting the device, the icons appear in any random folder that I have in the home screen.

Nexus One, running 2.3.3.
I have the same problem, pretty frustrating.
Experiencing the same issues as every one else. and just wanted to add my self in the loop. so this might get a higher priority.

I've been getting this bug a LOT recently. It's quite frustrating since I've only got about 5 minutes after just rebooting my phone to make changes to my homescreen before I'm unable because it just swallows them when I try to make or move icons.

Just went from Iphone to Nexus S (2.3.3). The first week I totally loved the new experience, but then this bug appears. Like a major black hole absorbing every single app-shortcut I try to place on my homescreen. Further my Calender Pad app turns invisible after every reboot. Sadly, I have had to do a LOT of reboots. Actually, I am forced to do a reboot everytime I need to place a shortcut the easy way. How in the world can a bug this big, this easy to discover and this fundamental to the system not be fixed?

Also impacts me on the Nexus S.  It is a very frustrating bug.  I have not found any sort of permanent fix.  If I simply avoid creating any desktop folders at all, ever, the problem does not seem to impact me as much.

The simple way around this is just to install another desktop launcher.  Similar to Linux how you can install other "desktops" such as KDE, WindowsX and so on.  A couple suggestions would be "Launcher Pro", "ADW.Launcher", or "ADWLauncher EX" (paid advanced version of ADW.Launcher).  They will replace the default launcher, will give you more customization options, and do not have this bug.

But as everyone has mentioned, I am surprised that this bug was never discovered during initial tests before the phone was released and it is still a bug even with all of the updates since then.  They finally fixed the ringtone bug but this one is still there!  While it is sad that Google has failed on this bug, that is also the good thing about Android where you have the ability to change to something else if you don't like the stock option!

I myself use ADWLauncher EX.  It wasn't that expensive and has a lot of neat options.  You can even back up your customization so if you move to a new phone you can retain your settings from the launcher.  The only thing is the backup files store on the non removable internal SD card (stupid move by Samsung) so you have to back these files up to your computer too.

Launcher Pro: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.fede.launcher
ADW.Launcher: https://market.android.com/details?id=org.adw.launcher
ADWLauncher EX: https://market.android.com/details?id=org.adwfreak.launcher

Even simpler solution: Don't use folders at all. :)

If you remove all folders from your home screens and reboot the phone you will never see a problem caused by the bug. At least, I never have.

I'm not trying to excuse the bug. I would like to use folders, but they're completely broken so I don't. The bug is annoying, and I'm amazed Google neither noticed it during testing nor have fixed it since, but folders don't seem essential.

As it is, if Google are too lame to fix this then I think they should simply remove the feature. Not having a non-essential feature is better than having an implementation of it which doesn't actually work and results in hours of wasted time, hair-pulling, confusion and then undoing-all-your-changes if you try to use it.

(Obviously, if you have so many apps and/or widgets that there isn't room on the five home screens then an alternative launcher makes sense. Probably does even without folders.)

Wouldn't it be nice if Google had got the existing phone OS and apps properly polished before devoting their obviously stretched developer resources on tablets? :-\

It is a necessary feature, especially since "iPhone has it".  If they removed the feature, then people would be complaining by their lack of having the feature.

The folder option works just fine in other launchers.  You can create a folder and move items just fine in other launchers.  The bug is in the stock launcher.  Google needs to fix the bug, whatever it is, simple as that.

Until Google decides to fix this issue and you don't want to install a different launcher, you can try Folder Organizer from the Android Market. It takes a bit of effort to set up, but it works really well.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.abcOrganizer&feature=search_result

@ernstcom thanks for this link! I am trying out the lite version for now and it looks like a good folder program.  This may be the additional solution I was looking for from what I can tell so far.

(I realize this isn't a forum on launcher alternatives, but installing one was the only workaround that worked for my needs.)

Updating my last comment/rant (#29), since Zeam's author is on indefinite hiatus, I've switched over to the next lightest launcher I could find, ADW.Launcher.

You also get a cool bonus feature with these other launchers -- the customizable dock area. FWIW, I'll probably never go back to stock unless Google gives me a customizable dock.

@47, I for one need folders for organization. They let me focus on running the apps, not looking for them in the app drawer. :)

http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=13434#c16 
reproduces the issue perfectly for me (nexus s, stock gb 2.3.1).

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I am running 2.3.3 and when dragging apps to a home screen and drop them they disappear. Once rebooting i noticed all the apps that i tried to drop on the home screen ended up to a folder which was located beside the spot where i was trying to drop it.

Following Marks process on comment 16 i can reproduce the same issue and the on a reboot the app which i just downloaded is placed within the folder that was left open prior to installing the app. It seems that when an app is installed the window is closed but not entirely causing any dragging of apps to not register where you want them.

This bug exists on Gingerbread since the firt release, 4 patches have been released and the bug is still not fixed. Hope they will give us a 2.3.5 patch to fix this really annoying problem.

By the way if you try a lot of time, it happens to work fine once on twenty try.

Nexus S - Gingerbread 2.3.4

I have the new Nexus S 4g from Sprint, same PITA bug with the icons. I need my folders, will have to try a launcher.

Launcher Pro si quite well working and less bugged ;)

Otherwise you could create all you desktop before to create any folder, then create the folders and drag icons in thoses folders (if it is the final step you won't having any problem).

Same problem as others. Awaiting fix.

For the past year at least this same has been happening to me as well. I have had my Nexus One since January 2010.

It seems to have gotten worse lately. It use to be that if I rebooted, then dragging and dropping a shortcut would work properly for a while and then after the system had been running a while, the problem would occur. Now, the problem happens immediately after a reboot even.

Currently using Android 2.3.4. Please fix, Google.

I have similar problems.
- I can no longer drag an app icon from one part of the screen to another without it disappearing.
- Can not drag from "all apps" menu to desktop.

I think it started after I accidentally let go of one of the icons on the edge of the screen OR after I created a folder.

Nexus S
Android 2.3.4
Kernel 2.6.35.7-ge382d80
Build GRJ22

Samsung Nexus S
2.3.4
Kernel 2.6.35.7-ge382d80
android-build@apa28#1
Build Number : GRJ22

Moto Droid X
2.3.3
Kernal 2.6.32.9-g34b306d
Build Number: 4.5.1_57DX5-26

I also have this bug. Please fix this bug.
It seems that it only happens after connecting the phone to the pc and using it as the usb memory stick.

I also have this issue with Nexus S running stock 2.3.x (all versions so far).  Dragging an application with my finger from the application list to the home screen usually fails with the icon vanishing.  Dragging an application from one place to another on any home screen usually fails with the icon vanishing.  The curious thing about this bug is that immediately after this I can can check all the folders that are on my home screen and they are the same.  But...but...after a few minutes the vanishing icon appears in an apparently random folder.  Where it is in the meantime is unknown.  Quite a magic trick.

I also have this issue with Nexus S running stock 2.3.x (all versions so far).  Dragging an application with my finger from the application list to the home screen usually fails with the icon vanishing.  Dragging an application from one place to another on any home screen usually fails with the icon vanishing.  The curious thing about this bug is that immediately after this I can can check all the folders that are on my home screen and they are the same.  But...but...after a few minutes the vanishing icon appears in an apparently random folder.  Where it is in the meantime is unknown.  Quite a magic trick.

"..after a few minutes the vanishing icon appears in an apparently random folder."

Same here, I found all my failed dragging attempts in one of them. In addition to this, my home screens were moving ultra slow when I tried to slide them left and right.

Possible solution:

I recently tried to change the wallpaper. When I did, the "app launcher" crashed and I can now move icons without them disappearing, and my home screens move smoothly. Unfortunately I don't remember the error message, but after I searched for it online I found loads of posts about the app launcher.

Experiencing the same issue here. I just got my Nexus S and at times trying to move the icons would make them completely disappear, sometimes into a folder on the home screen. The phone is running the latest Android 2.3.4.

Hopefully this gets solved soon as it seems to have been a problem since the beginning.

Doesn't seem that they are going to fix this.  Honestly I would just suggest ADW Launcher.  This is the launcher that is included in CyanogenMod by default anyway.

A workaround to get folders on the home screens is to use Simi folders (works on my nexus). There are also apps like Folder Organizer or Apps Organizer (haven't tested) that could replace the native folders.

Folder organizer is a good program, the only bad thing is that you cannot drag and drop items into folder organizer's icon (like you can do on the folders or like iPhone folders).  Also it is a widget that takes up memory so if you have another program that has to clear out the memory to run, when you go back to the launcher, it usually has to reload the launcher and folder organizer into memory which takes some delay.  I really wish that Google would just integrate this properly into the Android platform like Apple did with iOS4.  Since Apple is now copying some of the features that the Android has in iOS5, why shouldn't Google just copy some of the features from the iPhone?

Xperia Play (Verizon)
Android 2.3.2
Kernal Version 2.6.32.9-perf

I was having the disappearing icons thingy that everyone here has mentioned.  I was thought there was something wrong with my phone, but it looks like it is a stock Gingerbread thing.  I am running Launcher Pro now and the problem seems fixed.  However, I wish that Google could just fix the stock Gingerbread instead of me having to download a launcher to fix a problem Google didn't resolve in testing.  This problem was reported on Dec 2010 and still has not been resolved?!?  Google hello!!!

Would someone please give this bug an owner?

Hopefully then the bug can be fixed? ... this seems like it's taking forever. There are a lot of people affected by this bug. and the bug affects very basic functionality.

My one is Samsung Nexus S, Android 2.3.4, i still get these kinds of problem that you guys has mentioned. i can't believe this problem is been here for such long time. Dear Google, please do something!!!

Same problem here.  I'm on version 2.3.5.  I guess that the third party launcher is the way to go.

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I have now noticed that when it happens on screens with folders, the icons (usually?) go into the folder (I think?); when an icon disappears on another screen with no folders, it just disappears for good (I think?), and seems to happen a lot more often on screens with no folders. Specifically I have one screen with:

A A _ _
A A _ _
A A _ A
awidget

This is a screen without a folder. Attempting to move any app causes it to disappear permanently the instant it is dropped. Attempting to add some 1x1 widgets says "No more room on this screen" when there are clearly blank areas. Attempting to add a 1x1 widget or folder or shortcut always works, but that widget/folder/shortcut cannot be dragged (it will reset position when dragged onto an empty spot). Attempting to add a new app is impossible; if you go to the classic app screen and hold an app, the instant you drop it on an empty area it will disappear.

Install the "Nexus CPR" app, it'll reboot the launcher in a couple of seconds. It won't solve the issue, but it'll make rebooting a thing of the past.

I haven't tested a lot but as far as I've seen, in version 2.3.6 the bug seems to have disappear :)

Every time I connect my phone to my computer as a USB mass storage device I lose every icon for apps stored on the SD card.

Android Version: 2.3.3
Phone: Droid X

Experiencing the same issue on Nexus S, Android 2.3.6
Easy to reproduce using above procedure (http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=13434#c16 : thank you Mark!).
Kill the launcher to restore normal behaviour (phone seems stable after that in my case).

Not sure if this will work, Try using unique names for all of the folders on your home screens.
Every time a folder is created... it's called "Folder" Having Files or Folders with duplicate names can't be a good thing.

Open the folder, then tap on the name to create unique folder names.

I have had this problem ever since I bought my pretty Nexus S 7 months ago. Folders are simply a no go. I wonder how iOS or windows would feel with bugs as big as this. I mean, seriously? Sadly i dropped my phone a few days ago. And sad to say - my next phone is NOT by any chance going to be running android. At least I gave it a shot.. but spending money on broken software just pisses me off..

I also have the same issue with my Nexus S 3.3.6. It is in deed annoying..
It has nothing to do with the names of the folders, because I have unique names for all of them.. My only hopes lying on ICS... please Google solve this issue!

Have exactly the same issue running 2.3.6 on Nexus S when using folders. Sure makes it less convenient to access and organize newly-downloaded apps.

Issue is fixed with the Android ICS 4.0.3 update last week.

This happens with my new Xperia Arc S, shortcut points to app installed on SD Card, an everytime i mount the card on pc or when i restart the phones, all my shortcut gones away too. That's really a bad thing. Android 2.3.4

This is NOT fixed in ICS 4.0.3.  My wife's Asus Transformer was recently upgraded from Honeycomb 3.2 to ICS, and this issue occurs on a daily basis (yesterday, it happened twice within a few hours).  The only way to get the icons/widgets back is to reboot the  tablet.

I dont know wich device you have but on my google nexus S with android 4.0.3 it is fixed.

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I think it's safe to say that if this is a problem for you, simply get a different launcher.  They are available in the market and actually give you more options than the stock, but still can look like stock.  Examples are including but not limited to "ADW Launcher" or "Go Launcher".  This will solve your problem.

Wow.  I wondered if this is new, as I just started to see it and tried to find out if I was crazy.  Guessing this will never get fixed with going on 2 years of it existing.  

I have the exact same problem happening.  Gingerbread 2.3.7  LG Optimus Elite

Icons repositioned to a place occupied by a folder on another screen vanish.  Since I have the folders along the bottom of the screens, it appeared that the dock was eating my icons.  Searching Google for "my android dock is swallowing bottom row icons" listed this forum at bottom of screen, so I guess I got lucky finding it.  Rebooting the phone or waiting for a while showed they were indeed going to the folders on other screens.

I had already tried GO Launcher EX on the phone, but found the UI to be noticeably slower, and uninstalled it.  But, folders are a necessity for me to organize all the wonderful tools this phone can be made into, so I guess I'll have to go back to a slower phone with a working launcher.  

Really, Google?  You can do real-time voice recognition within the cloud, but you "can't" fix this for as long as it's been around.  That's a "won't", not a can't, and some serious Apple advertising.  And I HATE Apple's walled garden approach.

As a previous comment alluded to, it's like Windows and service packs, and some 'bugs' just never getting fixed ever.  The companies involved just don't care enough to do the diligent engineering required to prevent them, and the market doesn't motivate them to behave otherwise.  We'll console each other in forums like this, but we're such a miniscule minority that our 'squeaks' will never get the 'wheel' greased.  The new shinier chrome-i-er wheel will be sold instead.

I'll try to recreate this on my TF300 tablet ICS 4.0.3 now.  Maybe I'll be back, hopefully I won't.

Thank-you to all those before me who built this thread into a useful guide around this issue.

Same Problem - acer a200 android 4.0.3

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Same problem. - Sony Tablet S android 4.0.3 r5.
If I move app to USB the he icons desappear at reboot.

I'm having the same issue on the Samsung S3. Often happens after updating apps.

Solved on Nexus S with ICS and also JB.

WELL DONE FOLKS :)

Fixed in 4.0

It's back on Nexus 5 running Kitkat 4.4.2, though strangely, it seems to happen on my N5 with only one app in particular - franco Kernel Updater. Very weird.

Issue occurring for me with many apps. Every second day or so I notice shortcuts are missing from home screen and home screen folders. I thought it was caused by app updates but this day I noticed I lost many other shortcuts.

None appear to be uninstalled but definitely missing from home screen.

I'm getting this recently on 5.1, I notice icons disappearing daily.

And my contact list is disappearing