How to prevent icons from being automatically added to the Home screen after installing an app?

After downloading and installing apps from Google Play™, the icon (shortcut) of the downloaded app is added automatically to the Home screen. You can stop the automatic addition of new app icons by disabling this function in the Google Play Store settings.

To stop shortcuts to new Google Play apps from being added to the Home screen

Android 8 or later

1. Tap and hold anywhere on the home screen and tap Home Settings in the pop-up window.
2. Tap the switch to the right of the Add app icon to Home screen to disable it.

Android 4.1 to 7.1.1

1. From your Home screen tap the Application screen icon.
2. Find and tap Play Store.
3. Drag the left edge of the screen to the right, then tap Settings.
4. Uncheck the Add icon to Home screen checkbox.

Android 2.3 or 4.0

1. From your Home screen, tap the Application screen icon.
2. Find and tap Play Store.
3. Press the Menu key, then tap Settings.
4. Uncheck the Auto-add widgets checkbox.