# Show app names always, on hover or never

Use App names in Settings › Grid to decide when labels appear beneath app and folder icons.

Last updated 26 October 2026

## Follow these steps

1. Open Settings › Grid › Appearance.

1. Choose the intended App names option.

1. Move the pointer between icons if you choose hover labels.

1. Use arrow-key selection to check the picked icon’s label too.

## What to expect

Labels stay visible, appear for the hovered or keyboard-picked icon, or are hidden according to your choice. Changing visibility does not rename the applications.

Hover labels can reduce visual density while retaining a way to identify an unfamiliar icon. Always-visible names are often clearer when several apps use similar artwork or you have enabled an icon pack.

## If the result is different

If names seem to have vanished, check this preference before restoring a backup. Inspect Name size and background contrast if the labels are present but difficult to read. Custom app names are edited through Rename, not this visibility menu.

For the broader walkthrough, read [change the look of cubbypad](https://cubbypad.com/guides/customize/).

## Related answers.

[### Change the size of app-name labels

Choose a larger or smaller Name size in Settings › Grid when labels need to be easier to read.

Read answer ↗](https://cubbypad.com/help/app-name-size/)[### Show notification badges on grid icons

Turn on Notification badges in Settings › Grid to show badge counts that applications expose through the Dock.

Read answer ↗](https://cubbypad.com/help/notification-badges/)[### Understand notification totals on folders

With badges enabled, a CubbyPad folder adds up the badge counts of the apps inside it.

Read answer ↗](https://cubbypad.com/help/folder-badge-totals/)

Source: https://cubbypad.com/help/app-name-visibility/