Adding favorites to your iPhone home screen and Safari
You can save your favorite websites and apps to your iPhone in two main ways: by adding app icons to your home screen, or by bookmarking websites in Safari. Both methods put the things you use most where you can reach them quickly without scrolling through folders or typing into a search box.
The process is straightforward and takes just a few taps. Which method you use depends on whether you want quick access to an app or a specific website.
Key Takeaways
- Add app icons to your home screen by pressing and holding the app, then selecting "Add to Home Screen" from the menu that appears.
- Bookmark websites in Safari by tapping the share button, then selecting "Add Bookmark" and choosing where to save it.
- Create a Favorites folder in Safari to keep all your bookmarked sites organized in one place at the top of your bookmarks list.
- Rearrange home screen icons by pressing and holding any icon until the menu appears, then dragging it to a new location.
Adding app icons to your home screen
To add an app icon to your home screen, find the app you want in your App Library or in another folder. Press and hold the app icon until a menu pops up with several options. Tap "Add to Home Screen" from this menu.
A preview of the icon will appear on your screen. You can change the size of the icon by tapping the size options at the bottom — small, medium, or large. Once you are happy with the size, tap "Add" in the top right corner. The app icon will now appear on your home screen, usually at the end of your last page of apps.
If you want to move the icon to a different location on your home screen, press and hold it again. This time, tap "Edit Home Screen" instead of "Add to Home Screen." You can now drag the icon to any spot you want, or drag it between pages. Tap "Done" when you are finished.
Bookmarking websites in Safari
To bookmark a website in Safari, open the page you want to save. Tap the share button at the bottom of the screen — it looks like a square with an arrow pointing up. Scroll down in the menu that appears and tap "Add Bookmark."
A dialog box will open showing the website name and the URL. You can edit the name to something shorter or more memorable if you want. At the bottom, you will see a dropdown menu that says "Favorites" or shows a folder name. This is where your bookmark will be saved. Tap "Save" to finish.
The bookmark is now stored in Safari. To find it later, tap the book icon at the bottom of Safari and look under the "Favorites" tab. Your bookmarked sites will appear there, and you can tap any one to open it.
Creating and organizing a Favorites folder
Safari has a special "Favorites" section that appears at the top of your bookmarks list and also shows up in the address bar when you start typing. To add a bookmark directly to Favorites, follow the bookmarking steps above but make sure the dropdown menu at the bottom says "Favorites" before you tap "Save."
If you want to organize multiple bookmarks into a folder, open Safari and tap the book icon at the bottom. Tap "Edit" in the top right corner. Now you can tap the plus sign to create a new folder, or tap and hold a bookmark to move it into an existing folder. Give your folder a clear name like "News Sites" or "Shopping" so you can find what you need quickly.
Once your folder is set up, you can add more bookmarks to it by selecting that folder from the dropdown menu when you save a new bookmark. This keeps your Favorites organized and makes it easier to find what you are looking for.
Adding website shortcuts to your home screen
If you want even faster access to a website, you can add a shortcut icon directly to your home screen instead of just bookmarking it. Open the website in Safari, tap the share button at the bottom, and scroll down to find "Add to Home Screen." Tap it.
A dialog will appear with the website name and a preview of how the icon will look. You can edit the name to something shorter if you want — for example, changing "The New York Times" to just "NYT." Tap "Add" in the top right corner. The website will now appear as an icon on your home screen, and tapping it will open that specific page in Safari.
This method is useful for websites you visit constantly, like email, banking, or news sites. The icon works just like an app icon, and you can move it around your home screen the same way.
Managing and removing favorites
To remove a bookmark from Safari, open the app and tap the book icon at the bottom. Find the bookmark you want to delete, swipe left on it, and tap the trash icon that appears. The bookmark is now gone.
To remove an app icon from your home screen, press and hold the icon until the menu appears. Tap "Remove from Home Screen." The icon disappears from your home screen, but the app itself stays on your iPhone — you can still find it in your App Library. If you want to delete the app entirely, tap "Remove App" instead, then confirm by tapping "Delete App."
You can also rearrange your bookmarks in Safari by tapping the book icon, then tapping "Edit," and dragging bookmarks up or down in the list. This lets you put your most-used sites at the top where they are easiest to find.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a website to my home screen without bookmarking it first?
Yes. Open the website in Safari, tap the share button, and select "Add to Home Screen" directly. You do not need to bookmark it first. The website will appear as an icon on your home screen that opens that specific page when tapped.
What is the difference between adding a bookmark and adding a home screen shortcut?
A bookmark is saved in Safari's bookmarks list and takes up no space on your home screen. A home screen shortcut is an icon that sits on your home screen like an app. Bookmarks are better for sites you visit occasionally; home screen shortcuts are better for sites you use every day.
Can I change the icon that appears when I add a website to my home screen?
Not directly through Safari's built-in tools. The icon is usually a screenshot of the website. Some websites have their own app icons that will show instead. If you want a custom icon, you can use the Shortcuts app to create a more personalized home screen icon, but this requires more steps.
How many favorites can I add to Safari?
There is no set limit to how many bookmarks or favorites you can create in Safari. However, your Favorites section (the one that shows in the address bar) typically displays around 12 icons at once before you need to scroll. You can store as many bookmarks as you want in folders.
Will my favorites sync across my other Apple devices?
Yes, if you use iCloud and have Safari syncing turned on. Your bookmarks and favorites will appear on your iPad, Mac, and other Apple devices signed in with the same Apple ID. You can check this in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and make sure Safari is toggled on.