The two ways to move apps on iPhone
You can move apps on iPhone in two ways: by dragging them around your home screen, or by using the Edit mode menu. The drag method is faster for moving one or two apps. Edit mode is better if you're reorganizing many apps at once, because you can move multiple apps without the screen jumping around as you work.
Both methods work the same way on any iPhone model running iOS 16 or later. If you're running an older version of iOS, the steps are slightly different — you'll hold down an app icon until a menu appears, then tap "Move App" from that menu.
Key Takeaways
- Drag an app icon to move it instantly, or tap and hold to enter Edit mode for moving multiple apps at once.
- You can move apps between your home screen pages by dragging them to the edge of the screen until the next page appears.
- Create a folder by dragging one app on top of another app, then name the folder or let iPhone suggest a name.
- Move apps into and out of folders using the same drag-and-drop method you use on the home screen.
- The App Library at the far right of your home screen automatically organizes all your apps by category, even if you don't move them.
Moving apps by dragging them
Press and hold any app icon on your home screen for about half a second until the icon lifts slightly off the screen. Then drag it to wherever you want it to go. You can drag it to a different spot on the same page, or drag it to the edge of the screen to move to the next page.
When you're dragging an app to a new page, hold it at the edge of the screen for a moment and the next page will slide into view. Keep holding and dragging until the app is where you want it, then lift your finger to drop it. The app stays in that spot.
This method works for moving apps out of folders too. Press and hold an app inside a folder, drag it out of the folder window, and drop it on your home screen. The folder closes automatically once the app is out.
Using Edit mode to move multiple apps at once
If you want to move several apps, tap and hold any empty space on your home screen (not on an app icon) until the screen enters Edit mode. You'll see small minus signs appear in the corners of each app icon, and the background will dim slightly.
In Edit mode, tap any app icon you want to move — you don't need to hold it down. The icon will lift up and you can drag it anywhere on your home screen or to other pages. You can tap and drag as many apps as you want without leaving Edit mode.
When you're finished moving apps, tap "Done" in the top right corner. All your changes save immediately.
Creating folders to organize apps
Drag one app directly on top of another app and hold it there for a moment. iPhone will automatically create a folder containing both apps. The folder gets a name based on the category of the apps — for example, if you drop a fitness app onto a health app, iPhone might suggest "Health & Fitness."
You can accept iPhone's suggested name by tapping outside the folder, or tap on the folder name to type your own. Once the folder is created, you can drag more apps into it the same way: press and hold an app, drag it over the folder, and drop it inside.
To remove an app from a folder, open the folder by tapping it, then press and hold the app you want to remove and drag it out onto your home screen. The folder stays open until you tap outside it or move to a different screen.
Moving apps between pages on your home screen
Your iPhone home screen can have multiple pages. To see how many pages you have, pinch outward on your home screen with two fingers — you'll see all your pages displayed as thumbnails. Tap any page to jump to it.
When you're dragging an app to move it, hold it at the left or right edge of the screen. After a moment, the next page slides into view and you can continue dragging the app onto that page. This works whether you're using the drag method or Edit mode.
You can also delete entire pages if they're empty. In Edit mode, pinch outward to see all your pages, then tap the small dot under a page to remove it. Only empty pages can be deleted — if a page has apps on it, you'll need to move those apps to other pages first.
Understanding the App Library
At the far right of your home screen pages, you'll find the App Library. This is a separate view where iPhone automatically sorts all your apps into categories like Games, Productivity, Health, and Social. You don't have to do anything to use it — every app on your phone appears there automatically.
You can search for an app in the App Library by scrolling down to the search box at the bottom. Type the app name and it will appear. This is useful if you've moved an app somewhere you can't remember, or if you want to launch an app without going back to your home screen.
Some people hide entire home screen pages and rely on the App Library instead. To hide a page, pinch outward to see all pages, tap the dots at the bottom, and toggle off the pages you don't want to see. Your apps are still there in the App Library — they're just not on your home screen.
Troubleshooting apps that won't move
If an app won't move when you try to drag it, make sure you're holding it long enough. Press and hold for a full second — if you let go too quickly, the app won't lift up and you'll just open it instead. Try again with a longer hold.
Some apps that came with your iPhone, like Phone, Messages, and Camera, cannot be moved or deleted. If you try to drag one of these built-in apps and nothing happens, that's why. You can move them to a folder if you want them out of the way, but you can't remove them from your phone entirely.
If Edit mode won't activate when you tap empty space, make sure you're tapping on the home screen itself and not on the dock at the bottom. The dock is a separate area and doesn't enter Edit mode the same way. Tap on the home screen area above the dock instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move apps to my lock screen?
No, you can only move apps on your home screen pages and into folders. Your lock screen shows widgets and shortcuts, which are different from app icons. You can customize your lock screen separately by long-pressing it, but app icons themselves stay on the home screen.
What happens if I move an app into a folder and then delete the folder?
The folder disappears but the app stays on your phone. When you delete a folder, all the apps inside it move back to your home screen or to the App Library. The apps are never deleted, only the folder organization is removed.
Can I move apps between my iPhone and iPad?
No, your iPhone and iPad have separate home screens and app libraries. Moving an app on your iPhone doesn't affect your iPad. However, if you have iCloud enabled, your home screen layout can sync between devices if you turn on that setting in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
Is there a way to move apps faster?
Edit mode is the fastest way to move many apps at once because the screen stays stable while you work. If you're only moving one or two apps, dragging is quicker. There's no faster method than these two built-in options.
What if I accidentally moved an app and can't find it?
Open the App Library by swiping to the rightmost page of your home screen. Search for the app by name using the search box at the bottom. Once you find it, you can tap it to open it, or press and hold it to move it back to your home screen.