The basics of moving apps on your home screen
You can rearrange your iPhone apps by pressing and holding any app icon until a menu appears, then dragging it to a new spot on your home screen. The app stays on your phone — you are only changing where it appears. This works on any home screen page, and you can move apps between pages by dragging them to the edge of the screen.
The process is the same whether you have an older iPhone or the newest model. You do not need to download anything or change any settings. If you make a mistake, you can always move the app back.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold an app icon until a menu appears, then drag it to move it on your home screen or between pages.
- You can create folders by dragging one app on top of another, which groups related apps together and saves space.
- The App Library automatically organizes all your apps by category and appears on your last home screen page.
- Removing an app from your home screen does not delete it from your phone — it just hides it from view.
How to move apps between home screen pages
When you drag an app toward the right or left edge of your screen, your iPhone automatically moves to the next page. Keep holding the app as it transitions, and release it on the page where you want it to land. This is faster than moving one app at a time across multiple pages.
If you have many home screen pages, you can see them all at once by pinching outward on your home screen with two fingers. This shows a bird's-eye view where you can tap the page you want and then move your app there directly.
Creating folders to organize apps
Drag one app directly on top of another app icon. Your iPhone automatically creates a folder and suggests a name based on the app category. You can accept the suggested name or type your own. The folder appears on your home screen as a single icon that contains multiple apps inside.
To add more apps to an existing folder, drag them onto the folder icon. To remove an app from a folder, open the folder, press and hold the app you want to remove, and drag it out onto your home screen. When a folder is empty, it disappears automatically.
Using the App Library to find apps you have hidden
The App Library is a separate screen that appears after your last home screen page. It automatically sorts every app on your phone into categories like Productivity, Health, Entertainment, and Games. You do not create or manage the App Library — your iPhone does it for you.
If you remove an app from your home screen but do not delete it from your phone, it still appears in the App Library. This is useful if you want to declutter your home screen but keep apps you use occasionally. Search for the app by name in the App Library, or scroll through the categories to find it.
Removing apps from your home screen without deleting them
Press and hold an app icon and select "Remove App" from the menu. Choose "Remove from Home Screen" to hide it from your home screen while keeping it on your phone. The app remains in the App Library and in your Settings, so you can move it back to your home screen anytime.
If you choose "Remove App" and then "Delete App" instead, you remove it from your phone entirely. You can reinstall it later from the App Store if you change your mind. Most people use "Remove from Home Screen" to reduce clutter without losing apps they might need later.
Moving multiple apps at once
Press and hold one app until the menu appears, then tap "Edit Home Screen" at the bottom. All app icons now have a small minus sign in the corner and can be moved or removed. Tap and drag any app to rearrange it, or tap the minus sign to remove it from your home screen.
While in edit mode, you can also create new folders or add apps from the App Library directly to your home screen. Tap the plus icon in the top left corner to see all your apps and drag them onto your home screen. When you are finished, press the back arrow or tap outside the apps to exit edit mode.
Organizing apps by color or frequency of use
Some people arrange their home screen by color, grouping apps with similar icon colors together. Others put the apps they use most often on the first page and less-used apps on later pages. Neither approach is right or wrong — organize your home screen in whatever way makes sense to you.
You can also use folders to group apps by how you use them: one folder for social media, another for finance apps, another for games. This keeps your home screen clean while keeping related apps easy to find. Experiment with different layouts until you find one that works for your routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does moving an app delete it or use more storage?
No. Moving an app only changes where it appears on your home screen. The app stays on your phone and uses the same amount of storage no matter where you put it. Removing it from your home screen also does not delete it unless you specifically choose to delete it.
Can I move apps to a specific home screen page?
Yes. Drag the app to the edge of your screen to move between pages, or use the bird's-eye view by pinching outward to see all pages at once. In the bird's-eye view, you can tap the page you want and drag the app directly onto it.
What happens if I move an app by accident?
You can move it back anytime. Press and hold the app and drag it to where it was before, or use the undo gesture by swiping left with three fingers. If you deleted it by accident, you can reinstall it from the App Store.
Can I lock an app in place so it does not move?
Not directly. However, you can put apps you want to keep in the same spot inside a folder, which makes them harder to move by accident. Some people also keep their most important apps on the first page where they are less likely to be disturbed.
Why do some apps not appear on my home screen?
You may have removed them from your home screen. Check the App Library on your last home screen page — all your apps are organized there by category. You can drag any app from the App Library back onto your home screen if you want to see it again.