Creating a folder takes three taps

To create a folder on your iPhone home screen, press and hold any app icon until a menu appears, then tap Add to Home Screen and select Create Stack. A stack is Apple's name for a folder. Tap the folder that appears, then drag other apps into it one at a time. The folder automatically names itself based on the category of apps inside — for example, "Productivity" or "Games" — but you can rename it by tapping and holding the folder, selecting Edit Home Screen, then tapping the folder name to type a new one.

The quickest method is to drag one app directly onto another. Press and hold the first app until the home screen enters edit mode (the icons will jiggle slightly), then drag it on top of a second app. iOS creates a folder instantly and places both apps inside. You can then drag additional apps into the same folder by holding them and dropping them on the folder icon.

Folders work the same way whether you're using an iPhone with Face ID or Touch ID, and whether you're on the home screen or the app library. The process is identical across all recent iPhone models.

Key Takeaways

  • Drag one app onto another to create a folder instantly, or press and hold an app and choose Create Stack.
  • iPhone automatically sorts apps into category-based folders, but you can rename any folder by tapping and holding it in edit mode.
  • You can fit up to nine apps on the first page of a folder before a second page appears automatically.
  • Folders appear on your home screen and in the app library, and you can create as many as you need.

Dragging apps into an existing folder

Once you have created a folder, adding more apps to it is straightforward. Press and hold any app icon until the home screen enters edit mode, then drag the app directly onto the folder. The folder will highlight when you're hovering over it, signaling that you can drop the app inside. Release your finger and the app moves into the folder.

You can also open a folder by tapping it, then drag apps into it while the folder is open. This method is useful if you want to see exactly where the app will land inside the folder. If the folder is full on the current page, iOS automatically creates a second page within the folder to hold additional apps.

Renaming a folder to something specific

iPhone suggests a category name based on the types of apps you put in the folder — "Social," "Utilities," "Photography," and so on. If you want a different name, press and hold the folder until the menu appears, then tap Edit Home Screen. The folder will now show a text field with the current name highlighted. Type a new name and tap outside the text field or press the return key to save it.

You can name a folder anything you want, including single letters, numbers, or emoji. Some people use emoji-only names to save space, while others prefer descriptive names like "Work Apps" or "Games I Play." The name you choose appears below the folder icon on your home screen.

Moving folders around your home screen

Folders behave like any other app icon when moving them. Press and hold the folder until edit mode activates, then drag it to a new location on your home screen or to a different page. You can also drag a folder into the dock at the bottom of the screen if you want quick access to it.

If you want to move a folder to a different page, drag it toward the edge of the screen and hold it there — the screen will scroll to the next page automatically. Release the folder when you reach the page where you want it to sit. You can organize multiple folders across several pages to keep your home screen tidy.

Removing apps from a folder without deleting them

To take an app out of a folder, open the folder by tapping it, then press and hold the app you want to remove. Tap Remove from Folder from the menu that appears. The app returns to your home screen. If you want to delete the app entirely from your iPhone, tap Remove App instead, then confirm by tapping Delete from Home Screen or Delete App.

Removing an app from a folder does not delete it — the app stays on your iPhone and remains in the app library. You can always find it again by swiping to the app library (the last page of your home screen) or by searching for it with Spotlight.

Deleting a folder

To delete a folder, you must first remove all the apps inside it. Open the folder, press and hold each app, and tap Remove from Folder. Once the folder is empty, press and hold the empty folder icon and tap Remove from Home Screen. The folder disappears, but all the apps that were in it remain on your iPhone.

If you want to delete the folder and all its apps at once, you can remove each app individually by tapping Delete App instead of Remove from Folder. This permanently removes the apps from your iPhone, not just from the folder.

Using the app library instead of folders

iPhones also have an app library, which is a separate view that automatically organizes all your apps into categories without you creating folders manually. Swipe to the rightmost page of your home screen to see the app library. It shows category folders like "Productivity," "Entertainment," and "Utilities" that iOS creates for you.

You can hide entire pages of your home screen and rely on the app library to find apps instead. Press and hold an empty area of your home screen, tap Edit Home Screen, then tap the dots at the bottom to see which pages are visible. Uncheck any pages you want to hide, and those apps will only appear in the app library. This keeps your home screen minimal while keeping all your apps accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many apps can fit in one folder?

A single folder page holds up to nine apps in a three-by-three grid. When you add a tenth app, iOS automatically creates a second page within the folder. You can add as many apps as you want across multiple pages.

Can I create a folder inside a folder?

No. iPhone does not support nested folders — you cannot put a folder inside another folder. However, you can create multiple separate folders on your home screen and organize them however you like.

What happens if I rename a folder to something iOS suggests?

If you type a name that matches one of iOS's category suggestions, the folder will use that name. You can always change it again by pressing and holding the folder and tapping Edit Home Screen.

Do folders take up storage space on my iPhone?

No. Folders are just a way to organize app icons on your home screen. They do not use any additional storage — only the apps inside the folder use storage space.

Can I see how many apps are in a folder without opening it?

The folder icon shows a preview of the apps inside it, but there is no number displayed. You have to open the folder to see the exact count of apps it contains.