Creating a folder on your iPhone home screen
To create a new folder on your iPhone, drag one app on top of another app. iOS automatically groups them into a folder and suggests a category name based on the app types. You can rename the folder to anything you want, and add or remove apps from it at any time.
This method works on all iPhones running iOS 4 and later. Folders help you organize your home screen by grouping related apps together, making them easier to find when you have many apps installed.
Key Takeaways
- Drag one app directly onto another app to create a folder automatically.
- iOS suggests a folder name based on the app category, but you can change it to anything you prefer.
- You can add more apps to a folder by dragging them onto the folder icon.
- Remove apps from a folder by opening it, pressing and holding an app, then dragging it back to the home screen.
- Folders appear on your home screen and in the App Library, which organizes all your apps by category.
Step-by-step: creating your first folder
Press and hold any app on your home screen until a menu appears. The app will enter edit mode, and you'll see a small circle with a minus sign appear on each app icon. Don't tap the minus sign — instead, tap elsewhere to close this menu and keep the app selected.
Now press and hold the same app again. While still holding, drag it on top of a different app. When you see the second app highlight or expand, release your finger. iOS will create a folder containing both apps and display a naming screen. The system suggests a category name like "Productivity" or "Games" based on what the apps do, but you can type a custom name instead. Tap outside the text field or press Return to confirm.
Your new folder now appears on your home screen. Tap it once to open and see the apps inside, or tap and hold it to move it to a different location on your screen or to a different home screen page.
Adding more apps to an existing folder
To add apps to a folder you've already created, press and hold an app on your home screen. Drag it onto the folder you want to add it to. When the folder highlights, release your finger. The app moves into the folder immediately.
You can add as many apps as you want to a single folder. If a folder fills up, iOS automatically creates additional pages within that folder, and you can swipe between them to see all the apps inside.
Removing apps from a folder
Open the folder by tapping it once. Press and hold any app inside the folder until the edit menu appears. Drag the app outside the folder window and release it. The app returns to your home screen, and the folder remains with the other apps still inside it.
If you remove the last app from a folder, the folder disappears automatically. You don't need to manually delete empty folders.
Renaming or deleting a folder
To rename a folder, press and hold it on your home screen and select "Edit Home Screen" from the menu. Tap the folder name at the top of the folder window. The text field becomes editable — delete the current name and type a new one. Tap outside the text field to save the new name.
To delete a folder, remove all the apps from it by dragging them out one at a time. Once the folder is empty, it vanishes from your home screen. There is no separate delete option for folders themselves.
Using the App Library instead of folders
Your iPhone also has an App Library, which automatically organizes all your apps into categories without you creating folders manually. Swipe to the rightmost home screen page to see it. The App Library groups apps by type — Social, Productivity, Health, Games, and so on — and you can search for any app by swiping down and typing its name.
Some people prefer using the App Library and hiding home screen pages instead of creating many folders. You can hide entire home screen pages by pressing and holding the page indicator dots at the bottom of your screen and unchecking pages you don't want to see. This keeps your main home screen clean while keeping all your apps accessible through the App Library.
Organizing folders across multiple home screens
You can create as many folders as you want and spread them across different home screen pages. Press and hold a folder and drag it to the right edge of your screen to move it to the next page, or drag it to the left edge to move it to the previous page.
Many people organize their folders by creating one page for work apps, another for entertainment, and another for utilities. This setup makes it faster to find what you need without scrolling through dozens of individual app icons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a folder inside another folder?
No. iPhones do not support nested folders — you cannot put a folder inside another folder. However, you can create multiple folders on different home screen pages to organize your apps by category.
What happens if I drag an app onto a folder?
The app moves into that folder. If you want to move an app to a different location on your home screen instead, drag it to an empty space rather than onto another app or folder.
Can I change the folder icon or color?
No. Folder icons are always the same appearance — a rounded square showing the first few apps inside. You cannot customize the color or image. You can only change the folder's name.
How many apps can fit in one folder?
There is no hard limit. A folder can hold many apps, and iOS creates additional pages within the folder when it gets full. You can swipe between pages inside the folder to see all your apps.
Do folders take up storage space on my iPhone?
No. Folders are just organizational containers that arrange your apps on the home screen. They do not use additional storage. Only the apps themselves consume storage space.