Moving an app on iPhone takes seconds once you know where to look
To move an app on your iPhone, press and hold the app icon until a menu appears, then tap "Edit Home Screen." The icon will start to jiggle, and you can drag it to a new spot on your home screen or to a different page. When you're done, tap "Done" in the top right corner. The whole process takes under a minute.
This works the same way on any iPhone running iOS 16 or later. If you have an older iPhone, the steps are slightly different — you'll press and hold the icon and tap "Move App" from the menu instead — but the result is the same.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon until a menu appears, then select "Edit Home Screen" to start rearranging.
- Once icons are jiggling, you can drag them between spots on the same page or swipe to move them to a different page.
- You can also move apps into folders by dragging one icon on top of another, which groups related apps together.
- Tap "Done" when finished, or press the home button to exit edit mode without saving changes.
The step-by-step process for iOS 16 and newer
Open your home screen and find the app you want to move. Press and hold the icon with your finger — not a quick tap, but a steady press for about a second. A menu will pop up with several options.
Tap "Edit Home Screen" from this menu. All the app icons on your screen will begin to jiggle and show small minus signs in the top left corner. This jiggling means the icons are now in edit mode and ready to move.
Drag the app icon to wherever you want it. You can move it left or right on the same page, or drag it toward the edge of the screen to move it to an adjacent page. When the icon lands where you want it, release your finger. Tap "Done" in the top right corner to finish and lock the apps in place.
How to move apps on older iPhones
If your iPhone runs iOS 15 or earlier, the process is slightly different. Press and hold the app icon until the menu appears, then tap "Move App" instead of "Edit Home Screen." The icon will jiggle the same way, and you can drag it to a new location.
Once you've placed it where you want, release your finger and press the home button (or swipe up from the bottom on newer iPhones without a home button) to exit edit mode. The app will stay in its new location.
Creating folders to organize apps by category
You can group related apps together in a folder to save space on your home screen. While in edit mode, drag one app icon directly on top of another app icon. The two apps will automatically create a folder, and iOS will suggest a category name based on what the apps do.
You can rename the folder by tapping on the name field at the top of the folder. Type a new name — like "Social Media" or "Games" — and tap outside the folder to save it. You can then drag additional apps into the folder by dragging them onto the folder icon.
To remove an app from a folder, open the folder in edit mode, press and hold the app you want to remove, and drag it out onto the home screen. The folder will stay in place with the remaining apps inside.
Moving apps to the app library instead of your home screen
If you want to keep an app on your iPhone but remove it from your home screen, you can move it to the App Library instead. While in edit mode, drag the app icon to the far right edge of your screen until you see the App Library appear. Release the icon, and it will move there automatically.
The App Library organizes apps by category — Productivity, Entertainment, Games, and so on — so you won't lose track of the app. You can still search for it using Spotlight (swipe down from the top of the screen and type the app name) or find it in the App Library by category.
What to do if an app won't move or gets stuck
Some apps, like Phone, Messages, and Safari, cannot be moved or removed from the home screen. If you press and hold one of these built-in apps, the menu will not show a "Move App" option. This is by design — Apple keeps these core apps in a fixed location.
If an app you expect to move is stuck, try closing and reopening the app, then restart your iPhone. Sometimes a glitch prevents edit mode from working properly. If the problem persists, check that you're running the latest version of iOS by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
Undoing changes if you move an app by mistake
If you move an app and immediately realize you made a mistake, you can undo the change by pressing and holding the app again and tapping "Undo" from the menu — but only if you haven't tapped "Done" yet. Once you tap "Done," the change is saved and cannot be undone through the undo option.
If you've already tapped "Done" and want to move the app back, simply repeat the process: press and hold the app, tap "Edit Home Screen," and drag it to its original location. There's no limit to how many times you can rearrange your apps, so feel free to experiment until you find an arrangement that works for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move multiple apps at once?
No, you can only move one app at a time. Press and hold each app individually and drag it to its new location. If you want to move several apps, you'll need to repeat the process for each one.
Will moving an app delete it or change how it works?
No. Moving an app only changes where it appears on your home screen. The app itself, its data, and all your settings within the app remain exactly the same. Moving an app is purely cosmetic.
What's the difference between moving an app and deleting it?
Moving an app relocates it on your home screen or to the App Library. Deleting an app removes it from your iPhone entirely. If you press and hold an app and see a "Remove App" option, that will delete it — not move it. Tap "Move App" or "Edit Home Screen" to rearrange instead.
Can I arrange apps in a specific order across multiple pages?
Yes. While in edit mode, drag an app toward the right edge of the screen to move it to the next page, or toward the left edge to move it to the previous page. You can arrange apps across as many pages as you want, and iOS will create new pages automatically as needed.
Why won't some of my apps move?
Built-in Apple apps like Phone, Messages, Safari, and Camera cannot be moved or removed from the home screen. If you want to hide them, you can move them to the App Library instead. Third-party apps should always be movable unless there's a technical issue with your iPhone.