Where to find apps and how to move them

Most phones and tablets keep apps in two places: a home screen you see when you unlock the device, and an app drawer or library that holds everything else. Moving an app to your home screen means dragging it from that drawer to a spot you can reach without extra taps. The steps differ slightly between Android and iPhone, but the basic idea is the same on both.

On an iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the App Library, find the app you want, then press and hold it until a menu appears. Tap "Add to Home Screen" and choose which screen you want it on. On Android, open your app drawer (usually a grid icon at the bottom), press and hold the app, then drag it to your home screen. Some Android phones call this the "App Drawer" or "Apps" — the exact name depends on your phone maker.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone users open the App Library by swiping up from the bottom, then press and hold an app and select "Add to Home Screen."
  • Android users press and hold an app in the app drawer and drag it directly to the home screen.
  • You can move apps between home screens by dragging them, and delete them from the home screen without removing them from your phone.
  • Both iPhone and Android let you organize apps into folders on the home screen to save space.

Moving apps on iPhone

Start by unlocking your iPhone and swiping up from the very bottom of the screen. This opens the App Library, which shows all your apps organized by category. Scroll through the categories or use the search box at the top to find the app you want to move.

Once you find it, press and hold the app icon until a menu pops up. You will see several options — tap "Add to Home Screen." A preview of your home screens appears, and you can swipe left or right to pick which screen you want the app on. Tap the screen you choose, then tap "Add" in the top right corner. The app now appears on that home screen.

If you want to move an app that is already on your home screen to a different screen, press and hold it, tap "Move," then swipe to the screen you want and tap "Add."

Moving apps on Android

Open your app drawer by tapping the grid icon (or sometimes a circle with dots) at the bottom of your home screen. This shows all your installed apps. Find the one you want to move and press and hold it until the app icon gets larger or the screen changes slightly — this means you have grabbed it.

While still holding, drag the app upward toward your home screen. You may see a preview of your home screens as you drag. Release your finger on the screen where you want the app to land. The app now sits on your home screen and stays in the app drawer as well.

To move an app that is already on your home screen to a different screen, press and hold it and drag it to the left or right edge of the screen. Your phone will scroll to the next screen, and you can release it there.

Organizing apps into folders

Both iPhone and Android let you create folders on your home screen to group related apps together. On iPhone, press and hold one app, tap "Move," and drag it onto another app. A folder appears automatically, and you can name it. Drag more apps into the folder the same way.

On Android, press and hold an app on your home screen and drag it on top of another app. A folder forms, and you can tap it to name it. Keep dragging apps into the folder to add more. Folders are useful if you have many apps and want to keep your home screen less crowded.

Removing apps from your home screen without deleting them

You can remove an app from your home screen while keeping it on your phone. On iPhone, press and hold the app and tap "Remove from Home Screen." The app disappears from that screen but stays in your App Library.

On Android, press and hold the app on your home screen and look for a "Remove" option or an X icon. Tap it, and the app leaves your home screen but remains in your app drawer. This is different from uninstalling, which would remove the app entirely from your phone.

Rearranging apps on your home screen

Once apps are on your home screen, you can move them around to any spot you like. On iPhone, press and hold an app until the screen enters edit mode (the icons will jiggle slightly), then drag the app to a new position. Tap outside the apps or press the back button when you are done.

On Android, press and hold an app on your home screen and drag it to a new spot. You can move it left, right, up, or down. If you drag it to the edge, the screen scrolls so you can move it to a different home screen. Release your finger when the app is where you want it.

What to do if an app will not move

Some apps, especially system apps that come with your phone, cannot be moved or removed from the home screen. If you press and hold an app and no menu appears, or if the move option is grayed out, that app is locked in place by your phone maker.

You can still hide it by removing it from your home screen (on Android) or by organizing it into a folder you do not check often (on both platforms). If you want the app completely gone, check your phone's Settings under Apps or Application Manager to see if you can uninstall it — though many system apps cannot be removed at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move multiple apps at once?

No, you move one app at a time. On iPhone, you can press and hold one app, move it, then repeat for the next one. On Android, the process is the same — grab one app, drag it, release, then move the next one.

What happens to an app if I move it to a different home screen?

The app simply appears on the new screen. It still works the same way, and all your data inside the app stays intact. You can move it back to the original screen anytime by dragging it again.

Can I delete an app by dragging it off the home screen?

No. Dragging an app off the home screen only removes it from that screen — it stays on your phone in the app drawer or App Library. To actually delete an app, you must uninstall it through your phone's Settings.

How do I know if an app is in a folder?

On both iPhone and Android, folders appear as a single icon with a label underneath. Tap the folder to open it and see the apps inside. You can drag apps out of a folder the same way you dragged them in.

Can I have different apps on different home screens?

Yes. Both iPhone and Android support multiple home screens, and you can put different apps on each one. Swipe left or right to move between screens, and drag apps to whichever screen you want.