The Utilities folder is in your App Library, not on your home screen
Apple doesn't give you a pre-made Utilities folder on your iPhone home screen the way older iPhones had folders. Instead, Utilities is a category inside your App Library — a separate view that organizes all your apps by type. You reach it by swiping to the far right of your home screen, past all your app pages, until you land on the App Library itself.
Once you're in the App Library, you'll see a grid of category folders. Utilities sits among them, usually toward the bottom. Tap it to open and see all the utility apps Apple considers system tools — things like Compass, Flashlight, Voice Memos, and Calculator.
If you want faster access, you can add the Utilities folder directly to your home screen so you don't have to swipe through the App Library every time. This takes about 30 seconds and is the most common reason people search for where Utilities actually lives.
Key Takeaways
- The Utilities folder lives in your App Library, which you reach by swiping right past all your home screen pages.
- You can add the Utilities folder to your home screen by long-pressing it in the App Library and selecting "Add to Home Screen".
- Utilities contains system tools like Compass, Flashlight, Voice Memos, Calculator, and Stocks — not user-installed apps.
- If you don't see Utilities in your App Library, check that you haven't hidden it or that Siri Suggestions isn't covering it.
How to open the App Library and find Utilities
Start on any home screen page. Swipe to the right until you run out of pages — you'll know you're at the end when the next swipe doesn't move anything. You're now in the App Library. The screen shows a grid of folder icons, each labeled with a category name like Social, Productivity, Games, and so on.
Scroll down through the categories until you see Utilities. It's usually near the bottom, after categories like Health and Travel. Tap the Utilities folder to open it and see all the utility apps on your phone. This folder contains the built-in tools Apple includes with every iPhone — you can't delete them, but you can hide them from your home screen if you want.
Adding Utilities to your home screen for quick access
If you use utility apps often, adding the folder to your home screen saves you from swiping through the App Library every time. Open the App Library and find the Utilities folder. Long-press the folder (hold your finger on it for about a second) until a menu appears with options.
Tap "Add to Home Screen" from the menu. Your iPhone will ask you to confirm the location — it usually defaults to your last home screen page, but you can swipe left or right to pick a different page. Tap "Add" in the top right corner. The Utilities folder now appears on that home screen page, and you can tap it anytime to open it without swiping through the App Library.
If you change your mind later, long-press the Utilities folder on your home screen and select "Remove from Home Screen". This doesn't delete the folder or the apps inside it — it just removes the shortcut from your home screen. The folder stays in your App Library.
What apps are inside the Utilities folder
The Utilities folder contains Apple's built-in system tools. The exact apps depend on your iPhone model and iOS version, but typically include Compass, Flashlight, Voice Memos, Calculator, Stocks, Measure, and Shortcuts. Some iPhones also include Reminders, Notes, or Find My in this category, though Apple sometimes moves these between folders.
You can't remove these apps from the Utilities folder because they're part of iOS itself. You can, however, delete individual utility apps from your iPhone if you don't use them — long-press the app and select "Remove App", then choose "Delete from iPhone". If you change your mind, you can reinstall them from the App Store under your library of purchased apps.
If you can't find Utilities in your App Library
The most common reason Utilities doesn't appear is that you've hidden it. Open the App Library, scroll to find Utilities, and long-press it. If you see an option that says "Show in App Library", tap it. The folder will reappear in the normal grid.
Another possibility is that Siri Suggestions is covering it. At the top of your App Library, you'll see a search bar and sometimes a row of suggested apps. Scroll down past these to see the full category grid. Utilities should be there.
If you still can't locate it, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the power button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears. Drag it to turn off your phone, wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. Open the App Library again and look for Utilities in the grid.
Moving individual apps out of Utilities
You can move any utility app to your home screen or to a different folder without moving the entire Utilities folder. Open the App Library and tap Utilities to see all the apps inside. Long-press the app you want to move — for example, Calculator — and select "Add to Home Screen".
Your iPhone will show you a preview of your home screen and ask where you want to place it. Swipe left or right to pick the page, then tap "Add" in the top right. The app now appears on that home screen page, and it also stays in the Utilities folder. You can move the same app to multiple home screens this way if you want quick access from different pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete the Utilities folder from my App Library?
No. The Utilities folder is a permanent part of iOS and can't be deleted. You can hide it by long-pressing it and selecting "Hide", but it will still exist in your App Library. To unhide it, long-press it again and select "Show in App Library".
Why do some of my apps appear in Utilities instead of other folders?
Apple decides which category each app belongs to based on what it does. System tools like Compass, Flashlight, and Voice Memos go in Utilities. If you think an app is in the wrong category, you can move it to your home screen individually, but you can't change which folder it appears in within the App Library.
Is the Utilities folder the same on every iPhone?
Mostly, but not exactly. All iPhones have a Utilities folder in the App Library, but the apps inside it can vary slightly depending on your iPhone model and iOS version. Newer iPhones might include apps that older models don't have.
Can I create my own Utilities folder on my home screen?
Yes. You can create a custom folder on your home screen by dragging one app onto another app, then adding more apps to that folder. You can name it whatever you want. This is separate from Apple's built-in Utilities folder in the App Library.
What if I accidentally deleted an app from Utilities?
You can reinstall it from the App Store. Search for the app by name, tap the cloud icon with a down arrow to reinstall it, and it will return to your iPhone. It will go back into the Utilities folder automatically.