The Utilities folder is in your App Library, not on your home screen

Apple moved Utilities to the App Library starting with iOS 14, so you won't find it as a folder on your home screen the way you might on older iPhones. Instead, it lives in a dedicated section within the App Library — the organized view of all your apps that appears when you swipe to the far right of your home screens.

The Utilities folder contains built-in Apple apps like Calculator, Compass, Flashlight (accessed through Control Center), Stocks, Voice Memos, and Weather. Some of these apps also appear in Control Center for faster access, but the folder itself is where you go if you want to open them directly or see what utility apps you have installed.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe right from your home screen until you reach the App Library, then tap the Utilities category to see all utility apps in one place.
  • The Utilities folder includes Calculator, Voice Memos, Stocks, Weather, Compass, and other built-in tools that don't fit other categories.
  • You can add any of these apps to your home screen by pressing and holding the app icon, then selecting "Add to Home Screen".
  • Control Center gives you faster access to some utilities like Flashlight and Timer without opening the full app.

How to open the App Library and find Utilities

Start on any home screen. Swipe to the right until you reach the App Library — this is the last screen after all your home screens. The App Library shows your apps organized into categories like Social, Productivity, Health, and Utilities.

Look for the Utilities category and tap it. A folder will open showing all your utility apps. From here you can tap any app to open it. If you don't see Utilities immediately, scroll down through the categories until you find it — the order depends on which apps you use most.

Adding Utilities apps to your home screen

If you use Calculator or Voice Memos frequently, you can place them directly on your home screen instead of going through the App Library each time. Press and hold the app icon in the Utilities folder until a menu appears.

Tap "Add to Home Screen" from the menu. The app will appear on your current home screen. You can then drag it to a different location or a different home screen if you want. Removing it from your home screen doesn't delete the app — it stays in the Utilities folder in the App Library.

Using Control Center for quick access to some utilities

Several utility functions are built into Control Center, which you can open by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen. This gives you instant access to Flashlight, Timer, and other tools without opening the full app.

You can customize which controls appear in Control Center. Go to Settings, tap Control Center, then tap the plus sign next to any utility you want to add. This is often faster than opening the Utilities folder if you only need a quick function like turning on the flashlight or setting a timer.

What apps are inside the Utilities folder

The Utilities folder contains several built-in Apple apps that don't fit neatly into other categories. Calculator lets you do basic and scientific math. Voice Memos records audio notes. Stocks shows market information. Weather displays forecasts. Compass shows your direction. Reminders and Notes sometimes appear here depending on your iOS version.

You may also see third-party utility apps you've installed, like unit converters or measurement tools. The folder automatically organizes these alongside Apple's built-in utilities. If you install a new utility app, it will appear in this folder automatically.

Searching for a specific utility app

If you can't find what you're looking for in the Utilities folder, use Spotlight search instead. Swipe down from the top of your home screen to open the search box, then type the app name — for example, "Calculator" or "Voice Memos". The app will appear in the results, and you can tap it to open it directly.

This method is often faster than navigating through the App Library, especially if you only need to open an app once. You can also ask Siri to open a utility app by saying "Hey Siri, open Calculator" or whichever app you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don't I see a Utilities folder on my home screen?

Apple removed folder icons from home screens in iOS 14 and moved everything to the App Library instead. The Utilities folder still exists — you just access it through the App Library rather than seeing it as an icon on your home screen.

Can I delete apps from the Utilities folder?

You can delete most third-party utility apps you've installed, but Apple's built-in utilities like Calculator and Weather cannot be deleted. You can hide them from your home screen or App Library if you don't use them, but they remain on your phone.

What's the difference between Utilities and other app categories?

Utilities are tools that don't fit into categories like Social, Productivity, or Health. They're typically single-function apps or built-in system tools. Productivity apps like Notes and Reminders sometimes appear in their own category instead of Utilities, depending on your iOS version.

Can I rearrange apps within the Utilities folder?

No, the App Library automatically organizes apps within each category. You cannot manually reorder them. However, you can add individual apps to your home screen and arrange them however you want there.