To organise apps on iPhone, touch and hold an empty area of the Home Screen until the icons jiggle, then drag apps where you want them. Drop one app onto another to make a folder, drag an app to the right edge to move it to another page, and tap Done when you've finished.
A cluttered Home Screen wastes a few seconds every time you hunt for an app, dozens of times a day. Apple gives you a handful of tools to fix it: free placement, folders, separate pages for different parts of your life and an App Library that sorts everything else on its own.
Moving icons around the grid
- Touch and hold an empty part of the Home Screen until everything starts to jiggle.
- Drag an app or widget to its new spot. Apple says you can place items anywhere, including along the top, bottom or side of the screen.
- To move an app to another page, drag it to the right edge and wait a moment for the next page to slide in.
- Tap the background (or press the Home button on older models) when you're done.
Because you're no longer stuck filling the grid from the top left, you can leave space to show off a photo wallpaper, or keep your most-used apps along the bottom where your thumb reaches.
Grouping apps into folders
- While the icons are jiggling, drag one app on top of another. A folder appears.
- Drag any other related apps into it.
- To rename it, touch and hold the folder, tap Rename and type a name.
- Tap Done.
A folder can hold several pages of apps, so you won't run out of room. To get rid of one, open it and drag every app out. Apple says an empty folder is deleted automatically.
Folder ideas for a small business
| Folder name | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Clients | Email, messaging, video call and calendar apps |
| Content | Camera tools, editing apps and social media |
| Admin | Banking, accounting, scanning and file storage |
| Travel | Maps, parking, rail and hotel apps |
| Rarely | Everything you keep but almost never open |
Giving each part of your day its own page
Each Home Screen page can have its own layout. Apple suggests putting all the apps and widgets for one Focus, such as Work, on a single page and making that page available during that Focus. I find that works brilliantly: work apps on one page during office hours, family and personal apps on another in the evening.
You can also reorder pages. While icons are jiggling, tap the dots at the bottom of the screen, then touch and hold a page thumbnail and drag it into a new position. Put your most useful page first.
While you're in that page view, you can also untick a page to hide it for now. That's useful for a seasonal page, such as the apps you only need for a trade show or the school holidays. The apps aren't deleted and you can tick the page back on whenever you need it. New apps may go to App Library while pages are hidden, so check there if a fresh download seems to vanish.
Letting App Library do the sorting
Swipe left past your last Home Screen page and you'll reach App Library. It groups every app into categories, such as Social, Entertainment and Productivity & Finance, with Suggestions and Recently Added at the top. There's a search field too, which is often faster than any folder.
This is the limit that frustrates tidy people: Apple says you can't move apps into a different category in App Library. The sorting is automatic and based on how you use your apps. And organising your Home Screen doesn't change App Library at all, so think of it as a back-up index rather than something you arrange.
Changing how the icons look
Organising isn't only about position. Touch and hold the background, tap the Edit button and choose Customize. You can make icons larger, though Apple notes that in large size the app names disappear, so only do this if you know your apps by their icons. You can also switch to Dark, Clear or Tinted icons for a calmer look.
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Starting again with a reset
If your layout's beyond saving, Apple has a reset. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset and tap Reset Home Screen Layout. Be warned: Apple says any folders you created are removed and the apps you downloaded are arranged alphabetically after the ones that came with your iPhone. It's a clean slate, not a tidy-up, so take a screenshot of anything you want to rebuild first.
A layout I'd suggest
- Bottom row: the four apps you open most, within thumb reach.
- Page one: a calendar widget and your daily work apps.
- A few clearly named folders for everything you use weekly.
- Everything else left to App Library and search.
My verdict
Don't aim for a perfect system. Aim for a first page you can use without thinking, folders with plain names and App Library for the rest. Ten minutes on it now saves you hunting for apps all year. If you want a record of your old layout first, my guide to screen recording on iPhone captures every page in one go, and if Mail is the app you open most, my roundup of email apps for iPhone might change what goes in your Dock.
Frequently asked questions
How do I move apps on my iPhone?
Touch and hold an empty part of the Home Screen until the icons jiggle, then drag apps where you want them.
How do I make a folder on iPhone?
While the icons jiggle, drag one app onto another. Touch and hold the folder and tap Rename to name it.
Can I rearrange App Library categories?
No. Apple says you can't move apps to another category in App Library; it sorts them automatically.
How do I delete a folder on iPhone?
Drag all the apps out of it. An empty folder is deleted automatically.
How do I reset my iPhone Home Screen layout?
Go to Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Reset, then Reset Home Screen Layout. Your folders are removed.
