How to Move or Rearrange Apps on iPhone

Have you ever misplaced or accidentally removed an app on your iPhone and wondered how to get it back? Or maybe you are quickly trying to launch an app and are finding the disarray of apps bothersome. Fret not; here’s how to quickly move or rearrange apps on your iPhone.

Instead of hunting for an app on your iPhone’s home screen pages and App Library, you can organize apps according to your needs. An organized home screen can help you declutter, reduce the number of unnecessary screen swipes, prioritize favorites, and even hide apps from your kids.

Let’s look at how to achieve this organized bliss on your iPhone.

Rearrange Apps and Folders on iPhone

iOS allows you to quickly move or rearrange app icons on the home screen of your iPhone in a few swipes. The process is straightforward whether you want to move a single app, multiple apps, or a folder on your iPhone.

1. Move Apps on an iPhone

If you have misplaced some apps from your home screen, rearranging them is a piece of cake. Here are the steps to take:

Step 1: Navigate to the app you wish to rearrange and tap and hold.

Step 2: Tap Edit Home Screen.

Step 3: Now, the apps will start jiggling; press and hold the app you want to move and drag it to the desired location.

Step 4: Drop the app and tap Done once you reach the desired location.

If you want to move multiple apps at once instead of moving them one by one, enter the jiggle mode as shown above and follow the below steps.

Step 5: Tap and hold the first app with one finger and tap on other apps using your other hand.

Step 6: Let all the apps stack up under your finger. Once you have gathered all apps under your finger, swipe left or right to the desired home screen page.

Step 7: Once you reach the desired home screen, lift your finger and drop the apps to the desired location.

Step 8: Tap Done to save the rearranged apps on your home screen.

2. Move Folders on the Home Screen

Step 1: If you want to move a folder, press and hold it, then tap Edit Home Screen.

Step 2: Now, drag and drop the folder to the preferred location and tap Done.

3. Add Apps to Home Screen From App Library

You can also add an app to your home screen instead of searching for it in the App Library whenever you wish to use it. Let’s take a look at the steps to do so:

Also Read: App Library tips and tricks for iPhone users.

Step 1: Swipe left on your home screen until you see the App Library

Step 2: Press and hold the app you wish to add to the home screen.

Step 3: Tap ‘Add to Home Screen’.

Tip: ‘Add to Home Screen’ won’t be visible for apps already on your home screen.

And the app will appear on your home screen.

Must Read: How to use separate focus modes on Apple Watch and iPhone.

4. Rearrange Apps in a Specific Focus Mode

Focus mode lets you keep separate home screens linked to specific focus modes. And to rearrange apps in a specific focus mode, you need to switch to that focus mode first.

Here are simple steps to follow:

Step 1: Swipe from the top right of the corner to access the Control Center on your iPhone.

Note: If you have an iPhone with the home button, swipe up from the bottom to open Control Center.

Step 2: Tap Focus.

Step 3: Now, tap and select a focus mode in which you want to move or rearrange apps.

Step 4: Tap and hold the app you want to move on the home screen in focus mode.

Step 5: Now, tap Edit Home Screen.

Step 6: Drag and drop the app to the preferred location.

Step 7: Tap Done. And that’s it; the rearranged apps will be saved to that specific focus mode.

Note: If you wish to return to the original layout of your iPhone home screen, go to Settings > select General > scroll down and select ‘Transfer or Reset iPhone’ > Reset Home Screen Layout. Tap on Reset Home Screen to confirm.

Rearrange Home Screen Pages on iPhone

Instead of moving apps or folders from one page to another, iOS allows you to rearrange home screen pages for better convenience. The process to do so is simple.

Quick Tip: If you want to rearrange the home screen pages of a particular focus mode, first switch to that focus mode and follow along.

Step 1: Tap and hold any app on the home screen.

Step 2: Tap Edit Home Screen.

Step 3: Tap the page indicator.

Step 4: Now, tap and hold the page (like an app) you wish to move.

Step 5: Drag and drop the home screen page to the desired location.

Step 6: Tap Done to save the rearranged pages.

Also Read: Best home screen layout ideas on iPhone

Stop Apps From Adding to iPhone Home Screen

If you often find apps automatically adding to your iPhone home screen, it could be because you have enabled the add app icons on the home screen option or you’re using the same Apple ID on multiple devices. Devices signed with the same Apple ID tend to sync the app downloads as well. Fortunately, you can put it to rest. Here are the simple steps to take:

1. Stop Automatic App Downloads

Step 1: Open Settings and tap App Store.

Step 2: Turn off the toggle saying App Downloads under the AUTOMATIC DOWNLOADS section.

And that’s it; any app you install on other devices won’t be installed on your current iPhone.

2. Stop New Apps From Adding to the Home Screen

Furthermore, you can also turn off the automatic addition of apps to the home screen of your iPhone if you don’t want to mess with the apps syncing and downloading across the devices.

Step 1: Open Settings and tap Home Screen.

Step 2: Tap and select App Library Only under NEWLY DOWNLOADED APPS.

Now, any app you install on your current iPhone or other devices (signed in with the same Apple ID) won’t be added to the home screen of your iPhone.

Arrange Apps Effortlessly

Whether you want to add an app back to the home screen or customize the layout of apps according to your usage pattern, these tips will help you achieve your desired home screen setup in no time.