How Do I Move the Apps on My iPhone? A Definitive Guide

So, you’re looking to rearrange your iPhone’s digital real estate? Great! Customizing your home screen is one of the quickest ways to personalize your device and boost your efficiency. Here’s the definitive answer to the question on your mind: moving apps on your iPhone is a breeze and can be accomplished using a few simple methods.

The primary method, applicable to most iPhones running iOS 14 and later, is the “jiggle” method, officially known as Edit Home Screen. Simply tap and hold any app icon on your home screen until all the icons begin to jiggle. Once they’re doing their little dance, you can drag and drop any app to a new location on the same page, to another page, or even into a folder. When you’re done rearranging, tap the “Done” button in the top right corner, or press the Home button (if your iPhone still has one), and the jiggling will cease, leaving your apps in their new positions.

For devices running older versions of iOS, or if you prefer an alternative method, you can also use the Edit Home Screen option accessible through the context menu. To do this, tap and hold an app icon, and from the menu that appears, select “Edit Home Screen”. This will initiate the jiggling, and you can proceed with the drag-and-drop method as described above.

Mastering App Management: Beyond the Basics

Moving apps is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to organizing your iPhone. Let’s delve into more advanced techniques and considerations.

Organizing with Folders

Folders are your best friend when you’re dealing with app overload. To create a folder, simply drag one app icon onto another. A folder will automatically be created, named based on the categories of the apps you’re combining (though you can rename it). You can then add more apps to the folder by dragging them in. Folders can contain multiple pages of apps, allowing you to consolidate similar apps into tidy, easily accessible groupings.

Utilizing the App Library

Introduced in iOS 14, the App Library is a game-changer. It automatically organizes all your apps into smart categories, like “Social,” “Utilities,” and “Recently Added.” You can access the App Library by swiping left past your last home screen page. The beauty of the App Library is that you can remove apps from your home screen without deleting them completely. This declutters your home screen while keeping all your apps readily available in the App Library. To remove an app from your home screen, tap and hold the app icon and select “Remove App”. You’ll then be given the option to “Remove from Home Screen” or “Delete App”.

Customizing Your Home Screen Layout

Consider how you use your iPhone and prioritize the apps you use most frequently. Place your most-used apps on the first home screen page for quick access. Group similar apps together in folders to minimize clutter. Use widgets to display information at a glance, such as weather, calendar events, or news headlines. Experiment with different layouts until you find one that works best for you. Don’t be afraid to reorganize your apps regularly as your needs change.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Moving Apps on Your iPhone

Here are 12 common questions, answered with expert insights:

1. How do I move multiple apps at once on my iPhone?

While iOS doesn’t offer a direct “select all” function for moving multiple apps simultaneously, there’s a handy workaround. First, initiate the jiggle mode. Then, tap and hold an app you want to move, but don’t drag it immediately. While still holding that app, use another finger to tap on other apps you want to include in the group. This will “stack” them together. Now, you can drag the entire stack to a new location. This works effectively for moving a group of apps to a new page or into a folder.

2. Can I move apps from the App Library back to the home screen?

Absolutely! To move an app from the App Library back to your home screen, simply tap and hold the app icon in the App Library. Then, select “Add to Home Screen” from the menu that appears. The app will then reappear on your next available home screen page.

3. Why are my apps not jiggling when I try to move them?

Several factors can prevent apps from jiggling. First, ensure your iPhone is unlocked. Secondly, make sure you’re pressing and holding the app icon long enough (but not too long – avoid activating 3D Touch/Haptic Touch actions). Also, check if you have any restrictions enabled in Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Sometimes, restrictions can prevent app rearrangement. Lastly, restart your iPhone, as this can often resolve minor glitches.

4. How do I delete an app instead of moving it?

When the apps are jiggling, you’ll see a small “x” icon (or a minus symbol in a circle) in the corner of each app. Tapping this icon will prompt you to confirm whether you want to delete the app. Note that deleting an app removes it from your device entirely, along with its associated data (unless the data is stored in iCloud). Be absolutely sure you want to delete the app before proceeding.

5. Can I move system apps like Mail or Safari?

Yes, with iOS 14 and later, you can remove most system apps from your home screen and store them in the App Library. However, certain core apps like Phone, Messages, and Settings cannot be deleted or removed from your main home screen page, although they can be put into folders.

6. How do I reset my home screen layout to the default?

If you’ve made a mess of your home screen and want to start from scratch, you can reset your home screen layout to the default configuration. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Home Screen Layout. This will restore all apps to their original positions, including system apps. Be aware that this will also remove any folders you’ve created.

7. How do I create an empty home screen page?

You cannot create a completely empty home screen page. iOS automatically removes blank pages to keep the interface tidy. However, you can minimize the number of apps on a page by moving most of them to other pages or into the App Library.

8. Can I move apps while my iPhone is connected to my computer?

No, you cannot move apps directly through a computer connection. App arrangement is done entirely on the device itself.

9. How do widgets affect my ability to move apps?

Widgets take up space on your home screen, which can impact app placement. You’ll need to arrange apps around widgets to achieve your desired layout. You can also move widgets themselves by tapping and holding them until they jiggle, just like apps.

10. My screen is zoomed in, and I can’t see all my apps. How can I fix this?

If your screen is zoomed in, you likely have Zoom enabled in your accessibility settings. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Zoom and toggle the Zoom switch to the off position. This will restore your screen to its normal zoom level, allowing you to see and move all your apps.

11. How do I move apps on an older iPhone without the “Edit Home Screen” option?

On older iPhones with iOS versions prior to iOS 14, the process is fundamentally the same: tap and hold an app icon until it begins to jiggle. There isn’t a separate “Edit Home Screen” option. If the apps are not jiggling, ensure you’re holding the icon long enough but not activating 3D Touch features, if applicable. Also, ensure the iPhone is unlocked and free from any restrictions.

12. Can I back up my app layout and restore it later?

Yes! Your app layout is included in your iPhone backups, whether you back up to iCloud or to your computer using Finder (or iTunes on older macOS versions). If you restore your iPhone from a backup, your app layout will be restored along with your other data and settings. This is extremely useful when you upgrade to a new iPhone.