The fastest way to move an app on your iPhone

To move an app, press and hold it on your home screen until a menu appears, then tap Move App. Your home screen will shift into edit mode. Drag the app to the spot you want and tap Done in the top right corner. The whole process takes about five seconds.

If you want to move an app to a different home screen page, hold it and drag it to the right edge of the screen — the page will scroll forward and you can drop it there. You can also move apps into folders by dragging one app onto another, which creates a folder automatically.

On newer iPhones with Face ID, you can also swipe up from the bottom to reach the App Library, which shows all your apps organized by category. You can drag apps from the App Library back to your home screen if you want them more visible.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold any app, tap Move App, drag it to your new location, and tap Done — no settings menu needed.
  • You can move apps between home screen pages by dragging them to the screen edge, or into folders by dragging one app onto another.
  • The App Library (swipe up from the bottom) shows all your apps sorted by category without cluttering your home screen.
  • Deleting an app from your home screen does not remove it from your phone — it stays in the App Library and you can reinstall it anytime.

Moving apps between home screen pages

If you have more than one home screen page, you can move an app from one page to another without going back to edit mode each time. Press and hold the app, tap Move App, then drag it toward the right or left edge of the screen. When you reach the edge, the next page will slide into view automatically.

This works in both directions — you can move apps forward to later pages or backward to earlier ones. Once the new page appears, position the app where you want it and release. The app will stay on that page even after you tap Done.

Creating and organizing folders

Folders let you group related apps together and free up space on your home screen. To create a folder, press and hold one app, tap Move App, then drag it directly on top of another app. iOS will automatically create a folder and suggest a name based on the app category.

You can rename the folder by tapping it to open it, then tapping the name at the top and typing a new one. To add more apps to the folder, press and hold an app, tap Move App, and drag it into the folder. To remove an app from a folder, open the folder, press and hold the app, and drag it out onto your home screen.

If a folder becomes empty, it disappears automatically. There is no limit to how many apps you can put in a single folder, though folders with more than nine apps will create a second page inside the folder itself.

Using the App Library to hide apps from your home screen

The App Library is a built-in feature on iPhones with Face ID that automatically sorts all your apps into categories like Productivity, Health, Entertainment, and Games. To see it, swipe up from the bottom of your home screen or swipe left past your last home screen page.

You do not have to keep every app on your home screen. You can remove an app from your home screen while keeping it on your phone by pressing and holding it, tapping Remove App, then choosing Remove from Home Screen. The app stays in the App Library and you can still search for it or find it in its category.

This is useful if you have apps you use occasionally but do not want cluttering your main screens. You can always add them back to your home screen later by finding them in the App Library, pressing and holding them, and tapping Add to Home Screen.

Moving apps on older iPhones without Face ID

If you have an iPhone with a home button (iPhone 8 or earlier), the process is slightly different. Press and hold any app until it jiggles, then drag it to move it. You do not need to tap a Move App button — the jiggle mode is your edit mode.

Tap the home button to exit jiggle mode and save your changes. You can still create folders by dragging one app onto another, and you can move apps between pages by dragging them to the screen edge just like on newer models.

These older iPhones do not have an App Library, so all your apps must live on a home screen or in a folder. If you want to hide an app, your only option is to move it to a later home screen page where you do not see it as often.

Restoring your home screen to default

If you want to undo all your custom organization and return your home screen to Apple's default layout, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset > Reset Home Screen Layout. This will move all your apps back to their original positions and remove any custom folders you created.

This action does not delete any apps or data — it only rearranges where they appear on your home screen. Your app data, settings, and everything inside each app stays exactly the same. You can always reorganize again afterward if you change your mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does moving an app delete it or lose my data inside it?

No. Moving an app only changes where it appears on your home screen. All your data, settings, and information inside the app stay exactly the same. You can move an app as many times as you want without any loss.

Can I move apps to my lock screen?

On iPhones with iOS 16 or later, you can add app shortcuts to your lock screen, but you cannot move the full app there. Press and hold your lock screen, tap the plus button, choose an app, and select which shortcut from that app you want to show. This is different from moving the app itself.

What happens if I remove an app from my home screen?

Removing an app from your home screen does not delete it from your phone. The app stays in your App Library (on newer iPhones) or on a later home screen page (on older models). You can search for it by name or find it in its category anytime you want to use it.

Can I move multiple apps at once?

No, you have to move apps one at a time. There is no way to select multiple apps and move them together, though you can create a folder and add multiple apps to it quickly by dragging each one in.

Why is my app not moving when I drag it?

Make sure you pressed and held the app long enough for the menu to appear, then tapped Move App before dragging. If you just drag without tapping Move App first, nothing will happen. Also check that you are not in an app — you have to be on your home screen to move apps.