Swipe and hold an app, then drag it onto another app to create a folder
An app folder on iPhone is a container that holds multiple apps in a single icon on your home screen. To create one, press and hold any app until a menu appears, then drag that app directly onto another app you want grouped with it. iPhone automatically creates a folder and suggests a category name — you can accept it or type your own.
The folder appears when ready on your home screen. You can add more apps to it by dragging them in the same way: press and hold an app, then drag it over the folder and release. To see what's inside, tap the folder once. To remove an app, press and hold it inside the folder and drag it back to the home screen.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app, then drag it onto another app to create a folder in one action — no separate "create folder" button exists.
- iPhone suggests a category name based on the apps you're grouping, but you can rename the folder to anything you want.
- Add more apps to an existing folder by dragging them in the same way you created it.
- A single folder can hold up to nine apps on the first screen before it creates additional pages inside the folder.
- Remove an app from a folder by opening it, pressing and holding the app, and dragging it back to your home screen.
The step-by-step process for creating your first folder
Start by finding two apps you want to group together. Press and hold the first app until a menu appears with options like "Remove App" and "Edit Home Screen." The app will lift slightly off the screen. While still holding, drag it toward the second app without lifting your finger.
When you drag the first app over the second one, both apps will highlight and a folder will appear between them. Release your finger. iPhone creates the folder and shows you a suggested name based on the app category — for example, if you dragged Photos onto Camera, it might suggest "Photography." You can tap the text field and type a different name, or just tap outside the folder to accept the suggestion.
The new folder now sits on your home screen like any other app. Tap it once to open it and see the apps inside. Tap any app within the folder to launch it. Tap outside the folder or press the home indicator to close it and return to your home screen.
Adding more apps to an existing folder
Once you have a folder, adding apps to it works the same way. Press and hold any app on your home screen, then drag it over the folder. The folder will highlight to show it's ready to receive the app. Release your finger and the app slides into the folder.
You can add apps from different screens too. If you're on a different home screen page, press and hold an app and drag it to the edge of the screen — your iPhone will automatically scroll to the next page so you can drop it into a folder there. This is useful if your folders are on a different page than the app you want to move.
Renaming a folder to match your needs
The name iPhone suggests might not fit how you organize. To change it, open the folder by tapping it, then press and hold the folder name at the top of the screen. A text field appears where you can delete the current name and type a new one. Keep folder names short — one or two words work best because space is limited.
Common folder names include "Games," "Productivity," "Social," "Utilities," or "Work." You can also use emoji in folder names by tapping the emoji button on your keyboard. When you're done typing, tap outside the text field or press the home indicator to save the name.
Understanding folder limits and pages
A single folder can hold many apps, but the first screen inside the folder shows only nine apps in a grid. Once you add a tenth app, iPhone creates a second page inside the folder. You can swipe between pages inside a folder the same way you swipe between home screens. There is no hard limit to how many apps you can store in one folder, but folders with more than 20 apps become difficult to navigate.
If a folder gets too crowded, consider splitting it into two folders with more specific names. For example, instead of one "Games" folder with 30 apps, create "Games: Casual" and "Games: Strategy." This keeps your home screen organized and makes it faster to find what you need.
Removing apps from folders and deleting folders
To remove a single app from a folder, open the folder and press and hold the app you want to remove. Drag it outside the folder onto your home screen. The app leaves the folder and appears on your home screen in the space you dragged it to. The folder stays in place with the remaining apps.
To delete an entire folder, remove all the apps from it. Once the folder is empty, it disappears automatically — iPhone does not keep empty folders. If you want to keep the folder but remove just one app, drag that app out as described above. If you want to remove all apps and delete the folder, drag each app out one at a time until the folder vanishes.
Organizing folders across multiple home screens
You can create as many folders as you need and arrange them however makes sense for your workflow. Some people put all productivity folders on the first screen, entertainment folders on the second, and utilities on the third. Others group by frequency of use — most-used folders on the first screen, less-used ones further back.
To move a folder to a different home screen, press and hold it and drag it to the edge of the screen. iPhone scrolls to the next page and you can drop it there. You can also rearrange folders on the same screen by dragging them to new positions. Folders behave exactly like regular apps for moving and organizing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a folder inside another folder?
No. iPhone does not support nested folders — you cannot create a folder within a folder. If you need deeper organization, create multiple folders with specific names instead. For example, make separate "Work: Email" and "Work: Documents" folders rather than trying to nest them.
What happens if I drag an app onto a folder instead of another app?
The app straightforward moves into that folder. You do not need to drag onto another app — dragging onto an existing folder works the same way. This is actually the faster method once you have your first folder created.
Can I see how many apps are in a folder without opening it?
No. iPhone does not display a count on the folder icon. You have to open the folder to see all the apps inside. The folder icon shows only a preview of the first few apps stored in it.
Do folders take up more storage space than loose apps?
No. Organizing apps into folders does not change how much storage they use. Folders are purely visual — they are a way to arrange your home screen, not a storage feature. The apps themselves occupy the same amount of space whether they are in a folder or loose on your home screen.
Can I create a folder on my lock screen?
No. Folders only work on your home screens. On the lock screen, you can add individual app shortcuts and widgets, but not folders. Home screen folders remain the primary way to organize multiple apps together.