Creating a folder is a long-press and drag on your home screen

To create a folder on your iPhone, press and hold any app icon on your home screen until a menu appears. Tap Edit Home Screen (or just keep holding if you're already in edit mode). Then drag that app icon directly onto another app icon you want to group with it. Your iPhone automatically creates a folder and puts both apps inside.

The folder appears with a default name based on the category your iPhone thinks the apps belong to — for example, if you drag two photography apps together, it might suggest "Photography". You can change this name to anything you want by tapping the folder to open it, then tapping the name field at the top and typing a new one.

Once a folder exists, you can add more apps to it by dragging additional icons onto the folder itself. You can also move apps between folders or back to your home screen by dragging them in and out while in edit mode.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold an app icon, tap Edit Home Screen, then drag it onto another app to create a folder automatically.
  • Your iPhone suggests a folder name based on app type, but you can rename it to anything by tapping the name field inside the folder.
  • Add more apps to an existing folder by dragging them onto the folder icon while in edit mode.
  • You can organize folders across multiple home screen pages, and each folder can hold up to 135 apps.
  • Exit edit mode by tapping Done or swiping up from the bottom of the screen to see your organized home screen in normal view.

How to rename a folder after creating it

After your folder appears, tap it to open it and see the apps inside. At the top of the folder window, you'll see the auto-generated name in a text field. Tap that field and delete the suggested name, then type whatever you want — "Work", "Games", "Social Media", or anything else that makes sense to you.

The name you choose is only visible to you when the folder is open. On your home screen, you'll see the folder icon with the app symbols showing through, and the name appears below it in smaller text. If you change your mind about the name later, you can tap the folder again and edit it the same way.

Moving apps in and out of folders

To add an app that's already on your home screen to a folder, press and hold that app icon and tap Edit Home Screen. Then drag it directly onto the folder you want it to go into. The app disappears from the home screen and moves into the folder.

To remove an app from a folder, tap the folder to open it, then press and hold the app you want to move. Tap Edit Home Screen, and drag the app out of the folder onto your home screen. You can also drag it to a different folder if you'd rather move it than remove it entirely.

Using folders across multiple home screen pages

Your iPhone lets you create folders on any home screen page, and you can have as many pages as you need. Swipe left or right between pages to see different folders and apps. This is useful if you want to keep work-related folders on one page and personal folders on another.

You can also move a folder from one page to another by pressing and holding it in edit mode and dragging it to the edge of the screen. Your iPhone will scroll to the next page so you can place the folder where you want it.

What happens when a folder gets full

Each folder can hold up to 135 apps before it reaches its limit. Most people never hit this number, but if you're someone who installs many apps, it's good to know. If you try to drag an app into a folder that's already at 135 apps, your iPhone won't let you add it — you'll need to create a second folder or remove an app from the first one.

You can see how many apps are in a folder by opening it and counting, or by looking at the app grid that shows in the folder icon on your home screen. The icon displays up to nine app symbols from inside the folder, giving you a visual preview of what's stored there.

Organizing folders by category or use

The most useful folder structures match how you actually use your phone. Some people organize by category — "Social", "Productivity", "Entertainment" — while others organize by context — "Work", "Personal", "Hobbies". There's no right way; it depends on what makes sense to you.

A common setup is to keep your most-used apps on the first home screen page without folders, and move less-frequent apps into folders on other pages. This keeps your main screen clean and fast to navigate. You can always rearrange later if you find a structure that works better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a folder without deleting the apps inside it?

Yes. Open the folder, press and hold each app, and drag it out to your home screen one at a time. Once the folder is empty, it disappears automatically. The apps remain on your phone.

What if I want to move a folder to a different home screen page?

Press and hold the folder in edit mode and drag it to the edge of the screen. Your iPhone scrolls to the next page, and you can drop the folder there. You can move it back the same way if you change your mind.

Do folders take up more storage space on my iPhone?

No. Folders are just a way to organize apps visually — they don't use extra storage or slow down your phone. The apps inside the folder use the same amount of space whether they're in a folder or loose on your home screen.

Can I have a folder inside a folder?

No. iPhones don't support nested folders. You can only create one level of folders. If you need more organization, use multiple folders on different home screen pages.

How do I get back to edit mode if I accidentally exit it?

Press and hold any app icon on your home screen and tap Edit Home Screen. You can also long-press the home screen background itself (not on an app) to enter edit mode. Tap Done or swipe up from the bottom to exit.