Moving an icon is done by holding it down, then dragging it to a new spot

To move an icon on your iPhone home screen, press and hold the icon with your finger for about half a second until the icons start to jiggle and a menu appears. Then drag the icon to wherever you want it to go on that screen or to another screen. Release your finger and the icon stays in the new position.

The jiggling effect is your signal that edit mode is active — this is the state where icons can be moved around. Without that jiggle, tapping and dragging an icon just opens the app instead. Once you let go of the icon in its new location, edit mode turns off automatically and the icons stop jiggling.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold an icon until it jiggles and a menu appears, then drag it to move it.
  • You can drag icons between screens by moving them toward the edge of the screen while still holding.
  • To create a new folder, drag one icon on top of another icon while in edit mode.
  • Pressing the X button on an icon in edit mode removes it from your home screen (the app stays on your phone).
  • Tap the home screen background or press the back arrow to exit edit mode and lock icons in place.

How to move an icon to a different screen

If you want to move an icon to a screen that is not currently visible, hold the icon and drag it all the way to the right or left edge of your screen. Keep holding — the screen will slide over to show the next page, and you can then drop the icon there. This works in both directions and you can move through multiple screens this way.

Some people find it easier to drag the icon to the edge, wait for the screen to shift, then release. Others prefer to drag it across the edge in one smooth motion. Both methods work — use whichever feels more natural to your thumb.

Creating folders by stacking icons

While in edit mode (icons jiggling), you can drag one icon directly on top of another icon. When you do, iPhone automatically creates a folder and puts both icons inside. The folder gets a name based on the category of apps — for example, dragging two game apps together might create a folder called "Games."

You can rename the folder by tapping on the name field that appears. You can also keep dragging more icons into the folder while it is open. To remove an icon from a folder, open the folder in edit mode, hold the icon, and drag it back out to the home screen.

Exiting edit mode and locking icons in place

Once you have moved your icons where you want them, tap anywhere on the empty background of your home screen to exit edit mode. The icons will stop jiggling and lock into their new positions. You can also press the back arrow or the X in the top left corner if your iPhone shows one.

If you accidentally move an icon while trying to open it, just tap the background to exit edit mode without saving. The icon will snap back to where it was before you started dragging.

What happens if you hold down an icon and see a menu instead of jiggle

On some iPhones, holding an icon brings up a quick menu with options like "Remove App" or "Edit Home Screen" before the jiggle starts. This is normal — just tap "Edit Home Screen" from that menu and the icons will start to jiggle. Then you can drag them as usual.

If you see the menu and want to skip it, you can also just tap elsewhere to close the menu and try again, holding a bit longer before the jiggle appears.

Moving icons in the Dock (the bottom row)

The Dock is the row of icons at the very bottom of your home screen that stays visible even when you swipe between pages. You can move icons in and out of the Dock using the same hold-and-drag method. Hold an icon from the Dock, drag it up to the home screen above, and release it. To move an icon from the home screen into the Dock, drag it down to the bottom row.

The Dock usually holds four to six icons depending on your iPhone model. If you try to add more than the Dock can hold, it will push one out automatically.

Restoring your home screen to the default layout

If you want to put all your icons back to Apple's original arrangement, go to Settings, then General, then Reset, and choose "Reset Home Screen Layout." This will move every icon back to where it was when you first got your phone. Your apps are not deleted — only their positions change.

This option is useful if you have moved things around so much that you cannot find apps anymore, or if you want a fresh start without having to move each icon individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move icons on my lock screen?

Yes. Press and hold the lock screen background until it enters edit mode, then tap "Customize." You can then add, remove, and rearrange widgets and shortcuts that appear on your lock screen. The process is similar to moving home screen icons but uses widgets instead of app icons.

What if an icon will not move when I drag it?

Make sure the icons are actually jiggling — if they are not, you are not in edit mode yet. Try holding the icon longer before you start dragging. If the icons jiggle but one specific icon will not move, it may be a system app that iPhone does not allow to be moved. You can still remove it from the home screen if you want.

Can I move multiple icons at once?

Not in the traditional sense. You have to move icons one at a time by dragging each one. However, you can move an entire folder (which contains multiple apps) in one action by dragging the folder itself.

Does moving an icon delete the app?

No. Moving an icon only changes where it appears on your home screen. The app itself stays on your phone and works exactly the same. If you want to remove an app entirely, tap the X button that appears on the icon during edit mode.