Moving apps to your home screen takes two to five taps, depending on your device
Your home screen is the main page you see when you unlock your phone or tablet. Apps live there by default when you first install them, but they can also sit in folders, in an app drawer (on Android), or buried several screens deep. Moving an app back to your home screen means fewer taps to reach it — you open your device and the app is right there instead of hidden behind other screens or inside a menu.
The steps differ slightly between iPhones and Android phones, but the idea is the same: find the app, hold it, and drag it to the home screen. You can also create folders to group related apps together on your home screen, which keeps things organized without cluttering the space.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, press and hold an app icon until a menu appears, then tap "Add to Home Screen" or drag the app directly to your home screen.
- On Android, long-press an app in your app drawer or app list, then drag it to your home screen or tap "Add to Home Screen" if that option appears.
- You can organize home screen apps into folders by dragging one app onto another, which groups them under a single icon.
- Removing an app from your home screen does not delete it from your device — it just hides it from the main page.
How to move apps on iPhone
On an iPhone, press and hold any app icon on your home screen or in the App Library (the last screen to the right of all your home screens). A menu will pop up with several options. Tap "Add to Home Screen" and the app will appear on your current home screen, usually in the first available empty spot.
If you want to place the app in a specific location, you can drag it instead. Press and hold the app icon, wait for the menu to appear, then keep holding and drag the app to the exact spot you want. You can drag it across multiple home screens if needed. Release your finger when the app is where you want it.
If the app is already on your home screen but you want to move it to a different location, press and hold it, then drag it to the new spot without releasing. This works the same way whether you are moving it within the same screen or to a different home screen.
How to move apps on Android
On Android phones, the process depends on where the app currently lives. If the app is in your app drawer (the grid icon that shows all installed apps), open the app drawer, then press and hold the app icon. A menu may appear with options like "Add to Home Screen," or you can straightforward drag the app directly onto your home screen. Release it when it is in the spot you want.
If the app is already on your home screen but in the wrong place, press and hold it and drag it to a new location. You can move it within the same screen or drag it to a different home screen. Some Android phones let you swipe between home screens while dragging, so you can move an app several screens over without releasing it.
If your Android phone does not show an "Add to Home Screen" option, try a longer press — some devices require you to hold for a full second or two before the menu appears. If nothing happens, your phone may not support that feature, and you may need to drag the app directly instead.
Organizing apps into folders
Both iPhone and Android let you group apps into folders on your home screen. On iPhone, drag one app directly onto another app. They will combine into a folder, and your phone will suggest a name based on the app category (like "Productivity" or "Games"). You can rename the folder by tapping the name field and typing something custom.
On Android, the process is similar: drag one app onto another to create a folder. Some Android phones let you name the folder right away, while others let you rename it later by opening the folder and tapping the name at the top. You can add more apps to a folder by dragging them into it.
Folders are useful when you have many apps but limited home screen space. You might create a folder for social media apps, another for games, and another for utilities. This keeps your home screen clean while keeping frequently used apps within one or two taps.
What happens when you remove an app from your home screen
Removing an app from your home screen does not delete it from your device. The app stays installed and fully functional — it just moves out of sight. On iPhone, the app goes to your App Library. On Android, it returns to your app drawer (if you have one) or straightforward disappears from the home screen while remaining in your full app list.
You can always move the app back to your home screen later using the same steps described above. This is useful if you want to declutter your home screen but keep apps you use occasionally within reach.
Troubleshooting apps that won't move
Some apps cannot be moved or removed from your home screen. On iPhone, system apps like Phone, Messages, and Settings are locked in place by default, though you can hide them in folders or move them off the main screens in some cases. On Android, your default launcher app and some pre-installed apps may be locked by your phone manufacturer or carrier.
If an app will not move when you press and hold it, try a longer press — some devices need a full two-second hold before the menu appears. If the app still will not budge, it may be a system app that your device does not allow you to move. This is a safety feature to keep essential apps accessible.
If you want to remove a locked app entirely, you may be able to uninstall it through your device settings. Go to Settings, find the app in your app list, and look for an "Uninstall" or "Remove" button. Not all pre-installed apps can be uninstalled, depending on your device and carrier.
Moving apps between devices
If you get a new phone, your apps and their home screen layout may transfer automatically. On iPhone, if you set up your new phone from a backup of your old one, your home screen layout transfers along with your apps. On Android, your apps read automatically if you sign in with the same Google account, but your home screen layout may not transfer — you may need to rearrange apps manually on the new device.
Some Android launchers (third-party apps that manage your home screen) let you back up and restore your layout, but this is not a standard feature. If you want to recreate your home screen on a new Android phone, take a screenshot of your old phone's home screen before switching, then use it as a reference while arranging apps on the new device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move system apps like Phone or Messages on iPhone?
System apps are locked to your home screen by default and cannot be removed entirely. However, you can hide them by creating a folder and moving them into it, or by using Focus modes to hide them from view. They will still work normally when you need them.
What is the difference between my home screen and my app drawer on Android?
Your home screen is the main page you see when you unlock your phone. Your app drawer is a separate menu (usually accessed by tapping a grid icon) that shows all your installed apps. Apps can live on your home screen, in your app drawer, or both.
If I move an app to my home screen, does it use more battery or storage?
No. Moving an app to your home screen does not change how much space it takes up or how much power it uses. It only changes where the icon appears — the app itself works exactly the same way.
Can I undo moving an app if I change my mind?
Yes. You can move an app back to its original location or to any other location on your home screen at any time. There is no limit to how many times you can rearrange your apps.
Why do some apps not appear in my app drawer on Android?
Some apps are hidden by default or disabled by your phone manufacturer. You can usually unhide them in your app drawer settings by tapping the menu icon and looking for an option like "Show system apps" or "Show hidden apps." Some carrier apps cannot be unhidden.