What the app drawer is and where to find it
The app drawer is a folder or screen that holds all the programs installed on your phone. It is separate from your home screen — the page you see when you unlock your phone. Think of your home screen as the apps you use most often, pinned to a bulletin board. The app drawer is the filing cabinet behind it, holding everything else.
On most Android phones, the app drawer appears as a grid icon or a circle with dots in the bottom row of your home screen. On iPhones, there is no separate app drawer — all your apps live on your home screen or in folders you create there. If you have an Android phone and cannot find the grid icon, swipe up from the bottom of the home screen. That gesture usually opens the app drawer on newer Android models.
Key Takeaways
- The app drawer is a separate screen from your home screen that stores all installed programs in one place.
- On Android phones, tap the grid icon at the bottom of your home screen, or swipe up from the bottom to open it.
- On iPhones, all apps appear on your home screen or in folders — there is no app drawer to open.
- You can search for a specific app by typing its name once the app drawer is open.
Opening the app drawer on Android phones
Look at the bottom row of your home screen. You should see a grid icon — it looks like four or nine small squares arranged in a square pattern. Tap that icon once. Your phone will show you a screen full of all your installed apps, usually arranged in alphabetical order or by the date you installed them.
If you do not see a grid icon at the bottom, try swiping up from the very bottom of the screen with one finger. Hold your finger at the bottom edge and drag it upward. On Samsung phones, Google Pixel phones, and most others running Android 9 or newer, this upward swipe opens the app drawer. On older Android phones, the grid icon is almost always visible at the bottom of the home screen.
Once the app drawer is open, you can scroll through the list to find the app you want. Tap it to open it. To close the app drawer and return to your home screen, swipe down or tap the back button (usually at the bottom left).
Searching for an app instead of scrolling
If you have many apps installed, scrolling through the entire list takes time. Most Android phones let you search instead. Once the app drawer is open, look for a search bar at the top of the screen — it usually says "Search apps" or has a magnifying glass icon. Tap it and type the name of the app you want.
Your phone will show only apps that match what you typed. This is much faster than scrolling, especially if you have dozens of apps. For example, if you want to open your camera app but cannot remember where it is, type "camera" in the search box and tap the result.
Why apps appear in the app drawer instead of on your home screen
When you install a new app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, your phone decides where to put it. Some phones automatically add new apps to your home screen. Others put them only in the app drawer, leaving your home screen unchanged. This is a setting your phone manufacturer chose, not something you did wrong.
You can move apps from the app drawer to your home screen if you use them often. Long-press (hold your finger on) the app in the app drawer, then select "Add to home screen" or "Pin to home screen" from the menu that appears. The exact wording depends on your phone model. Now the app will appear on your home screen as well as in the app drawer.
The difference between the app drawer and app folders
An app folder is different from the app drawer. A folder is a container you create on your home screen to organize apps by category — for example, a "Games" folder or a "Social Media" folder. The app drawer is built into your phone and holds every app you have installed, whether or not you have organized them into folders.
You can create folders on your home screen by long-pressing an app, selecting "Create folder," and dragging other apps into it. This does not move the app out of the app drawer — it just creates a shortcut on your home screen. The app still lives in the app drawer too.
Troubleshooting if you cannot open the app drawer
If tapping the grid icon or swiping up does not open the app drawer, your phone may use a different launcher — the software that controls your home screen. Some phones come with custom launchers that work differently from the standard Android setup. Check your phone's settings by going to Settings > Apps > Default Apps (or similar wording) and look for "Home app" or "Launcher." You may see options like Samsung One UI, Google Pixel Launcher, or a third-party launcher.
If you recently installed a new launcher app from the Google Play Store, that may have changed how your home screen works. Try uninstalling it or switching back to your phone's original launcher. If you are still stuck, the user manual for your specific phone model (available on the manufacturer's website) will show you the exact steps for your device.
Why iPhones do not have an app drawer
Apple designed iPhones differently from Android phones. Instead of a separate app drawer, all your apps live directly on your home screen or in folders you create. When you install a new app on an iPhone, it appears on your home screen (usually on the last page). You can move it to a different page or into a folder, but there is no hidden storage area like the Android app drawer.
If you want to organize your iPhone apps, you can create folders by long-pressing an app and selecting "Add to Home Screen," then dragging it onto another app to create a folder. You can also use the App Library, a feature on newer iPhones that automatically sorts all your apps into categories. Swipe to the rightmost home screen page to see your App Library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete the app drawer?
No, the app drawer is built into Android and cannot be removed. However, you can hide it by using a different launcher app from the Google Play Store. Some third-party launchers let you disable the app drawer and show all apps directly on your home screen instead. Keep in mind that changing your launcher may change how your entire home screen works.
Why do some apps not show up in my app drawer?
Apps that are hidden or disabled will not appear in the app drawer. Go to Settings > Apps and look for a list of all installed apps. If an app is marked as "Disabled" or "Hidden," you can re-enable it from this menu. System apps that came with your phone may also be hidden by default.
Is the app drawer the same as the Play Store?
No. The Google Play Store is where you read and install new apps. The app drawer is where your phone stores the apps you have already installed. The Play Store is an app itself — you can find it in your app drawer.
Can I rearrange the order of apps in the app drawer?
On most Android phones, you cannot manually rearrange apps in the app drawer — they stay in alphabetical order or sorted by installation date. However, you can organize your home screen by moving frequently used apps there and arranging them however you want. Some third-party launchers do let you rearrange apps in the app drawer, but this is not a standard Android feature.