Utilities is in the App Library, not on your home screen
The Utilities folder on iPhone 13 is not a separate app you read or a folder sitting on your home screen. Instead, Utilities is a category inside the App Library — a built-in organizational system that groups your apps by type. When you swipe all the way to the right past your home screen pages, you reach the App Library, and Utilities is one of the folders there.
Apple created the App Library to reduce clutter on your home screen. Rather than having dozens of app icons visible, your phone automatically sorts installed apps into categories like Social, Productivity, Health, and Utilities. The Utilities folder typically contains apps like Calculator, Compass, Reminders, Voice Memos, and Stocks — tools that do a specific job but you don't use constantly.
If you cannot find Utilities where you expect it, the most common reason is that you have not scrolled far enough right in the App Library, or you have not installed any apps that belong in that category yet.
Key Takeaways
- Utilities is a category folder inside the App Library, not a separate app or home screen folder.
- You reach the App Library by swiping right past all your home screen pages until you see the organized grid of folders.
- The Utilities folder contains built-in tools like Calculator, Compass, Voice Memos, and Reminders that Apple sorts automatically.
- If Utilities does not appear, you may not have any apps installed that belong in that category, or you need to scroll further in the App Library.
How to open the App Library and find Utilities
Start on your home screen — the page with your most-used apps. Swipe to the right with one finger. You will move through each home screen page you have created. Keep swiping right until you run out of pages and reach a new view that shows a grid of large folder icons. This is the App Library.
The App Library displays folders in alphabetical order. Scroll down through the list until you see the Utilities folder. Tap it once to open it and see all the apps inside. If you want to open a specific app like Calculator or Voice Memos, tap it from inside the Utilities folder.
You can also search for any app directly without navigating the App Library. Swipe down from the middle of your home screen to open the search box, type the app name (like "Calculator"), and tap the result. This is faster if you know exactly which app you need.
What apps are usually in the Utilities folder
Apple automatically places certain built-in apps into Utilities because they serve a practical function but are not social or entertainment-focused. The most common ones are Calculator, Compass, Reminders, Voice Memos, and Stocks. You may also see Measure, Shortcuts, or Files depending on which iOS version you are running and which apps you have used.
If you read a third-party app that Apple considers a utility — such as a flashlight app, a unit converter, or a timer app — it will also land in the Utilities folder automatically. You cannot manually move apps between App Library categories, but you can add any app to your home screen by pressing and holding it, then selecting "Add to Home Screen."
Why you might not see the Utilities folder
The Utilities folder only appears in the App Library if you have at least one app that belongs in that category. If you have never used or installed any utility-type apps, the folder may not show up at all. This is normal — Apple only displays folders that contain apps.
Another reason Utilities might not be visible is if you have hidden it. You can hide entire App Library folders by pressing and holding a folder and selecting "Hide." If you think you have hidden it, press and hold the folder again and choose "Unhide" to bring it back into view.
Adding apps to your home screen from Utilities
If you use an app from the Utilities folder frequently, you can add it directly to your home screen so you do not have to navigate the App Library each time. Press and hold the app icon inside the Utilities folder, then tap "Add to Home Screen." The app icon will appear on your current home screen page.
You can also create a custom folder on your home screen and drag multiple utility apps into it if you want them grouped together but separate from the App Library. Press and hold one app, drag it onto another app, and iOS will create a new folder. You can rename this folder to anything you want — it is different from the automatic Utilities category in the App Library.
The difference between App Library folders and home screen folders
The App Library is automatic and organized by Apple. You cannot change which apps go into Utilities or rename the folder. It is a system-level organizational tool that exists whether you use it or not.
Home screen folders, by contrast, are folders you create yourself by dragging apps together. You can name them anything, put any apps inside them, and organize them however you want. Many people create a home screen folder called "Tools" or "Utilities" and manually add their favorite utility apps to it, separate from the automatic App Library system.
If you are looking for an app and cannot find it, the App Library is the fallback — every app on your phone appears there, organized by category, even if you have hidden it from your home screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete apps from the Utilities folder?
Yes. Press and hold the app inside the Utilities folder and select "Remove App," then choose "Delete from iPhone." The app will be removed from your phone entirely. The Utilities folder itself will remain unless you delete all apps in it, in which case the empty folder will no longer appear in the App Library.
Why is my app not showing up in Utilities?
Apple decides which category each app belongs in based on its function. If you installed an app you thought was a utility but it appears in a different folder, Apple categorized it differently — perhaps as Productivity or Lifestyle instead. You cannot manually move it to Utilities, but you can add it to your home screen or create your own folder.
Is the App Library the same on all iPhones?
The App Library structure is the same on all iPhones running iOS 14 or later, including iPhone 13. Older iPhones do not have the App Library feature. The categories and folder names are identical across all devices, though the apps inside your Utilities folder depend on which apps you have installed.
Can I rearrange the order of folders in the App Library?
No. The App Library always displays folders in alphabetical order, and you cannot change this. You can hide folders you do not use, but you cannot move Utilities to a different position or change its name.