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How to Use the App Library on iPhone

Tap a step to follow along in order.

  1. Swipe all the way to the last home screen page

    Keep swiping left past the last home screen page to reach the App Library.

  2. Browse the automatically sorted category folders

    Apps are grouped into folders such as Social, Productivity, and Recently Added based on how they are used.

  3. Use the search bar at the top to find an app quickly

    Typing an app's name jumps straight to it no matter where it is installed.

  4. Hide home screen pages and rely on the App Library instead

    Long-pressing the home screen enters edit mode, where specific pages can be hidden so the App Library becomes the main way of finding apps.

  5. Why it is useful

    When too many apps make the home screen feel cluttered, the automatically organized App Library keeps the home screen clean while still finding needed apps quickly.

The category folders reorganize themselves based on usage

The App Library does not just sort alphabetically -- it groups apps by usage patterns and puts a small tile of the most-used apps near the front of a folder, plus a dedicated Recently Added folder for anything installed lately. Because that sorting updates automatically based on actual usage, there is no need to manually maintain folders the way home screen folders require.

Where new apps land can be set in advance

Under Settings, then Home Screen, choosing "Add to App Library Only" keeps newly installed apps off the home screen entirely, placing them straight into the App Library instead. This is especially useful for anyone who wants to stop the home screen from growing more pages over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

If an app is deleted from the App Library, is it gone completely?

Yes -- deleting an app from the App Library removes it entirely, the same as deleting it from the home screen. To just hide it from the home screen while keeping it installed, move it to a different page instead of deleting it.

Do newly installed apps skip the home screen automatically?

Only if set up that way -- under Settings, then Home Screen, choosing "Add to App Library Only" keeps new apps out of the home screen and places them straight into the App Library.