How to organize apps on iPhone

iPhones get cluttered. Maybe not as cluttered as our closet or bedside nightstand, but pretty close. So, how do you prevent forgotten apps from living rent free in your phone for months or even years? Well, this guide is here to help declutter your iPhone and throw some hacks your way so you can get back to your home screen delivering some joy again.

How to move apps on iPhone

You might have noticed this already, but by long-pressing any app or widget (more on those later) on the home screen, you can undock an app from its default location.

1. Hold down on the app you want to move 
2. Wait for the apps to jiggle (they’re just excited for a makeover) 
3. Move the app to a different location by dragging your finger 
4. Drag fully to the left or right to place the app on another home screen panel 

Alternatively, long-pressing can open the selected app’s Preview functions. If that happens, simply tap “Edit Home Screen.” Got the basics down? Great, let’s move on. 

How to move multiple apps at once

You probably already have some nice app-moving moves, but iOS allows you to take your skills up a notch by letting you move multiple apps at one. All you have to do is get jiggly with it by long-pressing an app, then drag one app while using another finger to tap the additional apps you want to move. You’ll create a stack of apps you can move to a new location or folder.

How to organize iPhone apps in folders

This is where you can make your life waaaay easier by organizing apps based on similar functions… like banking apps, games or social media apps. When categorizing apps, your imagination is the limit. You could go by the apps’ function or even by color. Whatever your criteria is, folders help you easily declutter.

How to create a folder on iPhone

With folders you can save screen space, tidying up your home screen panels for widgets (more on those later). Here’s how to do it:

1. Press and hold the app you would like to move into a folder
2. Either tap “Edit Home Screen” in the pop-up or wait for the app to jiggle
3. Drag the app on top of the other app you would like to combine into a new folder
4. Title your new folder and repeat to add more apps inside

How to move apps from a folder to the home screen

If you want to make it easier to locate and open an app that’s in a folder, you’ll want to get it back onto the home screen by doing the following:

1. Go to the home screen
2. Locate the folder that contains the app, then tap the folder to open it
3. Touch and hold the app until the apps begin to jiggle
4. Drag the app from the folder to the home screen

How to delete a folder from the home screen

Dang, your fingers are getting a workout today:

1. Go to the home screen
2. Touch and hold the home screen background until the apps begin to jiggle
3. Tap the folder to open it, then drag all the apps out of it onto the home screen

When the folder is empty, it’s deleted automatically.

How to use iPhone widgets 

Besides being fun to say, widgets are an easy way to declutter and spruce up a home screen. Instantly access information like your phone’s battery stats, the forecast and what’s next in the playlist queue without having to open a single app.

1. Touch and hold an empty area on your home screen until the apps start jiggling
2. Tap the “+” icon in the top right corner of the screen
3. Select the widget then tap “Add Widget” (You can also customize the size)

How to use the App Library

The iPhone’s App Library is a great organizational tool that’s easy to use. Here are some of its basic functions:

• It sorts your apps into a series of folders for you
• The search bar allows for quick-access to find what you’re looking for
• Apps you don’t want displayed on your home screen are stored here

To access the App Library, swipe left to the last home screen panel. To move an app from your home screen to the App Library, long-hold the app and select “Remove From Home Screen.”

How to search for a specific app on iPhone

If you’re feeling lazy and want to find an app fast, it’s pretty easy to find it if it’s not right there front and center on your home screen:

1. Swipe down from the middle of your screen, or swipe left from the home screen
2. In the search field, type the name of the app you’re looking for…it will appear beneath the search field
3. If you don’t see it yet, you get more results by tapping “Show More”
4. Once you see the app you need, just tap the search result to open it

How to delete apps on iPhone 

The end of the road. It can be hard to let go, but sometimes goodbye’s the only option in the pursuit of happiness and hard drive space:

1. Touch and hold the app to open its Preview functions 
2. Select “Remove App” in red

Alternatively, you can keep holding, wait for the app to jiggle, and press the “-” icon. Then, select “Remove App” in red. 

Enjoy the fresh start

Okay, now that we’ve lowered your home screen related anxiety by about 75%, we’re sure you’re going to keep all those apps in order like a perfectly organized pantry. Don’t panic if things get out of hand again, this blog will still be here to help if you need it. Oh and speaking of help, if you need a few more iPhone tips and tricks, you can check out this fine article: How to free up space on iPhone or this one: How to disable app tracking on iPhone when you get a chance. 

Ooh, last thing. If you’re thinking you also want to clean up your wireless bill a bit, Mint Mobile is kinda perfect for that. Just tap the button below, and you’ll never have to ask “Why Mint Mobile?” again.

Originally published January 2023; Updated October 2025