How to Move Apps on iPhone – A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Moving apps on your iPhone can be a real headache, especially if you’re new to iOS. Sometimes, you have to spend hours figuring out why apps won’t move or get organized the way you want them to. This article will cover all the different ways to move apps, from using the home screen to the App Library, helping you to organize your apps efficiently. In this step-by-step guide, you will find visual instructions with screenshots for each step, best practices, and tips, and a troubleshooting section to address common issues.

Step-by-Step Guide

There are three different ways to move apps on your iPhone. Depending on your device and iOS version, some or all of these options may be available to you: using the Home Screen, using the App Library, and using 3D Touch.

Using the Home Screen

This is the most common way to move apps on iPhone and probably the one you are most familiar with. Here’s how:

1. Unlock your phone and find the app you want to move.
2. Tap and hold on the app icon until the app menu appears.
3. Drag the app icon to the desired location and release your finger.
4. If you want to move more than one app, tap and hold on one, and drag it to the edge of the screen.
5. Keeping your finger on that first app, use another finger to tap on the other apps you want to move.
6. Once you’ve selected all the apps you want to move, drag them to the desired location and release your fingers.
7. If you want to move an app to a different page, drag it to the edge of the screen to bring up the next page, and place it where you want.

It’s important to note that some apps cannot be moved or deleted, such as pre-installed apps like Safari or Photos.

Common Challenges: Sometimes, apps can become stuck, and you can’t move them. In this case, you can try to restart your iPhone or force-quit the app by double-clicking the home button and swiping up on the app in question. If that fails, you may need to delete and re-download the app.

Using the App Library

The App Library is a new feature on iOS 14 that makes it easier to find and manage your apps. Here’s how to move apps with the App Library:

1. Go to your home screen and swipe left until you reach the App Library.
2. Find the app you want to move and tap and hold on its icon until the menu appears.
3. Tap on “Edit Home Screen.”
4. The apps on your home screen will start to jiggle. Drag the app icon to the desired location or another page.
5. To exit edit mode, tap “Done.” The app will now appear in its new location.

The App Library sorts apps into categories, making it easier to find them. You can also use a search bar to locate specific apps.

Common Challenges: Ensure that the app is not within a folder because you cannot move apps to or from folders in the App Library. If you still can’t move the app, ensure it is not in the “Recently Added” folder within the App Library.

Using 3D Touch

3D Touch is a feature available on iPhone 6s or later that allows you to access quick actions and previews by pressing firmly on the app icon. Here’s how to move apps with 3D Touch:

1. Press firmly on the app icon you want to move.
2. Tap on “Edit Home Screen.”
3. The apps on your home screen will start to jiggle. Drag the app icon to the desired location or another page.
4. Press the home button to exit edit mode, and the app will appear in its new location.

Note: On devices without 3D Touch, you can press and hold the app icon to access the same features.

Common Challenges: 3D Touch doesn’t work if your iPhone is in Low Power Mode. If you still can’t use 3D Touch, try checking your settings to ensure it’s enabled.

Best Practices

Moving apps is only one aspect of organizing apps on your iPhone. Here are some tips and best practices to help you get the most out of your app organization:

Grouping Apps

The best way to organize your apps is by grouping them based on their usage or function. For example, you can create a folder for social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Here’s how:

1. Tap and hold on an app icon until the app menu appears.
2. Drag the icon on top of another app until it creates a folder.
3. Release your finger, and the two apps will be in a folder.
4. You can add more apps to the folder by dragging them into the folder.
5. You can rename the folder by tapping on the name and typing a new one.

Using the Dock

The Dock is a great place to put apps that you use frequently. By default, the Dock only shows a few apps, but you can add more. Here’s how:

1. Tap and hold on an app icon until the app menu appears.
2. Drag the app to the Dock, and it will be added.
3. You can remove an app from the Dock by tapping and holding and dragging it out of the Dock.

Managing App Updates

It’s essential to keep your apps up to date to ensure they are functioning correctly and are secure. Here’s how to manage app updates:

1. Go to the App Store and tap on “Updates.”
2. You will see a list of apps with available updates. Tap “Update” next to each app, or tap “Update All.”
3. To enable automatic updates, go to Settings> App Store and turn on “Automatic Downloads.” This will allow your apps to update in the background without you having to open the App Store.

By keeping your apps updated, you will avoid crashes and ensure that your apps are optimized for your iPhone.

The Importance of Good App Organization

Good app organization can make your iPhone experience more enjoyable and efficient. By grouping apps and placing them in easy-to-find locations, you can save time and make your iPhone work for you. It’s worth taking the time to organize your apps and explore the different ways to move them.

Video Tutorial

If you prefer visual instructions, watch this video tutorial:

This video shows how to drag and drop apps, use shortcuts to move multiple apps at once, and shares common challenges that users might face.

Top Apps

Here are some top apps to help you organize and move apps on your iPhone:

Launch Center Pro

Launch Center Pro is an app that allows you to create custom shortcuts for your most frequently used actions. It’s a great way to streamline your app use and save time.

Widgetsmith

Widgetsmith is an app that allows you to create custom widgets for your iPhone. You can personalize your home screen and make it unique and efficient for you.

Other popular apps for app organization include Airmail, Things 3 and GoodTask.

Shortcuts and Automation

Solutions like Shortcuts and automation can make moving apps and organizing them even easier. Shortcuts are actions you can create on your iPhone that will help you accomplish certain tasks quickly. For example, you can create a Shortcut to move all your social media apps into a folder. Here’s how:

1. Open the Shortcuts app.
2. Tap on the plus (+) sign to create a new shortcut.
3. Tap on “Add Action.”
4. Search for “Move and Scale Image.”
5. Select the size of the image and how you want to crop it. This will create a blank box.
6. Tap on “Add Action” again.
7. Search for “Get Folder.”
8. Select the folder where you want to move the app icons to.
9. Tap on “Add Action” one more time.
10. Search for “Add to Home Screen.”
11. Select the app icons you want to add to the home screen. You can add multiple icons by tapping on them and pressing “Done.”
12. Name your shortcut, and it will be added to your home screen.

With automation, you can set up processes that happen automatically. For example, you can create a workflow that moves all newly downloaded apps to a specific folder. As soon as the app downloads, it will be moved to the folder, without any manual input required from you.

Troubleshooting

If you’re having trouble moving apps on your iPhone, here are some common issues and how to troubleshoot them:

Apps Won’t Move in Certain Places

Sometimes, apps won’t move between certain places on your iPhone. For example, you can’t move apps from the App Library to your home screen. This is a limitation of the iOS, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

App Not Moving within the App Library

Ensure that the app is not within a folder in the App Library because the App Library doesn’t allow moving or deleting the app icons inside the folder. To move the app, remove it from the folder first, then move the app afterwards.

Apps are Disappearing from Home Screen or App Library

After updating to iOS 14 or later, some users may encounter the problem of apps disappearing from the Home screen or App Library. If this happens, go to Settings> General> Reset> Reset Home Screen Layout. This should solve the problem.

Conclusion

Moving apps on your iPhone doesn’t have to be a frustrating experience. With the techniques and tips outlined in this guide, you should be able to organize your apps efficiently and find your way around your iPhone with ease. Remember to group your apps, use the Dock, stay up to date on app updates, and explore solutions like Shortcuts and automation. Find the methods that work best for you and try out some of the top apps available.