One of the coolest new features introduced in iOS 14 is the App Library. It cleans up the home screen by organizing nearly all apps into pre-set categories. That way, you can shove your most-used apps on the first screen you see while everything else is tucked away — no more endless app pages. Just swipe a finger left to see all your grouped apps on a single screen.
However, what if you need to cram specific apps into a single folder? For instance, you may need Microsoft Teams, Asana, Microsoft Word, and a few others in a central location, but they’re scattered throughout the App Library. Sure, you can drag them all onto the home screen individually, but that’s just messy, and you don’t want messy. You want a clean home screen, and that’s where folders come in.
This guide shows you how to make a folder on an iPhone. These instructions include dragging apps out of the App Library so you can actually make a folder. We also show you how to create a new folder in the Files app.
This guide is based on iOS 14.3.
Move an app to the home screen
Follow these instructions if the apps you want to throw into a folder are not already on the home screen. If they are, move on to the next instruction set.
Step 1: On the home screen, swipe a finger Left to load the App Library.
Step 2: Find the app you want to move and Long-press on it.
Step 3: A pop-up menu appears on the screen. Select Add to home screen if it’s available and iOS 14 will automatically add it to the next available app slot on the home screen. That’s it.
If you don’t see that option (most apps don’t have it), continue on to Step 4.
Step 4: Wait for the pop-up menu to disappear and iOS will place the app on the home screen in edit mode. Move the bouncy app as needed.
Step 5: Press the Home button to complete or tap the Done button in the top right corner on phones without a Home button.
Create an app folder
With the apps on your home screen, you can now group them together into the ideal folder.
Step 1: Long press on an app you want to add to a folder.
Wait for the pop-up menu to disappear. You’ll see the app jiggle in place with a “minus” icon in the top left corner of its logo.
Step 2: Use a finger to Drag it on top of a second app.
After a few seconds, an open folder appears on the screen with the second app inside.
Step 3: Drag the First app into the folder.
Step 4: Tap on the Folder label above to change the name if needed. Typically, iOS automatically generates a label based on the apps you pair together, as shown above.
Step 5: Tap Outside the folder to return to the home screen.
Step 6: Press the Home button to complete or tap the Done button in the top right corner on phones without a Home button.
Add another app to the folder
These instructions assume you already have the app added to the home screen.
Step 1: Long-press on an app you want to add to a folder.
Step 2: Tap Edit home screen on the pop-up menu, or just wait until the menu disappears.
Step 3: The app jiggles in place with a minus icon in the top left corner of its logo. Press and hold on the app and Drag it onto the folder until the folder fills the screen.
Step 4: Drag the app into the folder.
Step 5: Press the Home button to complete or tap the Done button in the top right corner on phones without a Home button.
Delete an app folder
Sick of folders on your home screen? Kick their apps back to the App Library.
Step 1: Long-press on the folder until a pop-up menu appears.
Step 2: Tap Delete Folder on the menu.
Step 3: A prompt appears asking you to confirm the removal of the app(s) inside the folder. Tap Remove from home screen to continue.
Note: Removing an app from the folder and/or home screen does not delete it from your App Library.
Now that we’ve created a folder for apps, let’s move on to creating a folder for files.
Create a file folder
You cannot create a file folder on the home screen as you can on a Mac. Instead, you create folders within file management apps. Here we use the native Files app in iOS 14.
Step 1: Open the Files app.
Step 2: Tap on the Location where you want to add a folder, like On My Phone or iCloud Drive.
Step 3: Tap the Three-dot ellipsis icon located in the top right corner.
Step 4: Tap on the New Folder option on the drop-down menu.
Step 5: Use the on-screen keyboard to name the new folder.
Step 6: Press the Home button to complete or tap the Done button in the top right corner on phones without a Home button.
Delete a file folder
Step 1: Long-tap on the folder you want to delete.
Step 2: Select Delete on the pop-up menu.
Editors' Recommendations
- Apple’s digital driver’s license drives slowly into Maryland
- You may have to wait until 2023 for Google’s folding phone
- China’s lockdowns could pose problems for the iPhone 14
- The best iPhone 13 battery cases for 2022
- The best gardening apps for 2022
