Managing app folders on your iPhone and iPad is a crucial step in maintaining a clutter-free and organized Home Screen. Here’s a detailed guide on how to create, manage, and customize app folders to suit your needs.
Creating a New Folder
To create a new folder on your iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:
- Enter Jiggle Mode: Press any empty area on the Home Screen until all apps start shaking, or briefly press an app icon and tap Edit Home Screen.
- Drag and Drop Apps: Touch and hold one app icon and drag it over another app icon. When you see a faint outline around the bottom app, lift your finger to create the folder.
- Exit Jiggle Mode: Tap anywhere else on the screen to exit jiggle mode.
Adding Apps to Folders
To add more apps to an existing folder:
- Enter Jiggle Mode: Press an empty area until apps start shaking.
- Drag Apps to the Folder: Drag an app icon from the Home Screen onto the existing folder.
- Add Multiple Apps at Once: Press and drag an app icon slightly, then tap other app icons to group them together. Drag the entire group onto the folder and drop it there.
Creating New Pages Inside a Folder
If you have multiple apps within a folder, you can create new pages:
- Open the Folder: Tap the folder to open it.
- Enter Jiggle Mode: Press an empty area until apps start shaking.
- Drag Apps to New Pages: With one finger, press and drag an app icon to the right. With another finger, swipe left to go to the next folder page. Drop the app on this new page.
Removing Apps from Folders
To remove an app from a folder:
- Enter Jiggle Mode: Press an empty area until apps start shaking.
- Drag the App Out: Touch and hold the app icon and drag it out of the folder onto the Home Screen. If the folder doesn’t automatically shrink, tap outside the folder to close it and show the Home Screen.
Renaming App Folders
To rename a folder:
- Open the Folder: Tap the folder to open it.
- Edit the Name: Press the current name until apps start shaking. Tap X and type the new folder name. You can also use only emojis as the folder name.
Moving Folders Across Home Screens
To move a folder from one Home Screen to another:
- Enter Jiggle Mode: Press an empty area until apps and folders start shaking.
- Drag the Folder: Drag the folder to the left or right edge of the screen to shift it to the adjacent Home Screen.
Adding a Folder to the Dock
To add a folder to the iPhone Dock:
- Ensure Space: Make sure you have one free space on the Dock (three or fewer apps).
- Drag the Folder: Drag an existing folder from the Home Screen onto the Dock.
Deleting a Folder
To delete a folder, simply drag all apps out of the folder. The folder will automatically vanish once it is empty.
Using Configuration Profiles for Advanced Management
For more advanced management, particularly in a business or educational setting, you can use configuration profiles to customize the Home Screen layout, including organizing apps into folders. This feature was introduced with iOS 9.3 and allows administrators to define which apps appear on which pages or in which folders using the Jamf Pro or similar MDM solutions:
- Create a Configuration Profile: Go to Configuration Profiles and create a new profile.
- Home Screen Layout: Select the Home Screen Layout option to define the layout, including which apps are in folders.
Syncing App Folders Across Devices
Unfortunately, there is no built-in method to sync app folder organization across different devices like an iPhone and an iPad. Each device must be managed individually.
Using the App Library for Additional Organization
For users running iOS 14 or later, the App Library provides an additional layer of organization. While it does not allow manual folder customization, it automatically categorizes apps into folders based on their types:
- Access the App Library: Swipe to the left on the Home Screen until you see the App Library screen.
- Browse Categories: Apps are organized into categories like Suggestions, Recently Added, Social, Entertainment, etc..
By following these steps, you can effectively manage and organize your app folders on both your iPhone and iPad, ensuring a tidy and efficient Home Screen.