How to Use the App Library on iPhone

Learn how to access, use, and customize your App Library on your iPhone. It shows every app on your iPhone and lets you search them using the search bar, alphabetically, or by grouping. In this article, we'll show you how to find, navigate, and customize the App Library on your iPhone so that you can keep your Home Screen organized.

Jump To:

• Where Is the App Library on iPhone?
• How to Search the App Library
• How to Customize Your App Library Settings
• FAQ

Where Is the App Library on iPhone?

The App Library can be found by swiping left from your very last Home Screen page. Depending on how many Home pages you have, it might take multiple swipes. The App Library on your iPhone automatically groups your apps by categories such as Suggestions, Recently Added, and themes like Games, Lifestyle, and Productivity. It allows you to easily search your apps and add or remove apps to and from your Home Screen pages.

How to Search the App Library

There are three ways you can search the App Library on your iPhone. The most common way is to use the search bar. The other two are alphabetically, and by group. Here's how to search your iPhone's App Library using each method:

Use the Search Bar

I find using the search bar to be the fastest way to navigate the App Library on the iPhone. As long as you know the name of the app you're looking for, all you have to do is type it in. Here's how:

1. Tap the search bar at the top of the App Library.
   
   
2. Type in the name of the app you are looking for.
   
   
3. Tap the app icon in the search results.
   
   

Search Alphabetically

Here's how to alphabetize apps on your iPhone in the App Library:

1. To access alphabetical search, either tap the search bar or swipe down on the App Library.
   
   
2. You can scroll through your alphabetically-listed apps.
   
   
3. Or tap the letters on the side to skip down to that section.
   
   

You can also find out how to alphabetize apps on iPhone by resetting your Home Screen settings.

Search by Grouping

The App Library automatically groups your apps based on the type of app, suggestions, and what was recently downloaded. To search by these groupings:

1. Scroll to find the grouping you're looking for.
   
   
2. Tap the four icon clusters at the bottom right of that group to see all the apps in that category.
   
   
3. Here you will see the full list of apps that fall under this category.
   
   

Those are all the ways to navigate the App Library on iPhone. For more hidden iPhone tips and tricks, check out our free Tip of the Day newsletter.

How to Customize Your App Library Settings

In your App Library settings, you can make sure that app downloads go directly to your App Library. You can also use your App Library to add apps to your Home Screen, or delete apps from your iPhone from your App Library. Here's how:

Download Apps Straight to Your App Library

If you don't want every app you download to show up on your Home Screen, you can set your App Library settings so that newly downloaded apps only show up in your App Library. To do this:

1. Open your Settings app.
   
   
2. Scroll until you see Home Screen & App Library and tap it.
   
   
3. Under Newly Downloaded Apps, select App Library Only.
   
   

You can also decide if you want the app notifications to show up next to the app in the App Library by toggling Show in App Library under Notification Badges.

How to Add App to Home Screen from App Library

If you downloaded an app that went straight to your App Library and you want it to be on your Home Screen simply:

1. Press and hold the app.
   
   
2. Tap Add to Home Screen.
   
   

That's how to add an app to your Home Screen from the App Library!

Delete Apps through Your App Library

Deleting apps through your app library is not only efficient but necessary if you don't have your apps automatically added to your Home Screen. To delete an app through your App Library:

1. If your app is one of the three featured apps in a grouping, long press on a blank part of your screen until the app icons jiggle. If the app is not, press the four icon cluster on the bottom right of a group to open that group, then long press on a blank part of that screen until the icons jiggle.
   
   
2. Tap the X on the top left of the icon.
   
   
3. Tap Delete.
   
   
4. Tap Done when you are done removing the apps you wish to delete.
   
   

Now you know how to use the App Library to organize apps on iPhones of all models and how to add apps to Home Screen pages from it. The App Library, aka the Application Library, is the iPhone's secret weapon for keeping all your downloaded apps in one place, and it even groups them automatically.