You can rename any app on your iPhone home screen in seconds using the rename feature built into iOS

Apple lets you change the name that appears under any app icon on your home screen without affecting how the app works or what it's called in the App Store. This is useful if you want shorter names to fit more apps on a screen, or if you want to organize apps by category—for example, renaming all your finance apps with a prefix like "💰 Checking" or "💰 Savings" so they group together alphabetically.

The process is the same whether you're using an iPhone 15 or an older model, and the change takes effect when ready. The original app name stays the same everywhere else: in Settings, in search results, and in the App Store.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold your finger on any app icon until a menu appears, then tap "Rename" to change the name shown on your home screen.
  • You can use letters, numbers, emojis, and symbols in your custom app name, up to about 30 characters before the text gets cut off.
  • Renaming an app only changes what you see on your home screen—the app itself and its App Store listing stay the same.
  • If you rename an app and then delete it, the custom name is lost; reinstalling the app brings back the original name.
  • You can rename apps in folders, on your dock, or on any home screen page using the same method.

How to rename an app in three steps

Open your home screen and locate the app you want to rename. Press and hold your finger on the app icon until a menu appears with several options. The menu will show "Rename" near the top—tap it.

A text field will appear with the current app name highlighted. Delete the existing text and type your new name. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, emojis, and most punctuation marks. When you're done typing, tap outside the text field or press the return key on the keyboard to save the change.

The new name appears when ready under the app icon. If your custom name is longer than about 30 characters, iOS will cut off the text and add an ellipsis (…) at the end.

Using emojis and symbols to organize your apps

Many people use emojis at the start of an app name to create visual groups on their home screen. For example, you might rename your banking app to "🏦 Chase" and your investment app to "🏦 Fidelity" so they appear together when sorted alphabetically and are straightforward to spot at a glance.

You can add an emoji by tapping the emoji key on your keyboard (usually a smiley face icon), selecting the emoji you want, and then typing the rest of the app name. Common choices include category symbols like 💬 for messaging apps, 📸 for photo apps, 🎮 for games, and 📚 for reading apps.

Symbols like dashes, asterisks, and numbers also work. Some people rename apps with numbers to force a specific order: "1. Email", "2. Messages", "3. Calendar" will appear in that sequence regardless of alphabetical sorting.

Renaming apps in folders and on the dock

You can rename an app even if it's inside a folder. Open the folder, then press and hold the app icon inside it until the menu appears. Tap "Rename" and enter your new name the same way you would for an app on the main home screen.

Apps on your dock (the row at the bottom of your screen) can be renamed using the same method. Press and hold the app icon on the dock, tap "Rename," and type your new name. The change appears when ready.

What happens if you undo or delete a renamed app

If you rename an app and then want to change it back to the original name, press and hold the app icon again, tap "Rename," and type the original name. iOS doesn't store a history of name changes, so you'll need to remember what the original name was—or you can look it up in the App Store.

If you delete an app from your home screen (or from your iPhone entirely), the custom name is deleted with it. When you reinstall the app later, it will have its original name again. You'll need to rename it once more if you want to keep your custom name.

Renaming apps across multiple home screen pages

If you have apps spread across several home screen pages, you can rename them all using the same method. Swipe to the page where the app is located, press and hold the icon, tap "Rename," and enter your new name. The process is identical whether the app is on page one or page five.

This is especially useful if you're reorganizing your entire phone and want to rename multiple apps to match a new naming scheme. You can work through each page one at a time, renaming apps as you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rename an app to something completely different, like calling Mail "Inbox"?

Yes. You can rename any app to any text you want, including names that have nothing to do with what the app does. The app will still function normally—it's only the label on your home screen that changes. Just remember that you'll see the custom name, not the original one, so make sure it's something you'll recognize.

Will renaming an app affect my data or settings inside it?

No. Renaming only changes the label on your home screen. Your data, accounts, settings, and everything inside the app stay exactly the same. The app works identically whether it's called "Mail" or "Inbox."

What's the character limit for a custom app name?

There's no hard limit, but iOS displays about 30 characters before cutting off the text with an ellipsis. Shorter names (under 15 characters) display cleanly on most iPhones without wrapping or truncation.

Can I rename system apps like Settings or Camera?

Yes. Every app on your iPhone, including built-in system apps, can be renamed using the same method. Press and hold the app icon, tap "Rename," and enter your custom name.

If I rename an app, will other people see the new name if they use my phone?

Yes. The custom name appears on your home screen for anyone who uses your phone. It's a visual change to your device, not a private setting. If you share your iPhone with family members, they'll see whatever names you've assigned.