What you can change about how apps look on your iPhone
You can change app icons, organize them into folders, rearrange their position on your home screen, and hide apps from view entirely. You cannot change the appearance of the app itself once it opens—that is controlled by the app developer. But the way your home screen looks, and which apps are visible at a glance, is entirely yours to control.
The methods differ depending on whether you want to swap out an icon image, move apps around, or hide them. Some changes happen directly on your home screen; others require the Shortcuts app or your iPhone settings.
Key Takeaways
- You can rearrange apps by pressing and holding any app icon, then dragging it to a new location or into a folder.
- Custom app icons require the Shortcuts app (built into iOS) and work by creating a shortcut that launches the app with a new image.
- App Library automatically organizes apps by category and can be accessed by swiping to the rightmost home screen page.
- Hiding apps removes them from your home screen and App Library, though they remain installed and can be found through search or Settings.
- Lock screen widgets let you display live information from apps without opening them, separate from home screen customization.
Rearranging and organizing apps on your home screen
The simplest way to change how your home screen looks is to move apps around. Press and hold any app icon until a menu appears. Tap "Edit Home Screen" (or on older iOS versions, wait for the icons to jiggle). Now all icons will vibrate slightly, showing they are ready to move.
Drag any icon to a new spot on the same page, or drag it to the edge of the screen to move it to an adjacent page. You can also drag multiple apps at once by holding one icon, then tapping others with a second finger to select them, then dragging the group together. When you are finished, press the home button or swipe up from the bottom to lock the changes in place.
To create a folder, drag one app onto another. A folder appears automatically with a suggested name based on the app category. Tap the folder name to rename it. You can fit up to nine apps per folder on the first screen, and additional apps will create new pages within that folder.
Creating custom app icons using Shortcuts
If you want to replace an app icon with a custom image, you will need the Shortcuts app, which comes built into every iPhone. Open Shortcuts and tap the plus icon to create a new shortcut. Tap "Add Action," then search for "Open App" and select it. Choose the app you want to customize.
Now tap the three dots in the top right corner of the shortcut, then tap "Add to Home Screen." A dialog will appear asking for a name and icon. Tap the icon preview (usually a colorful square) to choose a custom image. You can take a photo, select one from your photo library, or use an emoji. Once you confirm, the shortcut will be added to your home screen with your custom icon.
When you tap this custom icon, it launches the app just as if you had tapped the original. The shortcut itself does not change how the app looks inside—only the icon on your home screen changes. If you want to remove the custom icon later, straightforward delete the shortcut from your home screen; the original app remains installed.
Using App Library to hide and organize apps
App Library is a built-in feature that automatically sorts all your apps into categories like Productivity, Health, Entertainment, and Utilities. To see it, swipe all the way to the right on your home screen pages until you reach the final page. The entire App Library appears as a grid of category folders.
You can hide entire home screen pages so they do not appear when you swipe, which effectively hides all the apps on those pages from casual view. Press and hold on any empty area of your home screen, tap "Edit Pages," then uncheck the pages you want to hide. These apps will still be accessible through App Library and through search, but they will not clutter your main home screen.
To hide individual apps completely from App Library as well, go to Settings > Apps > App Library, find the app, and toggle off "Show in App Library." The app remains installed and can still be found by searching for it or by opening it from within another app, but it will not appear on your home screen or in App Library.
Changing the appearance of your lock screen
Your lock screen is separate from your home screen, and you can customize it independently. Press and hold your lock screen (not an app icon) to enter lock screen editing mode. Tap "Customize" to change the wallpaper, add widgets, or adjust the clock style and color.
Lock screen widgets display live information from apps—like weather, calendar events, or fitness rings—without requiring you to open the app. Tap the plus icon to add a widget, search for the app you want, and select the widget size. These widgets update throughout the day and give your lock screen a personalized look while remaining functional.
Using focus modes to change what appears
Focus modes let you create different home screen layouts for different situations. When you set up a Focus (like Work, Sleep, or a custom one), you can set it to show only certain apps and hide others. Go to Settings > Focus, create or edit a Focus, and scroll down to "Home Screen" to choose which pages and apps appear when that Focus is active.
For example, you might create a Work Focus that shows only productivity apps, or a Sleep Focus that hides everything except a clock and meditation app. When you switch between Focuses, your home screen layout changes automatically. This is different from permanently hiding apps—the apps reappear when you switch to a different Focus.
Resetting your home screen to default
If you want to undo all your customizations and return your home screen to the way it looked when you first set up your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset > Reset Home Screen Layout. This will remove all custom folders, rearrangements, and hidden pages, but it will not delete any apps or data.
Your custom app icons created through Shortcuts will remain on your home screen after a reset because they are shortcuts, not changes to the original apps. If you want to remove them, you will need to delete each shortcut individually by pressing and holding it and selecting "Remove from Home Screen."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the color or design of an app icon without using Shortcuts?
No. The only way to replace an app icon on your home screen is through the Shortcuts app. iOS does not have a built-in icon customizer. Some third-party apps claim to change icons, but they work the same way—by creating a shortcut that launches the real app with a custom image.
Will custom icons I create in Shortcuts still work if I update the app?
Yes. The shortcut points to the app itself, not to a specific version. When you update the app, the shortcut will launch the new version. The custom icon you created will remain the same.
What happens to hidden apps if I sell my iPhone?
Hidden apps are still on the device. If you erase your iPhone before selling it, all apps and data are removed. If you do not erase it, the new owner can search for hidden apps or find them in Settings > Apps, so always erase your device before transferring it to someone else.
Can I have different home screen layouts on different lock screens?
No. Your home screen layout is the same regardless of which lock screen you are using. However, you can use Focus modes to show or hide certain apps and pages depending on which Focus is active, which gives a similar effect.
Do custom icons work on the lock screen?
Lock screen widgets are separate from home screen icons. You cannot place custom icons on your lock screen, but you can add widgets from any app to display information there.