Move apps and widgets on your iPad home screen
You can rearrange your iPad home screen by pressing and holding any app icon until a menu appears, then dragging it to a new location. The same method works for widgets—those larger blocks showing weather, calendar, or news. You can also delete apps from the home screen (the app stays on your iPad; it just won't show on this screen), create new home screen pages, and organize apps into folders.
The process is the same whether you're using an iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, or iPad mini. It works on iPadOS 15 and later, which covers nearly all iPads in active use.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon until a menu appears, then drag it to move it to a new spot on the same page or to a different page.
- You can create folders by dragging one app onto another app, which groups them together and lets you name the folder.
- Swiping left or right between home screen pages lets you see all your pages and move apps between them.
- Removing an app from the home screen does not delete it from your iPad—it just hides it from view until you search for it or add it back.
Step-by-step: moving a single app
Open your iPad and look at the home screen. Decide which app you want to move. Press your finger on the app icon and hold it there for about one second. A menu will pop up with options like "Remove App" and "Edit Home Screen."
Tap "Edit Home Screen" at the bottom of the menu. The app icons will now jiggle slightly, showing they are in edit mode. While the icons are jiggling, drag the app you want to move to its new location. You can move it left or right on the same page, or drag it to the edge of the screen to move it to a different page. When you reach the edge, the screen will automatically scroll to show the next page. Drop the app where you want it by lifting your finger.
When you are done moving apps, press the home button or swipe up from the bottom of the screen to exit edit mode. The jiggling will stop and your changes are saved.
Creating folders to organize apps
Folders let you group related apps together—for example, all your games in one folder, or all your productivity apps in another. To create a folder, enter edit mode by pressing and holding any app, then tapping "Edit Home Screen." While in edit mode, drag one app directly on top of another app. The two apps will automatically combine into a folder, and iPad will suggest a name based on the app category.
You can accept the suggested name or type your own. Drag more apps into the folder by dropping them on the folder icon. To remove an app from a folder, open the folder, press and hold the app you want to remove, and drag it out onto the home screen. When the folder is empty, it disappears automatically.
Adding and removing home screen pages
Your iPad can have multiple home screen pages. To see all your pages at once, pinch inward with two fingers on the home screen (bring your thumb and another finger together). This shows a bird's-eye view of every page you have. You can drag apps between pages in this view, or tap a page to zoom back in and edit it normally.
To add a new page, enter edit mode and look at the bottom of the screen where dots represent each page. Tap the plus sign next to the last dot to create a new page. To remove a page, tap the minus sign next to its dot. You cannot delete a page if it has apps on it—you must move or delete those apps first.
Using widgets on your home screen
Widgets are larger blocks that show live information like weather, calendar events, or news headlines without opening the full app. To add a widget, press and hold an empty area of your home screen and tap the plus sign in the top left corner. A menu will show all your apps that offer widgets. Tap an app to see its available widgets, select the size you want, and tap "Add Widget." The widget will appear on your home screen.
You can move widgets the same way you move apps—press and hold the widget in edit mode and drag it to a new location. To remove a widget, press and hold it in edit mode and tap "Remove App," then confirm. The app itself stays on your iPad; only the widget disappears from the home screen.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common mistake is tapping an app instead of pressing and holding it. A single tap opens the app; you need to hold your finger on the icon for about one full second before the menu appears. If you accidentally open an app, just close it and try again.
Another mistake is forgetting that you are in edit mode. While icons are jiggling, tapping an app does not open it—it just selects it for moving. If you want to use an app normally, exit edit mode first by pressing the home button or swiping up from the bottom. Some people also worry they have deleted an app permanently when they remove it from the home screen. Remember: removing an app from the home screen only hides it. You can find it again by swiping to the App Library (the last page) or by searching for it with Spotlight (swipe down from the top of the screen and type the app name).
Resetting your home screen to default
If you want to undo all your changes and return your home screen to the way it was when you first got your iPad, you can reset it. Go to Settings, tap General, then tap Transfer or Reset. Scroll down and tap "Reset," then choose "Reset Home Screen Layout." This will move all your apps back to their original positions and remove any folders or custom pages you created. Your apps are not deleted—they just move back to where they started.
This reset is useful if you have made many changes and want a fresh start, but it cannot be undone. If you think you might want to go back to your current layout, take a screenshot of your home screen pages before you reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I lock my home screen so apps don't move by accident?
Yes. Go to Settings, tap Home Screen, and toggle on "Lock Home Screen." This prevents any accidental rearrangement. You can still move apps by going to Settings and turning the lock off, making your changes, and turning it back on.
What is the App Library and how do I use it?
The App Library is the last page on your home screen. It automatically organizes all your apps into categories like Productivity, Games, and Utilities. You can search for an app by swiping down and typing its name, or browse by category. Many people hide entire home screen pages and use only the App Library to keep their home screen clean.
Can I have different home screen layouts on different pages?
Yes. Each page can have a different mix of apps and widgets. You might have one page with productivity apps, another with games, and another with widgets showing weather and calendar. Organize each page however makes sense for how you use your iPad.
Why won't my app move when I drag it?
Make sure you are in edit mode—the icons should be jiggling. If they are not jiggling, press and hold an app and tap "Edit Home Screen" again. Also check that you are not trying to move an app that is part of the dock (the row at the bottom). Dock apps can be moved, but you must drag them all the way to a home screen page, not just to a different spot in the dock.
Does rearranging my home screen affect how my iPad works?
No. Rearranging apps, creating folders, and adding or removing pages only change what you see on the home screen. It does not change how fast your iPad runs, how much storage it uses, or how any app works. It is purely visual organization.