The App Library, introduced in iOS 14, automatically organizes your iPhone apps into categories, offering a streamlined home screen experience. While many appreciate its organizational capabilities, some prefer the traditional, manually arranged home screen. Fortunately, hiding the App Library is straightforward, restoring your home screen to its pre-iOS 14 layout. This guide will walk you through the process and answer some common questions.
Can I Completely Remove the App Library from My iPhone?
No, you can't completely remove the App Library from your iPhone. Apple designed it as a core feature integrated into iOS, and it isn't an option to delete or uninstall it. However, you can hide it, effectively making it disappear from your iPhone's interface. This means you'll only see your manually arranged home screens.
How Do I Hide the App Library on My iPhone?
Hiding the App Library is a simple process involving a few taps within your iPhone's settings:
- Open the Settings app: Locate the grey icon with gears on your home screen and tap it.
- Navigate to Home Screen: Scroll down until you find "Home Screen" and tap on it.
- Toggle "App Library" off: You'll see a toggle switch next to "App Library." Simply slide the switch to the left to turn it off. The switch will turn grey, indicating the App Library is now hidden.
That's it! Your home screen will now only display the pages you've created, reverting to the pre-iOS 14 arrangement. Your apps remain accessible through search, Spotlight, and the App Store.
What Happens to My Apps When I Hide the App Library?
Hiding the App Library doesn't delete or move your apps. They remain installed on your iPhone. The only change is that they are no longer organized and displayed within the App Library view. They are still accessible through search, Siri, and by using the App Store's search feature.
Will Hiding the App Library Affect My iPhone's Performance?
Hiding the App Library has no significant impact on your iPhone's performance. It simply alters the way your apps are displayed, not the underlying functionality of the operating system.
Can I Re-Enable the App Library Later?
Yes, absolutely! If you change your mind and want to use the App Library again, simply follow the same steps outlined above, but slide the "App Library" toggle switch to the right (to the green position) to re-enable it.
Why Can't I Find the App Library Option?
Ensure your iPhone is running iOS 14 or later. The App Library feature was introduced with iOS 14. If your device is running an older iOS version, the App Library setting won't be available. You would need to update your device to a compatible iOS version to access this setting.
This guide provides a comprehensive explanation of hiding the App Library on your iPhone. Remember, this process only hides the App Library interface; your apps remain safely installed on your device. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask!
