On iOS 14 Moving Apps and Widgets To Other Homescreens is messy

Question

Level 1

125 points

On iOS 14 Moving Apps and Widgets To Other Homescreens is messy

When I move an app or a widget from one home screen to another, it creates a variety of messy results:

#1. it shifts the other apps and widgets into wildly disorganized new positions, completely different than before.

#2. Sometimes entire folders completely empty while I am moving an app or widget to a new Home Screen and the apps within the folders empty and disperse across multiple home screens, which ruins the entire organization of apps and widgets previously in place. It makes a huge disorganized mess and all I was doing was move one thing.

#3. Just a slight movement of one app or widget causes everything else to shift around erratically and mess up the positioning of every other app and widget.

Questions:

Are there any MacOS apps like the former iTunes where I can easily modify the layout my iPhone home screens without having to spend hours doing it manually and over and over on my iPhone?
Is there a secret or undiscovered method for moving apps and widgets around that doesn’t affect the entire layout of all my home screens? Eg. Everything else’s stays in its place.
is there a way to drag apps and widgets that does not make everything else move around so erratically?

Thanks for your help in advance!

Posted on Nov 2, 2020 8:18 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Chris0107

Level 9

52,161 points

Dec 6, 2020 9:00 AM in response to alcheme

I don't have any magical solutions for you..

But one suggestion comes to mind that I have done several times.

If you need to move something from hs5 to hs1, try hiding hs2, hs3, hs4 before you move it. Then when you drag it away from hs5 it'll switch directly to hs1.

You can hide home screens by tap and holding in between the dock and the bottom row of apps (but not on the dots)

OR tap and hold on an app and select 'Edit Home Screen' in the pop up menu

When everything starts wiggling, tap the row of dots right above the dock. This will tile all your home screens.

Just uncheck hs2, hs3, hs4 and hit done. Move your app from hs5 to hs1. Then go thru the same process to make your home screens visible again.

A little clunky maybe, but should preserve those 3 screens at the very least.

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Answer 2

mario49

Community Specialist

Nov 6, 2020 7:03 AM in response to alcheme

Hello alcheme,

We understand that you're having an issue when moving apps and widgets, as it's affecting your layout. Are you updated to the latest version of iOS 14 on your device? Does restarting your device address the issue? Have you tried the steps listed in how to move apps and create folders on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch?

Please also take a look at how to use widgets on your iPhone and iPod touch?

Take care.

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Answer 3

alcheme Author

Level 1

125 points

Nov 10, 2020 10:09 AM in response to mario49

Hello Mario49,

Restarting the iPhone does not work and I tried the methods on the link you provide. Moving apps still alters the layout of homescreens that the app was only passing by.

Eg. | HS1 | HS2 | HS3 | HS4 | HS5 |

When I move an APP from HS5 to HS1 - The HS's inbetween often have their layouts changed. For example, the widgets on the top switch with widgets or apps on the bottom. And these are Homescreens that I only passed by while moving the HS5 app or widget to HS1.

Also, when I do move the HS5 App to HS1, if I try to get it into a folder, the rest of the HS1 gets mixed up and sometimes an app gets pushed into HS2 and an app or widget in HS2 gets pushed into HS3 - and so on.

Apple really needs to bring back a home screen organizer, similar to what iTunes used to be capable of.

Take care,

Shane

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Answer 4

alcheme Author

Level 1

125 points

Nov 17, 2020 10:08 AM in response to Nicholas_B2

Yes, I am using 14.2. And I did follow the steps you highlighted in that link.

Maybe there is a technique for dragging apps and widgets around that does not mess up the layout of every other home screen. I have not figured out what that is though.

I do hope to see Apple create a feature that allows us to create the layout we want similar to how iTunes used too.

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Answer 5

alcheme Author

Level 1

125 points

Dec 6, 2020 8:47 AM in response to Thae20

Exactly! If I want to add a new app, it gets added to the first open Home Screen. The moment I move it, everything starts to get messed up. This actually makes me not want try out new apps so that it wont mess up how I have organized my home screens.

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Answer 6

Nov 11, 2020 7:14 AM in response to alcheme

Hi alcheme,

Are you updated to the latest iOS release of 14.2? Are you folowing these steps to Organize the Home Screen and App Library on your iPhone?

Regards.

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Answer 7

Thae20

Level 1

11 points

Dec 5, 2020 12:20 PM in response to alcheme

None of the above suggestions help. It’s frustrating a simple move makes a mess of app layout!

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On iOS 14 Moving Apps and Widgets To Other Homescreens is messy

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