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I accidentally removed app from Home Screen. How do I get it back?

I accidentally removed app from Home Screen. How do I get it back?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 7, iOS 14

Posted on Nov 4, 2020 3:10 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 10, 2021 7:25 AM

From your Home Screen, swipe left until you get to the App Library.

Swipe downward and you'll get an alphabetical list of your apps.

Locate the app in the list or type the app name into the search field

Once you've located the app, tap/hold until it raises/selects, then drag it and it'll pop out to your Home Screen

Organize the Home Screen and App Library on your iPhone - Apple Support


the 'new feature' certainly has it's utility for me. I have over 300 apps on my phone and don't regularly use them all. Removing from Home Screen is a great way for me to clean up my Home Screen

117 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 10, 2021 7:25 AM in response to Andialeigh

From your Home Screen, swipe left until you get to the App Library.

Swipe downward and you'll get an alphabetical list of your apps.

Locate the app in the list or type the app name into the search field

Once you've located the app, tap/hold until it raises/selects, then drag it and it'll pop out to your Home Screen

Organize the Home Screen and App Library on your iPhone - Apple Support


the 'new feature' certainly has it's utility for me. I have over 300 apps on my phone and don't regularly use them all. Removing from Home Screen is a great way for me to clean up my Home Screen

Mar 19, 2021 9:52 AM in response to Djcpizza

This has become a huge problem for me. I’m assuming it’s happening randomly when I’m holding the phone in my hand while doing something else. I must be activating the bouncy box somehow & next thing you know, “poof”, it’s just gone. I’m not even aware of it until who knows how long after. I have deleted quite a few from my Home Screen, some I don’t even know what they are. The worst one to delete is the settings app because I can not access it from my App Library at all. I had to ask Siri to open it for me. I recently deleted my clock, though & tried that. Siri couldn’t find it at all. This is very frustrating & I have never had this problem with any of my previous iPhones. You would think if you spend $1500 on a stupid phone that this wouldn’t happen.

Jul 25, 2021 12:28 PM in response to Djcpizza

Remove from Home Screen

When attempting to delete an app, you will be prompted with Delete App or Remove from Home Screen. The second option must be selected to keep the app's data and contents, but visually remove the icon. This is often preferred for natively installed apps (Safari, Mail, etc) that may have a non-native counterpart (Edge, Gmail, etc.) app or rarely have a need (e.g., Compass).


To remove (not delete) an app:

    1. Long press on the app to bring up option menu
    2. Select "Remove App"
    3. From follow-up window, select "Remove from Home Screen"



Restore to Home Screen


The easiest way to restore the app icon to the home screen is to nav


To restore app icon to home screen:

    1. Navigate to App Library on the last page of home screen by swiping your finger from right to left
    2. Search for the app in the search bar at the top of the page. -- Note: (1) This step can be skipped by locating the app in the App Library and avoiding any search function . (2) Do not use iOS spotlight search, which is triggered by dragging the screen down. App icons in spotlight search do not have the ability to return apps to the Home Screen
    3. Long press the app icon from the App Library search to activate the menu.
    4. Select "Add to Home Screen" from the menu that appears



For more information, please refer to Organize the Home Screen and App Library guide provided by Apple Support.

Mar 18, 2022 4:48 PM in response to LHoard1

that is because 'removing' an app is not the same thing as deleting it. If you see 'Open' in the App Store, then the app is still on your phone.


From your Home Screen, swipe left until you get to the App Library.

Swipe downward and you'll get an alphabetical list of your apps.

Locate the app in the list or type the app name into the search field

Once you've located the app, tap/hold, then drag and it'll pop out to your Home Screen

Organize the Home Screen and App Library on your iPhone - Apple Support

Mar 2, 2021 9:05 AM in response to Djcpizza

Hey, I was googling to find the answer and found this thread but then I figured it out so I thought I’d update you all. If you swipe your screen all the way to the right PASSED your last screen of apps, it’ll say APP LIBRARY at the top and then have groupings of apps(suggestions, recently added, etc). Find your app that you removed there and then hold your finger on it and the option to add to Home Screen should appear.

Mar 27, 2021 10:30 PM in response to Djcpizza

You need to find the App Library. You can do this by searching for it in the search bar or by swiping from right to left. The App Library should appear after your last page of apps. Once you have located the App Library, find the app you want to restore. Press and hold the app icon until a menu pops up with the option to send to the Home Screen.

Feb 15, 2022 5:16 PM in response to Kimbobular

I don’t know what app or when I save something like a link on my home-screen

I can’t remember what link or Icon I have deleted

I am asking can you find that deleted Home Screen link that I saved or is it only apps you can rescue from the library on your IPhone

I have medical information links that I’ve found that helps my bone cancer pain

I save them to show my Oncologist

Otherwise I wouldn’t care if I deleted a link that isn’t important

Sorry my question is can you find saved links that I have accidentally deleted on your Home Screen on your IPhone ?

Like for instance in the attached photo as an example for my question

Mar 31, 2022 6:11 PM in response to ABJones3

as I've posted in this thread already..


that is because 'removing' an app is not the same thing as deleting it. If you see 'Open' in the App Store, then the app is still on your phone.


From your Home Screen, swipe left until you get to the App Library.

Swipe downward and you'll get an alphabetical list of your apps.

Locate the app in the list or type the app name into the search field

Once you've located the app, tap/hold, then drag and it'll pop out to your Home Screen

Organize the Home Screen and App Library on your iPhone - Apple Support

Dec 23, 2021 1:59 PM in response to anisa151

From your Home Screen, swipe left until you get to the App Library.

Swiping Left means you drag your finger from the right side of your screen to the left side.


If you see the app you are looking for in the categories, you can tap and hold on the app icon at this point. When the menu pops up, select Add to Home Screen.

But I find the categories more of a pain than anything.

At the App Library, if you simply swipe downward you'll get an alphabetical list of your apps.

Either scroll to the app or type the app name into the search field.

Once you've located the app, tap/hold, then drag and it'll pop out to your Home Screen

Organize the Home Screen and App Library on your iPhone - Apple Support

I accidentally removed app from Home Screen. How do I get it back?

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