iPad Air M3 "Edit Home Screen" unusable after iOS 26

Question

iPad Air M3 "Edit Home Screen" unusable after iOS 26

With the iOS 26 upgrade on my iPad Air M3, the "Edit Home Screen" feature is now almost unusable to move bookmarks and apps around, whether between pages or adding to folders, even on the same page. I tried the suggestion to turn on Accessibility > Reduce Motion, but this doesn't help. Hard reboots have not helped. Upgrading to iOS 26.2.1 has not helped, either. This worked flawlessly on the iPad until iOS 26. I don't have minutes to spend trying to move a single bookmark or app, if I can even get it to work eventually. Coincidentally, my iPhone 11 Pro Max is also on iOS 26.2.1 and "Edit Home Screen" still works flawlessly there. Suggestions welcome.

iPad Air (M3, 2025)

Posted on Feb 6, 2026 8:05 PM

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Answer 1

LotusPilot

Level 10

303,104 points

Feb 7, 2026 2:54 AM in response to fresh_as_a_daisy

I am unable to replicate any difficulties with moving Apps and widgets between or around Home Screens - either with or without Reduce Motion being selected in iPad settings.

You may have tried some of these troubleshooting steps already...

If your iPad is not operating as expected, try a forced-restart - as this will often clear an isolated software issue:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
Press and hold the top button.
When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to hands-on assist with troubleshooting the problem:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

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