How to add iCloud folders to iPhone Home Screen

Question

How to add iCloud folders to iPhone Home Screen

I have iMac 24" 2023 , iPhone 16 and iPad mini 6: all are running 26.4 versions.

I have created a travel planner on my iMac: A root folder and a number of sub folders with a variety of file formats: text, JPG, map favourites, hotel & car reservations etc. I have saved the folder/s and structure to my iCloud account and download the same to my iPhone for off line access.

For convenience and quick access I would like to save just these folders (and not my whole iCloud library) to the home screen on my iPhone. Can anyone tell me how to put just these folders or a shortcut to these folders on my Home Screen. I've tried but can't make it work

Any help would be much appreciated, Iain

iPhone 16, iOS 26

Posted on Mar 27, 2026 2:02 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

6x6

Level 7

21,715 points

Mar 27, 2026 5:04 PM in response to iainfromvictoria

You can actually do this by using the Shortcuts app. Here is a shortcut example that opens the iCloud Drive > Downloads folder: Open Folder.

Once downloaded, open it in Shortcuts, modify the folder in the first action (by tapping it and choosing another folder), tap the ⓘ icon (bottom center) and tap "Add to Home Screen" to add the shortcut to your Home Screen.

Reply

Answer 2

6x6

Level 7

21,715 points

Mar 28, 2026 5:28 PM in response to iainfromvictoria

I should have been clearer. Those are independent actions you need to take (first choosing the folder, second adding the shortcut to the Home screen):

Tap the first action (iCloudDrive > Downloads) to select the folder. You can navigate anywhere you need to go. Once you are in the folder you want to use, tap the Open button (top left.)
The screen will then return to the shortcut itself. From there, tap the ⓘ icon (bottom center) and tap "Add to Home Screen" to add the shortcut to your Home Screen (see below.)

You also may want to rename the shortcut (right now it's Open Folder, a bit too generic) so that its name shows perhaps the name of the folder you want to open. To rename the shortcut, tap "Open Folder" (top center) and choose Rename:

I hope this helps clarify the steps. Don't hesitate to ask any question.

Reply

Answer 3

Mar 27, 2026 2:56 PM in response to Kilgore-Trout

Hello Kilgore-Trout, Thanks for getting back to me. Sorry to hear that was hoping for the quickest access but if not will just have to search through my iCloud, Maybe I'll rename the folder to put it at the top of my contents list.

Iain

Reply

Answer 4

Mar 28, 2026 3:58 PM in response to 6x6

opened Shortcuts app - it went to all shortcuts, clicked on Open Folder (my folder isn't in Downloads so clicked on Browse at bottom, My root folder is in Favourites so clicked on my travel folder, that opens page showing all the subfolders I want BUT there is no ⓘ icon (bottom center) . I'm on iOS 26. there is just Recents, Shared and Browse at the bottom. I also checked the 3 dots at the top and I can't find the Add to Home Screen. Have I misread your instructions or is has it just changed in 26.4?

Thanks for taking the time to try help me.

Reply

Answer 5

Mar 27, 2026 2:18 PM in response to iainfromvictoria

Sorry, but no. No way to do that. You will just need to tap an extra time to get to it.

Reply