How To Hide Or Disable App Library In iOS 14
Last updated on August 7th, 2022 at 09:32 am
Posted in TILs by Patricia on October 9, 2020The App Library is a new iOS 14 feature that provides an one-page layout of all the apps available on your iPhone. It automatically organizes apps in categories. It also comes with a Search function that allows you to find the software that you’re looking for, if you can’t quickly glance it in the available bundles.
The App Library helps to declutter the iPhone Home Screen, because you can display apps only in the Library and even hide Home Screen pages. However, if you’re a conservative iPhone user you might not like The new App Library and are looking for a way to hide it.
Unfortunately, you can’t disable App Library! The feature is enabled by default as soon as you update to iOS 14. However, you don’t need to use it if you don’t want to. Simply hide it behind your Home Screen pages and you won’t even know it’s there!
How To Hide App Library
The only way to trigger the App Library to display is if you swipe to the end of the Home Screen pagination. As long as you have enough pages available, you won’t even know that the App Library exists.
Add widgets to the Home Screen, keep your apps organized in folders the way you want it and you’ll make the App Library obsolete.
(Update: August 7, 2022)
How To Edit App Library
Believe it or not, we’re only a few weeks away from the public release of iOS 16 and there’s still no new App Library customization option.
Nevertheless, there’s a tweak that you can apply to edit the apps that are suggested in the App Library folders. Here are all the details!
App Store Downloads Not On Home Screen
Are new apps that you download from the App Store not showing up on the Home Screen and you have to use the App Library to access them? Here is how to fix this:
- 1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
- 2. Tap on Home Screen.
- 3. Select Add to Home Screen for the newly downloaded apps.
Fact: This way app icons will become available on the Home Screen, as prior to the iOS 14 update.
How To Add Home Screen Pages
As usual, a new Home Screen page is created automatically when there’s not enough place to host a new widget or app icon. However, you can check and make sure that all of your pages are displayed by following these steps:
- 1. Long-press on the Home Screen to enter Edit Mode.
- 2. Tap on the pagination dots, available at the bottom of the screen.
- 3. Select the Home Screen pages that you want to display.
- 4. Tap Done when ready.
How To Delete Apps In iOS 14
The new App Library is also changing the way you delete apps from your iPhone:
- 1. Long-press the app icon on the Home Screen.
- 2. Use the Remove App option, that’s now available instead of the former Delete App.
- 3. An additional pop-up asks if you want to: Delete App, Move to App Library or Cancel.
Tip: Select the first option to erase the app from your iPhone. The second one will only delete the app icon from the Home Screen, but the app will remain installed on your device.
Are you pro or against the App Library in iOS 14? Share your thoughts in the comments section available below.
Related: How to use App Clips in iOS 14!
Apple – please make the App Library optional. For me it is a worthless nuisance.
A change might come alongside iOS 16. Let’s wait and see if it becomes optional.
Agree 100%. It just makes things more confusing
Thanks for the feedback.
Please get rid of the App Library, thank you.
Thanks for the feedback. Our tests show that the App Library is still present in iOS 16 and there’s no new option to turn it Off/On.
Give us the option to remove the apps library. In the future, when you have a new setup or process, please give the customer the ability to remove the new setup/process. It doesn’t matter if your tech team think its the greatest thing since ‘sliced bread’ customers should have the ability to block it.
Remember, the customer isn’t always right however HE IS THE CUSTOMER!,,
Thanks for the feedback. Here are some tips about how to customize the apps suggested for App Library categories: https://www.iphonetricks.org/how-to-customize-app-library-categories/
Hope it helps improve the experience.
Why is apple not getting it? We don’t want the app library to be seen, unless we want it to be seen. It is a daily complete nuisance. At least make the app library an app, so it won’t take up annoying space and time.
Thanks for the feedback jim. I’m afraid you will have to get used to it. There’s no change in the upcoming iOS 16, regarding App Library.
Real sorry to hear this. The App Library is not appreciated by so many. How difficult would it be to have the option of using it or not. Just because Apple thinks it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread doesn’t make it so.
Apple hasn’t changed the way it works in 2 years now. Perhaps 3rd time will be a charm. Let’s see what iOS 17 will bring.
Hey apple can you off load the app library. Its a pain the ass and totally sucks. Have your designers step out of parents basement for a moment to get a grip on WE DONT LIKE IT!