The App Library on your iPad is always accessible. You can swipe left through all the Home Screen pages to reach it, and by hiding unnecessary Home Screen pages, you can reduce the distance to the App Library from the first Home Screen. The apps in the App Library are organized into categories based on your usage patterns. However, while you can add apps from the App Library back to the Home Screen, you cannot move apps to different categories within the App Library.
How to Open the App Library and Find Apps
First, navigate to your Home Screen. Then, swipe left through all the Home Screen pages to access the App Library. Alternatively, you can tap the App Library icon located at the far right of the Dock at the bottom of the screen for quick access. Choose the method that is easiest for you based on your current screen.
You can start finding apps using the search field at the top of the App Library. Once you enter the App Library, use the search field at the top of the screen to locate apps. Type in the app name and tap on the app in the search results to open it. If you prefer not to use the search function, you can scroll through the App Library and navigate alphabetically. Therefore, if you know the app name, using the search field is the fastest option, while browsing through categories is better if you are unsure of the exact name.
- Tap the search field at the top of the App Library screen.
- Type in the name of the app you want to find.
- Tap the app in the search results to open it.
If only a few small app icons are visible in a category, tap that category to expand it and see all the apps included within. Don’t assume that an app is missing just because you see only small icons; expand the category to check the full list. The App Library organizes apps into categories, but it does not provide guidance on moving apps to different categories.
Moving Apps Back to the Home Screen
To use an app on your Home Screen after moving it to the App Library, go to the App Library. Find the app you want to move back to the Home Screen, then long-press the app icon until it starts to wiggle, and continue holding until the app moves to the Home Screen. Release your finger once the app has moved. This is how you add an app back to your Home Screen. Conversely, the guidance does not include how to move apps within the App Library to different categories, so do not confuse adding to the Home Screen with moving categories.
Hiding Home Screen Pages to Access the App Library More Easily
Since you can find all your apps in the App Library, you may not need many Home Screen pages to display apps. By hiding some pages, you can bring the App Library closer to the first page of your Home Screen. If you hide unnecessary pages, you can swipe just once or twice to move between the first page and the App Library. Hidden pages can be revealed later, allowing you to organize your Home Screen by hiding pages you don’t frequently use.
- Go to the Home Screen and long-press the background until the apps start to wiggle.
- Tap the dots at the bottom of the screen.
- When the thumbnail images of the Home Screen pages appear, tap the checkmark below the pages you want to hide.
- To reveal hidden pages again, tap below those pages to add the checkmark back.
- Tap the Done button on the screen to close the page selection screen.
If you have hidden Home Screen pages, newly downloaded apps from the App Store may be added to the App Library instead of the Home Screen. Therefore, do not assume that a new app has not been installed just because it is not visible on the Home Screen; check the App Library as well. The method of hiding pages is useful for reducing the distance to the App Library, but it can also affect where new apps are displayed.
| Desired Outcome | Action to Take | Distinguishing Point |
|---|---|---|
| Reuse Existing Apps on the Home Screen | Long-press the app icon in the App Library to move it back to the Home Screen | This action adds the app to the Home Screen and does not change the categories in the App Library directly. |
| Temporarily Hide Multiple Home Screen Pages | Uncheck the pages to hide in the page selection screen | Hidden pages can be revealed again by adding the checkmark back. When looking for new apps, check the App Library as well. |
| Determine the Display Location for Future Downloads | Select new app location in Settings under Home Screen & App Library | Distinguish between the process of restoring apps that have already disappeared from the Home Screen and setting the location for newly downloaded apps. |
Selecting Where to Add New Apps
When downloading new apps from the App Store, you can choose whether to add the app to both the Home Screen and the App Library or only to the App Library. To do this, go to the Settings app on your iPad and follow these steps.
- Tap ‘Home Screen & App Library’ in the Settings app.
- Select ‘Add to Home Screen’ or ‘App Library Only’.
When looking for apps, you can move from the Home Screen to the App Library and use one of the following methods: search field, alphabetical navigation, or category expansion. To use an app moved to the App Library back on the Home Screen, long-press the app icon and move it to the Home Screen. You can also hide Home Screen pages to reduce access frequency, but remember that newly downloaded apps may be added to the App Library, so check the App Library first if new apps are not visible.
📌 Editor's 3-Point Summary
- Access the App Library by swiping left through the Home Screen or tapping the rightmost icon in the Dock.
- Find apps using the search field, alphabetical navigation, or category expansion, and restore them to the Home Screen by long-pressing.
- Hiding unnecessary Home Screen pages reduces the distance to the App Library.
Find and Use Apps in Your iPad App Library - Apple Support (KR)