iPhone doesn’t have a “sort apps A to Z” button, but you can get close by resetting your Home Screen. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Home Screen Layout, then tap Reset Home Screen. Apple’s built-in apps go back to their original places on the first page, and all your other apps are arranged alphabetically on the pages after it. If you just want an alphabetical list, swipe down in the App Library.
Resetting removes any folders and custom arrangements, so read the details below first.
What Reset Home Screen Layout does
- Built-in Apple apps return to their default spots on the first Home Screen page and in their default folders.
- Apps you downloaded are placed in alphabetical order starting on the next page.
- Your folders are removed. The apps inside them are sorted alphabetically with the rest.
- Widgets you added are removed from the Home Screen.
- No apps or data are deleted.
How to sort iPhone apps alphabetically
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset.
- Tap Reset Home Screen Layout, then confirm with Reset Home Screen.
Be careful not to tap Erase All Content and Settings on the previous screen. That erases your iPhone.
See all apps alphabetically in the App Library
- Swipe left past your last Home Screen page to open the App Library.
- Swipe down anywhere, or tap the search bar at the top.
- Scroll the alphabetical list, or tap a letter on the right to jump to it.
This doesn’t change your Home Screen, so it’s a good option if you like your current layout.
Keep new apps from cluttering your Home Screen
Go to Settings > Home Screen & App Library and choose App Library Only under Newly Downloaded Apps. New apps then go to the App Library instead of the Home Screen, so your alphabetical layout stays neat.
Other ways to organize apps
- Move several apps at once: Touch and hold an app until it jiggles, drag it slightly, then tap other apps with another finger to stack them and move them together.
- Create folders: Drag one app onto another to make a folder.
- Hide pages: Touch and hold the Home Screen, tap the dots above the Dock, and uncheck pages you don’t need.
Frequently asked questions
Will resetting the Home Screen delete my apps?
No. All apps and their data stay. Only the layout changes.
Will new apps stay in alphabetical order?
No. New apps are added to the first open spot. Reset the layout again to re-sort them.
Can I sort apps alphabetically without losing folders?
Not automatically. You’d need to arrange them by hand, or use the App Library’s alphabetical list.
Does this work on iPad?
Yes. The steps are the same on iPad under Transfer or Reset iPad.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.