After a few years of installing apps, making folders and dragging icons around, an iPhone Home Screen can get messy. Resetting the Home Screen layout puts Apple’s built-in apps back in their original places on the first page and arranges everything else alphabetically, without deleting any apps or data. This guide shows how to reset the layout on an iPhone 7 and newer iPhones, what changes, and gentler ways to tidy up.
Quick Answer
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset and tap Reset Home Screen Layout, then confirm. On iOS 14 and earlier, it’s Settings > General > Reset > Reset Home Screen Layout.
How to Reset the Home Screen Layout
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone (iOS 15 and later, including the iPhone 7’s final version, iOS 15). On iOS 14 or earlier, tap Reset.
- Tap Reset, then Reset Home Screen Layout.
- Tap Reset Home Screen to confirm.
Be careful to choose the right option; Erase All Content and Settings deletes everything, while Reset Home Screen Layout only rearranges icons.
What Changes After a Reset
- Apple’s built-in apps return to their default positions on the first page, and the Dock resets to its default apps.
- Apps you’ve downloaded are arranged alphabetically on the following pages.
- Folders you created are removed, but the apps inside them stay installed.
- On iOS 14 and later, widgets you added to Home Screen pages are removed, and hidden pages may reappear.
- Apps in the App Library stay available, and no data, photos or settings are deleted.
Gentler Ways to Tidy Your Home Screen
- Move several apps at once: touch and hold an app until icons jiggle, drag it slightly, then tap other apps to add them to the stack.
- Hide pages: touch and hold the Home Screen, tap the page dots at the bottom, and uncheck pages you don’t want to see (iOS 14 and later).
- Send new apps to the App Library: in Settings > Home Screen & App Library, choose App Library Only so new downloads don’t clutter your pages.
- Remove from Home Screen: touch and hold an app, tap Remove App > Remove from Home Screen to keep it installed but out of sight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo a Home Screen reset?
No. You’ll need to rearrange apps manually, though restoring a backup made before the reset will bring back the old layout (along with everything else in that backup).
Will this delete my apps?
No. Every app stays installed with its data.
Does this work on iPad?
Yes. The steps are the same under Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad.
Summary
- Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset > Reset Home Screen Layout.
- Confirm with Reset Home Screen.
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.