How to keep new apps off the iPhone Home Screen

2 min read · 4 steps · Updated 4 October 2026

Device

iPhone

Shown on

iOS 26.5 (iPhone 17)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Home Screen & App Library › App Library Only

Real screenshots

4 of 4 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Every app you download normally puts an icon on the Home Screen, and the pages fill up. With one setting, new apps go straight to the App Library, the automatic overview of all apps, and your Home Screen stays as you arranged it.

The screenshots show iOS 26.5 on an iPhone 17. On older versions the rows have the same names, with a slightly different look.

Step by step

1. 

   Open Settings and tap Home Screen & App Library

   It is in the first group of the main Settings list, below Camera.

   Done

2. 

   Choose App Library Only

   Under Newly Downloaded Apps, the tick is on Add to Home Screen at first. Tap App Library Only to move it.

   Done

3. 

   Decide about notification badges

   Show in App Library puts the red number badges on the apps in the App Library as well. It is off at first. Switch it on if you would otherwise miss notifications from apps that are no longer on the Home Screen.

   Done

4. 

   Keep or remove the Search button

   Show on Home Screen controls the small Search button above the Dock. With it switched off, you still open Search by swiping down on the Home Screen.

   Done

Good to know

To open the App Library, swipe left on the Home Screen until you are past the last page. The apps are sorted into groups by themselves, and a search field is at the top.

To put an app back on the Home Screen, touch and hold it in the App Library, drag it to the left onto a Home Screen page and tap Done.

Apps you already have stay where they are. To tidy those up: how to delete apps on an iPhone.

In short: Settings, Home Screen & App Library, App Library Only.