What changed: steps that look different now show our own iPhone 14 Pro on iOS 27.0.1, with the wording checked against that screen.

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-keep-new-apps-off-the-iphone-home-screen/ · Checked October 2026 · iPhone 14 Pro · iOS 27.0.1

In this guide

Open Settings and tap Home Screen & App Library
Choose App Library Only
Decide about notification badges
Keep or remove the Search button
Good to know
Sources

Quick answer

Open Settings, tap Home Screen & App Library and choose App Library Only. New apps are then installed without adding an icon to the Home Screen. You find them in the App Library, one swipe past your last Home Screen page.

3 of 4 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device: iPhone
Shown on: iOS 27.0.1 (iPhone 14 Pro)
App: Settings
Path: Settings › Home Screen & App Library › App Library Only
Real screenshots: 3 of 4 steps
Checked: October 2026
Sources: 1 official, linked below

Step by step

Open Settings and tap Home Screen & App Library
It is in the main Settings list.
Done
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
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
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

What changed: steps that look different now show our own iPhone 14 Pro on iOS 27.0.1, with the wording checked against that screen.

About this guide

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.

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.

Sources