The App Library on iPhones, introduced with iOS 14, was designed to help users organize their apps automatically and declutter their Home Screens. While some users appreciate this feature, many others find it unnecessary or even intrusive. If you’re among those wondering How To Turn Off App Library On Iphone, you’re not alone. Many users are searching for a way to remove or disable this feature, expressing frustrations similar to those voiced in online forums about its usability and relevance.
Understanding the App Library and User Sentiment
Before diving into whether you can disable the App Library, it’s important to understand what it is and why it evokes such strong reactions. The App Library is essentially an automatically organized collection of all the apps on your iPhone. It sorts your apps into categories like “Social,” “Utilities,” and “Entertainment,” and also includes folders like “Recently Added” and “Suggestions.”
Many users, as seen in forum discussions, find the App Library redundant, especially if they prefer a meticulously organized Home Screen. Common complaints include:
- Redundancy: Users who carefully curate their Home Screens with folders and widgets see the App Library as an unnecessary second layer of app organization.
- Confusion: Some users, particularly those with dyslexia or a preference for simplicity, find the automatic categorization confusing and less intuitive than their own system.
- Accidental Access: The App Library is just a swipe away from the last Home Screen page, leading to accidental activation and frustration for users who don’t intend to use it.
- Desire for Minimalism: Users who prefer a clean and minimal Home Screen feel that the App Library contradicts this aesthetic and adds unnecessary complexity.
As one user in a forum aptly stated, “I have Zero interest in the app library and its conceptual framework for categorising what it thinks I do with the tools on my phone. I do not agree and frankly hate its pointlessness. I want it gone.” This sentiment is echoed by many who seek a way to turn off app library on iPhone.
Can You Turn Off the App Library? – The Straight Answer
Unfortunately, Apple does not offer a direct setting to completely turn off or remove the App Library from your iPhone. As of the latest iOS versions, the App Library is a permanent feature of the operating system. There is no toggle in Settings to disable it, and it cannot be uninstalled or removed.
This can be disappointing for users who strongly dislike the feature. As another forum user lamented, “turn off the App Library… NOT possible. Simple solution – Don’t use it if you don’t like it. Turn it off however, you cannot do.” This succinctly summarizes the current situation.
Workarounds and Strategies to Minimize App Library Use
While you cannot entirely eliminate the App Library, there are several strategies and workarounds you can employ to minimize its presence and impact on your iPhone experience. These methods focus on making the App Library less intrusive and more easily ignored:
1. Hide Home Screen Pages to Streamline Your View
One effective way to reduce the prominence of the App Library is to hide your other Home Screen pages. This makes the App Library the last page you encounter when swiping left, effectively keeping it out of sight and out of mind unless you intentionally swipe to it.
Steps to Hide Home Screen Pages:
- Touch and hold an empty area on your Home Screen until your apps start jiggling.
- Tap the dots at the bottom of the screen, above the dock. This will open the page overview.
- Deselect the circle under each Home Screen page you want to hide by tapping on the checkmark. Selected pages have a checkmark, deselected pages are empty circles.
- Tap Done in the top right corner.
Image: iPhone Home Screen page overview showing how to hide pages by deselecting the circles below each page.
By hiding all but your primary Home Screen, you can create a focused and clutter-free experience, minimizing the need to swipe past multiple pages to reach the App Library. To unhide pages later, simply repeat these steps and re-select the circles.
2. Organize Your Home Screens to Your Liking
Instead of relying on the App Library for organization, invest time in creating a Home Screen setup that works perfectly for you. This involves:
- Strategic App Placement: Place your most frequently used apps directly on your main Home Screen for quick access.
- Utilize Folders: Group similar apps into folders to keep your Home Screens clean and organized. Label folders clearly (e.g., “Social Media,” “Productivity,” “Entertainment”).
- Widgets for Key Information: Use widgets to bring essential information and functions to your Home Screen, reducing the need to open apps frequently.
By meticulously organizing your Home Screens, you reduce your reliance on the App Library to find apps, making it less relevant to your daily usage. As one user describes their approach, “I have all apps organised on one home screen. Main apps in top rows. Less frequent into folders labelled with names like ‘Maps’, ‘files’, Bookmarks’, ‘Audio’, ‘Photo’ and ‘Never’. It is one screen. For all my apps.” This level of customization makes the App Library truly redundant for such users.
3. Simply Ignore the App Library
While it might seem overly simplistic, consciously choosing to ignore the App Library is a valid strategy. As several forum users suggest, “You don’t have to use it. You can have all your own home screens and never go to the App Library if you prefer. So in effect it is already possible to “turn it off”.” If you have organized your Home Screens effectively, there is no functional need to ever swipe to the App Library.
Treat the App Library as a page you simply don’t navigate to. Develop the muscle memory to stop swiping when you reach your last Home Screen page. While the App Library will still technically be there, it will effectively be “turned off” in your daily usage.
4. Consider a Blank Widget Page as a Buffer
For users who find themselves accidentally swiping to the App Library, creating a blank Home Screen page with a large widget can act as a visual and tactile buffer. Place this blank page to the left of the App Library. When you accidentally swipe too far left, you’ll encounter the blank widget page instead of the App Library, serving as a reminder to stop swiping.
As one user shared, “My solution was to create a blank page and add a widget I find useful. That’s my warning not to swipe further and raise my BP.” This creative workaround provides a practical way to avoid accidental App Library access.
Why Can’t We Turn Off the App Library? (Speculation)
While Apple hasn’t explicitly stated why they don’t allow users to disable the App Library, we can speculate on the potential reasons:
- Apple’s Vision for Organization: Apple likely views the App Library as an integral part of their vision for iOS, aiming to provide users with an automatic and comprehensive app organization system. They may believe it enhances the user experience for the majority, even if some users disagree.
- Feature Consistency: Maintaining consistency across all iPhones is a core principle for Apple. Removing a major feature like the App Library, even as an option, could fragment the user experience and create confusion.
- Underlying System Integration: The App Library might be deeply integrated into the iOS system architecture, making it technically complex to offer a disable option without potentially impacting other features.
Ultimately, the decision to make the App Library non-optional is a design choice by Apple, reflecting their perspective on user needs and system functionality.
Conclusion: Embracing Workarounds and Providing Feedback
While the desire to turn off App Library on iPhone is understandable, especially given the user feedback and frustrations, it is currently not possible. However, by implementing the workarounds discussed – hiding Home Screen pages, optimizing Home Screen organization, consciously ignoring the App Library, or using a blank widget page as a buffer – you can significantly minimize its impact on your iPhone experience.
If you strongly feel that the option to disable the App Library should be available, the most effective course of action is to provide direct feedback to Apple. As consistently recommended in user forums, “Tell Apple: Product Feedback – Apple.” User feedback can influence future iOS updates, and expressing your desire for customization options is crucial for Apple to understand user preferences.
In the meantime, focusing on customizing your Home Screens and adopting effective usage habits remains the best way to manage the App Library and enjoy a personalized iPhone experience that prioritizes your preferred organization methods.
