Hide or Disable App Library in iOS 14?

You cannot fully disable or permanently hide the App Library in iOS 14 or later — it is a fixed part of the home screen system. However, you can hide entire app pages from the Home Screen so the App Library becomes the only place you see those apps, and you can remove the App Library from the Dock’s search view on some versions. This article explains exactly what the App Library is, how it works, and every legitimate way to minimize its presence on your iPhone.

What Is the App Library?

Introduced in iOS 14, the App Library is an automatic app-organizing screen located at the far right of your Home Screen pages. Swipe left past your last Home Screen page and you’ll land on it. It groups all installed apps into smart categories like “Social,â€� “Entertainment,â€� “Productivity,â€� and “Utilities,â€� based on how Apple classifies each app. There is also a search bar at the top and an “A–Zâ€� list that appears when you tap it, letting you find any app by name.

Unlike a folder you create, the App Library is system-managed: you cannot rename its categories, move apps between them, or delete the screen itself. Apple designed it as a permanent fallback so that no app is ever truly unreachable, even if you hide every Home Screen page.

Why You Can’t Disable It

Apple does not provide a toggle in Settings to turn off the App Library. The feature is deeply integrated into the home screen architecture — it’s not a separate app or widget that can be uninstalled. On stock iOS, there is no “Hide App Libraryâ€� switch, and no supported way to remove it without jailbreaking. Even in the most recent iOS versions (as of 2025), the App Library remains mandatory.

The closest official option is to hide individual Home Screen pages. When you hide all pages, the App Library effectively becomes your only app launcher, which some users find cleaner. But the App Library itself still exists and appears when you swipe left from the last visible page.

How to Hide Home Screen Pages (So Apps Only Show in App Library)

If your goal is to stop seeing apps on your Home Screen and only access them via the App Library, follow these steps:

1. Touch and hold any empty area of the Home Screen until the icons jiggle (or long-press an icon and choose “Edit Home Screen�).
2. Tap the row of dots near the bottom center (the page indicator). This shows all your Home Screen pages as thumbnails.
3. Tap the checkmark under each page you want to hide. A hidden page’s apps will no longer appear on the Home Screen, but they remain installed and accessible in the App Library.
4. Tap “Done� in the top-right corner, then tap the Home Screen area to exit jiggle mode.

You can hide every page except the first one, or even hide all pages — the App Library will still be reachable by swiping left from the first visible page. Hidden pages are not deleted; you can unhide them anytime by repeating the steps and tapping the checkmarks again.

How to Remove the App Library from the Dock Search View

On iPhones with a Dock, the far-right spot in the Dock is the App Library icon (a grid of small squares). You cannot remove this icon from the Dock — it is fixed. However, you can change what happens when you swipe down on the Home Screen: by default, that gesture opens Search (Spotlight), not the App Library. If you want to avoid the App Library entirely, simply don’t swipe left past your last page, and use Spotlight (swipe down) to launch apps instead.

There is no setting to replace the Dock’s App Library icon with a different action. Some users wish Apple allowed customization here, but as of iOS 18, it remains fixed.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

“I deleted an app but it still shows in App Library.� That’s normal — deleting an app from the Home Screen (tap and hold → Remove App → Delete App) removes it from the device entirely. If you only “Remove from Home Screen,� the app stays installed and appears only in the App Library. Check whether you chose “Remove from Home Screen� instead of “Delete App.�

“Can I move apps out of the App Library back to the Home Screen?� Yes. In the App Library, find the app, long-press it, and choose “Add to Home Screen.� If the app is already on a Home Screen page, that option won’t appear. You can also drag an app from the App Library directly onto a Home Screen page while in jiggle mode.

“Does the App Library use extra battery or data?� No. It’s just a view of your installed apps — it doesn’t download anything or run background processes. The categories are generated locally on your device.

Alternatives: Folders, Spotlight, and Third-Party Launchers

If you dislike the App Library’s automatic categories, you can rely on other methods to launch apps:

• Spotlight Search: Swipe down on the Home Screen and type the app name. This is often faster than hunting through the App Library.
• Custom Folders: Create your own folders on the Home Screen and organize apps manually. You can then hide all pages except the one with your folders, effectively bypassing the App Library for daily use.
• Third-Party Launchers: On non-jailbroken iPhones, you cannot replace the system launcher. Apps like “Launch Center Proâ€� or “Shortcutsâ€� can create widget-based launchers, but they still require the App Library to exist in the background.
• Jailbreaking: On jailbroken devices, tweaks like “NoAppLibraryâ€� can remove or hide the App Library, but jailbreaking voids your warranty, compromises security, and is not recommended for most users.

Does the App Library Affect Performance or Privacy?

No. The App Library is purely a UI feature; it doesn’t track your usage or send data to Apple. The categories are based on the app’s App Store category, not your behavior. There’s no noticeable impact on battery life, RAM, or storage. The only “cost� is the extra swipe when you want to access an app that isn’t on your Home Screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off the App Library in iOS 14 or later? No, there is no official setting to disable it. The App Library is a permanent part of the home screen system.

How do I hide apps from the Home Screen without deleting them? Use the “Remove from Home Screen� option when long-pressing an app icon, or hide entire pages via the page-dots edit screen. The apps remain in the App Library.

Why is there no “App Library� toggle in Settings? Apple designed it as a fixed feature, not an optional one. There’s no hidden setting or trick to enable a toggle.

Can I move an app from the App Library back to the Home Screen? Yes. Long-press the app in the App Library and choose “Add to Home Screen.� If the app is already on a Home Screen page, you’ll see “Remove from Home Screen� instead.

Will hiding all Home Screen pages make the App Library disappear? No. The App Library remains accessible by swiping left from the first visible page. Hiding pages only removes those pages from view, not the App Library itself.

Does the App Library drain battery? No. It’s a static view; it doesn’t run background processes or use significant power.

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