How to Delete Folder Apps on iPhone & Android

Folder apps are the shortcut icons that appear when you group multiple apps together on your iPhone or Android home screen. While folders help organize your device, you may want to remove a folder entirely—either because you no longer need the grouping or because you accidentally created one. This guide walks you through deleting folders on both iOS and Android, covering the exact steps for each system and what to do if the folder won’t go away.

What You’ll Need

Your iPhone (iOS 14 or later) or Android phone (any recent version).
Access to the home screen where the folder is located.
No special apps or tools required—everything is done through the built-in interface.

Step-by-Step

On iPhone (iOS)

Unlock your iPhone and go to the home screen where the folder appears.
Press and hold the folder icon until a context menu appears (about 1–2 seconds). On older iOS versions, you may see the icons start to jiggle immediately.
Tap “Remove Folder� from the menu. If you don’t see that option, tap “Edit Home Screen� instead—this makes all icons jiggle.
While in jiggle mode, tap the folder to open it. You’ll see all the apps inside.
Drag each app out of the folder one by one. To do this, press and hold an app icon until it lifts, then drag it to the home screen outside the folder area. Release it when the folder closes or the app snaps to the grid.
When the last app is removed, the folder automatically disappears. The apps remain on your home screen, just no longer grouped.
Press the Home button (or swipe up from the bottom on Face ID models) to exit jiggle mode and save the changes.

On Android (Samsung, Pixel, etc.)

Unlock your Android phone and navigate to the home screen with the folder.
Tap the folder to open it. You’ll see the apps inside.
Press and hold an app icon inside the folder until it lifts (or a menu appears).
Drag the app out of the folder and drop it onto the home screen. The folder will shrink as you remove apps.
Repeat for every app in the folder. When the last app is removed, the folder disappears automatically.
If dragging doesn’t work, look for a “Remove from folder� or “Remove� option in the pop-up menu after long-pressing an app. On some Samsung devices, you may need to tap “Remove� or drag to “Remove� at the top of the screen.
Exit the folder by tapping outside it. The folder is now gone.

Common Mistakes

Trying to delete a folder by pressing “Delete� on the folder itself—folders don’t have a delete button; you must remove all contents.
Dragging apps out but dropping them onto another folder—this just moves the app to a different folder, and the original folder may remain.
Forgetting to exit jiggle mode—if you don’t press Home or tap Done, the changes may not save, and the folder could reappear.
On Android, long-pressing an app and expecting a “Delete folder� option—most Android launchers don’t offer that; you must remove apps individually.
Removing apps from the folder but leaving one behind—a folder with at least one app still exists.

Tips

Use the “Remove Folder� option on iPhone—this is the fastest method. It deletes the folder and scatters all apps onto the home screen automatically.
On Android, check if your launcher supports “Remove folder�—some custom launchers (like Nova or Action Launcher) offer a direct delete option in the folder’s menu. If you’re using the stock launcher, the drag-out method is standard.
If you want to keep the apps but just tidy up, consider renaming the folder instead of deleting it—long-press the folder name and type a new one.
On iPhone, you can also delete a folder by dragging all apps out while in jiggle mode—it’s the same as the manual method but sometimes more intuitive.
Take a screenshot before deleting if you’re unsure about the arrangement—you can always recreate the folder later.

Troubleshooting

The folder won’t delete even after removing all apps. This can happen if a hidden app remains inside (e.g., a system app that can’t be moved). On iPhone, check if any app is still in the folder by opening it in jiggle mode. If you see an app you can’t drag out, it may be a stock Apple app that is allowed to stay. In that case, you can’t delete the folder—just leave it with that one app. On Android, some pre-installed apps may be locked to a folder; try long-pressing the app and selecting “Remove� or “Uninstall� if it’s a third-party app.

Dragging apps out doesn’t work on Android. Some launchers require you to drag the app to the “Remove� or “X� area at the top of the screen. Look for a trash icon or “Remove� text while dragging. Alternatively, long-press the app and choose “Remove from folder� from the menu.

After deleting a folder, the apps are scattered and you can’t find them. Use the search function: swipe down on the home screen (iPhone) or open the app drawer (Android) to locate the apps. You can then reorganize them as you wish.

The folder reappears after restarting. This usually means the deletion wasn’t saved. On iPhone, make sure you exit jiggle mode properly (press Home or tap Done). On Android, ensure you’re not in an editing mode that didn’t commit—try the process again and wait a few seconds after the folder disappears.

You accidentally deleted the wrong folder. There’s no undo for folder deletion, but you can recreate it by dragging one app onto another. The apps themselves are not deleted, only the grouping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting a folder delete the apps inside?

No. Deleting a folder only removes the grouping. All apps inside are moved to the home screen (or app library on iPhone) and remain fully functional.

Can I delete a folder on iPhone without removing apps one by one?

Yes. Press and hold the folder, then tap “Remove Folder.� This instantly deletes the folder and places all apps on the home screen.

Why can’t I delete a folder on my Android phone?

Most Android launchers don’t have a direct “delete folder� option. You must remove every app from the folder. If an app can’t be moved, it might be a system app that’s locked—try long-pressing and look for an “Uninstall� or “Disable� option, but be cautious with system apps.

Will deleting a folder affect my app data?

No. Folder deletion only changes the visual organization. App data, settings, and logins remain untouched.

How do I create a new folder after deleting one?

On iPhone, press and hold an app icon, drag it onto another app, and release. On Android, drag one app onto another and hold for a second until a folder forms.

Is there a way to hide a folder without deleting it?

On iPhone, you can move the folder to the App Library (swipe left until you reach the App Library, then drag the folder there). On Android, some launchers allow you to hide apps or folders in the settings, but it’s not a standard feature—check your launcher’s options.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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