Organize IPhone Apps: 3 Easy Alphabetical Ways

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Hey guys! Ever find yourself scrolling endlessly through your iPhone, desperately searching for that one app you need? It's like trying to find a needle in a digital haystack, right? Well, what if I told you there's a super simple way to get your iPhone apps all neat and organized in alphabetical order? Yep, you heard that right! No more app-searching madness. In this article, I'm going to walk you through 3 easy ways to alphabetize your iPhone apps, making your digital life a whole lot easier. Let's dive in!

Why Alphabetize Your iPhone Apps?

Before we jump into the how, let's quickly chat about the why. Why bother alphabetizing your apps in the first place? Well, think about it: how much time do you waste every day just looking for apps? A few seconds here, a few seconds there – it all adds up! Alphabetizing your apps offers some great benefits:

  • Saves Time: This is the big one. When your apps are in ABC order, you know exactly where to find them. No more endless scrolling and wasted time.
  • Reduces Frustration: Let's be real, hunting for apps can be super frustrating. Alphabetizing eliminates that frustration, making your phone a joy to use.
  • Improved Efficiency: When you can quickly find what you need, you're more efficient. This is especially helpful if you use your iPhone for work or school.
  • Clean and Organized: A well-organized home screen just looks and feels better. It's like Marie Kondo-ing your digital life!

So, now that you know why it's a good idea, let's get into the how.

Method 1: The Automatic Reset (Easy & Quick)

This first method is the easiest and quickest way to alphabetize your iPhone apps. It basically resets your home screen layout to the default, which automatically arranges all your apps in alphabetical order. Keep in mind, though, that this method will also remove any custom folders or arrangements you've created, so it's a bit of a nuclear option. If you're okay with starting from scratch, here's how to do it:

  1. Open Settings: Find the Settings app on your iPhone and tap to open it. It's usually on your home screen or in a folder labeled "Utilities."
  2. Tap General: Scroll down in the Settings menu until you see "General" and tap on it. This section contains various settings related to your iPhone's overall operation.
  3. Scroll Down to Transfer or Reset iPhone: In the General menu, scroll all the way down until you find "Transfer or Reset iPhone" and tap on it. This option allows you to either prepare your iPhone for a new user or reset its settings.
  4. Tap Reset: On the Transfer or Reset iPhone screen, you'll see a few options. Tap on "Reset." This will bring up a list of different reset options.
  5. Tap Reset Home Screen Layout: From the Reset menu, select "Reset Home Screen Layout." Your iPhone will ask you to confirm this action. This is your last chance to back out if you don't want to reset your layout.
  6. Confirm Reset: Tap "Reset Home Screen" to confirm. Your iPhone will then reset your home screen layout to the default, arranging all your apps in alphabetical order.
  7. Check Your Home Screen: After the reset is complete (it should only take a few seconds), go back to your home screen. You'll see that all your apps are now arranged alphabetically, starting with the apps that came pre-installed on your iPhone, followed by the apps you've downloaded.

Important Considerations:

  • As mentioned earlier, this method will remove any custom folders or arrangements you've created. All your apps will be placed on your home screen in alphabetical order.
  • You'll need to re-create any folders you want and move apps into them manually after the reset.
  • This method only affects the home screen layout. It doesn't delete any apps or data.

This method is perfect if you want a quick and easy way to alphabetize your apps and don't mind re-organizing your folders.

Method 2: The Manual Drag-and-Drop (More Control)

If you prefer more control over the arrangement of your apps and want to keep your existing folders and custom layouts, the manual drag-and-drop method is for you. This method allows you to move each app individually and place it in the desired alphabetical position. It's more time-consuming than the automatic reset, but it gives you complete control over the final result. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Enter Jiggle Mode: To move apps around on your iPhone, you need to enter "jiggle mode." There are a couple of ways to do this:
    • Long Press: Tap and hold any app icon on your home screen until all the icons start to jiggle. This is the most common way to enter jiggle mode.
    • Edit Home Screen: On iPhones with iOS 14 and later, you can also tap and hold on an empty area of your home screen until the icons start to jiggle. Alternatively, tap the dots at the bottom of the screen and then tap the checkmark below the page you want to edit, then select “Customize.”
  2. Drag and Drop: Once your apps are jiggling, you can move them around. Tap and hold the app you want to move, then drag it to its desired location on the home screen. As you drag the app, other apps will move out of the way to make space for it.
  3. Alphabetize: Start with the first app you want to alphabetize. Find the correct alphabetical position for that app and drag it there. Repeat this process for each app, one by one, until all your apps are in alphabetical order.
  4. Create Folders (Optional): If you want to organize your apps into folders, you can do so after you've alphabetized them. To create a folder, drag one app on top of another. A folder will be created automatically, and you can then add more apps to it. You can rename the folder by tapping on its name.
  5. Exit Jiggle Mode: When you're finished moving apps around, tap "Done" in the top-right corner of the screen (if you entered jiggle mode via the “Edit Home Screen” method) or simply tap anywhere on the home screen outside of the app icons (if you entered jiggle mode by long-pressing an app). This will exit jiggle mode and save your changes.

Tips for Manual Alphabetizing:

  • Work in Sections: Instead of trying to alphabetize all your apps at once, break it down into smaller sections. For example, start with the apps that begin with "A," then move on to "B," and so on.
  • Use Multiple Pages: Don't try to cram all your apps onto one page. Use multiple home screen pages to spread them out and make them easier to find.
  • Be Patient: Manual alphabetizing can take some time, especially if you have a lot of apps. Be patient and take breaks if you need to.

This method is great if you want to maintain your existing folders and custom layouts while still getting the benefits of an alphabetized app arrangement.

Method 3: Use the App Library (iOS 14 and Later)

If you're running iOS 14 or later, you have access to the App Library, which automatically organizes all your apps into categories and also provides an alphabetical list. While this method doesn't technically alphabetize your home screen, it gives you a quick and easy way to find any app on your iPhone. Here's how to use it:

  1. Access the App Library: Swipe left on your home screen until you reach the last page. Keep swiping, and you'll arrive at the App Library.
  2. View Alphabetical List: In the App Library, you'll see a search bar at the top and a grid of app categories below. To view the alphabetical list of all your apps, tap the search bar.
  3. Find Your App: A list of all your apps, arranged in alphabetical order, will appear. You can scroll through the list to find the app you're looking for or type the app's name in the search bar to quickly locate it.
  4. Launch the App: Once you find the app, simply tap on it to launch it.

Additional Tips for Using the App Library:

  • Hide Home Screen Pages: If you prefer to use the App Library as your primary way to find apps, you can hide some of your home screen pages to make it easier to access. To do this, tap and hold on an empty area of your home screen until the icons start to jiggle. Then, tap the dots at the bottom of the screen and uncheck the boxes below the pages you want to hide.
  • Add Apps to Home Screen: If you want to add an app from the App Library to your home screen, tap and hold the app icon in the App Library and then select "Add to Home Screen."

The App Library is a fantastic feature that provides an alternative way to find and launch apps on your iPhone, especially if you don't want to manually alphabetize your home screen.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! Three easy ways to organize your iPhone apps in alphabetical order. Whether you choose the automatic reset, the manual drag-and-drop method, or the App Library, you'll be able to find your apps much faster and more efficiently. Say goodbye to endless scrolling and hello to a clean, organized, and user-friendly iPhone experience!

Now, go forth and alphabetize! Your future, more organized self will thank you. And if you have any other tips or tricks for organizing iPhone apps, feel free to share them in the comments below. Happy organizing!