Where Is The App Library On iPhone 12? (Quick Access Guide)

Wondering where is the app library on iPhone 12? Just swipe left past your last Home Screen page and you'll land on it automatically. To access it, simply unlock your iPhone 12 and swipe left from any Home Screen page, continuing until you cannot swipe further, and you will be in the App Library.

Where is the app library on iPhone 12: Direct answer

To reach the App Library on your iPhone 12, follow these steps:

Unlock your iPhone 12.
Start from any Home Screen page.
Swipe left repeatedly until you have passed all your custom Home Screen pages.
The final screen you reach is the App Library.

Once there, you can open an app by tapping on its icon. Apple groups apps into automatically organized categories, such as Productivity or Entertainment, making it easier to find what you need without scrolling through multiple Home Screen pages. This feature is supported on all iPhone 12 models, including iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max, under iOS 18 and later versions.

How to search for apps in the App Library

If you cannot immediately spot an app in the category groups, use the search field at the top of the App Library. Tap it and begin typing the app's name; the list will filter as you type. You can also access the App Library by swiping down on the home screen and using the search bar at the top. The search function also allows you to search for categories such as "Productivity" or "Entertainment". The App Library intelligently suggests apps based on your usage patterns. For browsing without typing, scroll up and down through the alphabetical list of all installed apps, which appears below the categories and the search bar. This method is especially helpful when you have many apps and need to locate one quickly, aiding you in navigating home screen and apps beyond the initial Home Screen layout.

How to hide Home Screen pages and use App Library only

You can choose to keep only the App Library visible and hide entire Home Screen pages. To do this, touch and hold the Home Screen wallpaper until the icons begin to jiggle, then look for the page dots bar near the bottom of the screen. Tap the dots to see all page thumbnails. You can rearrange app pages within the App Library by dragging and dropping them into your preferred order. Tap to remove the checkmark under any page you want to hide, then tap Done. Hidden pages will no longer appear when you swipe, meaning all apps on those pages are still accessible only through the App Library. You have the option to remove apps from the home screen while retaining them in the App Library.

You can also control where new apps are placed. Go to Settings > Home Screen & App Library. Under New App Downloads, choose either Add to Home Screen (the default) or App Library Only. Selecting App Library Only sends every new app directly to the App Library, never cluttering your Home Screen.

What is the Hidden folder in the App Library

In iOS 18, the App Library includes a Hidden folder at the very bottom. To find it, swipe left to reach the App Library, then scroll down until you see the Hidden row. Tap the Hidden folder, and you must authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to unlock it. Once unlocked, you can view and unhide apps that were previously hidden. Apple documents that any app you hide is excluded entirely from the Home Screen, the App Library, and Search until you unhide it. This means a hidden app will not appear anywhere on your device, even if you search for it by name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the App Library on iPhone 12?

Swipe left from the Home Screen through all pages until you reach the last screen, that is the App Library.

Can you customize the App Library?

Apple does not provide separate sorting controls for the App Library itself. However, you can hide Home Screen pages and choose in Settings > Home Screen & App Library whether new apps go to the Home Screen or only to the App Library.

How do you search in App Library?

Tap the search field at the top of the App Library and start typing the app name. Results appear instantly as you type.

What happens to hidden apps?

On iOS 18, hidden apps do not appear on the Home Screen, in the App Library, or in Search. They remain inaccessible until you unhide them through the Hidden folder.