What is App Library and How to Use It in iOS 14

Jun. 25, 2020

A fully customizable Home screen like the one that exists on Android devices has long been an envy to many iOS users (including me). While the Android-style Home screen customization on iOS could still be some time away, the introduction of elegant widgets and App Library could be the sign of something really big to come. If you are wondering what is App Library and how to use it iniOS 14, you are at the right place to get started!

How to Use App Library in iOS 14

At times, finding specific apps out of a ton of apps installed on the device becomes a slightly tedious affair, especially when the app in question is the one that you don’t use more often. Though you can manually categorize apps into different folders for easier navigation, it’s never been the best choice for everyone. Certainly not for those who prefer to have automation to sort out things faster with minimal fuss.

And this is where App Library comes into play! Below are the topics that we are going to cover in this article. You can click on the links to quickly move to the sections that you want.

App Library is a new space at the end of the Home screen where all the apps areautomatically organized based on different categoriessuch as social, creativity, entertainment, reference & reading, productivity, games, utilities, health & fitness, education, and other.

At the top of the App Library, there are two very helpful categories such asSuggestions and Recently Added. iOS keeps a track of your usage and puts some of your most-used apps from different categories in the Suggestions for quick access. As for the Recently Added, it comprises App Clips and apps that you recently installed on your device.

Right at the top of the App Library exists a search bar that allows you to search for a specific app. So, the next time you want to dive straight into an app that seems to be out of sight, don’t forget to bring this quick search into action.

There are a couple of ways through which you can view all of your apps in the list view. It lists all the apps in alphabetical order which makes it a tad easier to take a quick glance at the apps installed on your device.

You can simply swipe down from the middle of the screen or tap on the search bar at the top of the App Library to enter the list view. As someone who has alwaysappreciated the watchOS’ list view, I’ve found it a pretty nice implementation as it makes navigation a breeze.

It’s quite simple to delete unwanted apps in the App Library. So, while viewing apps, if you no longer want to use certain ones, you can delete them with ease. Simply tap in the middle of an app category to expand the view. If you want to delete a single app,touch and holdthe app. Next, tap onRemove Appin the contextual menu and then tap onDeletein the popup to confirm.

If you want to delete more apps, touch and hold the empty screen to enter jiggle mode which lets you edit apps. Next, tap on the“X”remove button at the top left of an app and then hitDeletein the popup to confirm.

One of my favorite iOS 14 features is the ability to hide Home screen pages. It not only allows you to keep a certain page out of sight but also plays a good role in ensuring the Home screen remains clutter-free.

2. Now, you should see all the Home screen pages.Uncheck the boxof the home screen page which you want to hide. Make sure to tap onDoneat the top right corner to confirm the change.

Voila! Check out, the home screen page is now hidden.

If you ever want to unhide a specific Home screen page,touch and hold the empty screen -> horizontal dots. Now,check the boxfor the page which you want to see again on the Home screen.

So, that’s how you can make the most of the cool App Library on your iOS 14 device. It’s one of the biggest highlights of the latest iteration of iOS. And rightly so as it makes navigation a straightforward affair. As we are exploring all thehidden features of iOS 14like theBack Tapand theSound Recognitionfeatures, stay tuned with us to keep a tab on them. Also, don’t forget to share the nice features that you may come across.

An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.