How to Edit App library on iPad?

Date 28/11/2023
Category
Apple Blog, Apple How to?, Apple iPad Blog
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How to Edit App library on iPad?

 

Managing your App Library on iPad allows you to organize and customize your app collection for easier access. Discover how to edit and rearrange apps, create custom folders, and optimize your iPad’s App Library to suit your preferences and workflow needs.

How to modify the app library on an iPad

iPad users can’t directly edit or customize the App Library in the same way they can rearrange or organize apps on the home screen. The App Library on iPad automatically organizes apps into categories and suggestions based on usage, but there isn’t a direct method for manual editing within the App Library itself.

However, users can indirectly influence the App Library by organizing apps on the home screen into folders or moving them between different screens. Here’s how to indirectly impact the App Library organization:

  1. Create Folders and Organize Apps on Home Screen:
    • To create a folder, tap and hold an app until it starts shaking, then drag and drop it onto another app. This action creates a folder containing both apps. Users can rename the folder by tapping the text field.
    • Organize apps by dragging them between home screens or into existing folders. Long-press an app until it wiggles, then drag it to the desired location.
  2. Hide Apps from Home Screen:
    • If you want to remove an app from the home screen without deleting it, tap and hold the app icon, select “Remove App,” then choose “Remove from Home Screen.” This action hides the app from the home screen but keeps it accessible in the App Library.
  3. Utilize App Suggestions and Categories:
    • The App Library automatically suggests and categorizes apps based on usage patterns, making frequently used apps more accessible under specific categories like Recently Added, Suggestions, and Categories.
  4. Search for Apps in the App Library:
    • Swipe right on the home screen or press the search bar at the top of the home screen to access the App Library. From here, users can search for specific apps or browse through categories.

Remember, the App Library’s primary function is automatic organization and suggestion based on app usage. Apple hadn’t introduced direct user customization options for the App Library on iPad, unlike the iPhone’s feature that allows users to hide entire pages or sections in the App Library. However, with future iOS or iPadOS updates, Apple may introduce additional features for editing and customizing the iPad’s App Library. Always ensure your device has the latest software updates to access any new functionalities.

Discover the secret hiding place of newly downloaded apps!

Newly downloaded apps don’t appear on the Home Screen on iOS 14 and later or iPadOS 15 and later anymore, instead they are diverted to the Recently Downloaded folder in the App Library. This is a puzzle for most users, but this can be easily fixed in the Settings app. Just go to Settings > Home Screen and tick whether you want the newly downloaded app to either “Add to Home Screen” or “App Library Only”. Then you’re able to set whether you want to show Notification Badges in the App Library.

To make sure that newly downloaded apps continue being added to your Home Screen, set “Add to Home Screen” option which dedicates space for newly downloaded apps on the home page. However, it can get very crowded if there are too many notifications as it doesn’t always clearly explain which app is related with that notification. With these settings, a user can customize their experience according to their preferences about where they store their newly downloaded apps.

What search capabilities are available within the App Library?

Within the App Library on iPad, the search capabilities are primarily centered around the search field or search box, allowing users to quickly locate specific apps or categories. The search feature in the App Library is typically accessed by swiping right on the home screen or tapping the search field at the top of the home screen. Once engaged, users can enter the name of a particular app or category they wish to find. As the user types, the search field provides real-time suggestions based on the input, aiding in quickly identifying the desired apps or categories.

Additionally, the search feature in the App Library employs a user-friendly interface that assists in locating apps efficiently. As users type in the search field, the interface displays a complete list of matching apps or categories. This list narrows down in real-time as the search query becomes more specific, making it easier to find the intended app or category. Once the desired app or category is located through the search feature, users can tap on the result to access it directly or use the context menu options that might appear, offering actions like opening the app, adding it to the home screen, or navigating to its category folder within the App Library. Overall, the search capabilities within the App Library provide a convenient and swift way for users to pinpoint specific apps or categories from the comprehensive array of apps organized within this feature.