Easily Rearrange Applications Across Multiple Home Screens

Michael Johnston · September 14th, 2008, 11:46 PM

One of the most irritating problems that iPhone owners face is having to manage many apps across multiple home screens. Thankfully apps return to their previous spot after being updated, but new apps can still be a pain, especially when you want to stick a new one 3-4 home screens deep. This tip comes from Leo Laporte, and I didn't realize how insanely useful this method was until I actually gave it a try.

I personally arrange my 3rd party applications alphabetically, which means many new apps need to push their way past a barrage of other applications to get to their destination, leaving a mess of disorganized apps in its path. The problem is that, as you move an app across pages that are full, a space is made the application you're moving, which pushes other apps down a page.

The way around this is simple. Before you start moving applications around, move an icon or two out of your dock and drag it to its own temporary page. Now drag your new application into the free spot in the dock, navigate to its destination page, and drag it in. When you're done, put the original app back in the dock, and you've just avoided a giant mess and saved loads of time.

Enjoy!

September 15th, 2008, 01:24 AM

Thanks for passing this helpful hint down. It seems so simple and yet, I had been sliding icons across screens for months now, never thinking of using the handy dock. That space is so special that I didn't want to disturb it - the phone, email, SMS and ipod icons are practically holy ground...

September 15th, 2008, 02:00 AM #3

Very usefull tip. Thanks Michael

September 15th, 2008, 05:11 AM #4

I've been using this ever since jailbreak came out. I thought other people already new about this... I guess not.

WmH2 · September 15th, 2008, 08:09 AM #5

I must have something messed up on my iPhone or it's a new feature with 2.1, but when I update an application, it doesn't stick it back where it was originally. So I've been having to do the icon shuffle. I have wished that it actually did put it back where it originally was.

The tip about using the dock however is I one of the "duh" moments for me... like why didn't I think of that before. That is such a fantasic idea! 8)

katmail · September 17th, 2008, 06:53 AM #6

I'm with you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by WmH2

The tip about using the dock however is I one of the "duh" moments for me... like why didn't I think of that before. That is such a fantasic idea! 8)

I'v been driving myself crazy sliding icons all over the place.

Chas · September 19th, 2008, 01:23 PM #7

Hey, just like playing Freecell!

pdconner · **App** - October 7th, 2008, 09:17 PM #8

Why cant they make (Apple) an app or inset it into iTunes that has a layout of your screens just like the picture above so you can move them where you want and then when you hit apply they move to that position..

dadditude · January 27th, 2009, 08:45 AM #9

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdconner

Why cant they make (Apple) an app or inset it into iTunes that has a layout of your screens just like the picture above so you can move them where you want and then when you hit apply they move to that position..

That would be great, but I doubt if Apple would ever do it. Maybe it's something one of the great developers on Cydia could do... I'm sure that information is stored SOMEWHERE on the phone - it'd just be a matter of finding & decoding it and figuring out how to write it back to the phone.

I'll say this much: if someone did develop such a program (even better, with Category support), I would be willing to pay for it.

V.B. · January 27th, 2009, 11:01 AM #10

Quote:

Originally Posted by WmH2

I must have something messed up on my iPhone or it's a new feature with 2.1, but when I update an application, it doesn't stick it back where it was originally. So I've been having to do the icon shuffle. I have wished that it actually did put it back where it originally was.

The tip about using the dock however is I one of the "duh" moments for me... like why didn't I think of that before. That is such a fantasic idea! 8)

The current firmware is version 2.2. Is your firmware current? If not, try updating it first.

midnightshow22 · October 28th, 2009, 01:43 PM #11

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdconner

Why cant they make (Apple) an app or inset it into iTunes that has a layout of your screens just like the picture above so you can move them where you want and then when you hit apply they move to that position..

Seriously, it's not much to ask for. Good tip Btw.

oregonfarmer Guest Posts: n/a	That is so simple, why didn't we think of it? - September 15th, 2008, 01:24 AM #2
oregonfarmer Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks for passing this helpful hint down. It seems so simple and yet, I had been sliding icons across screens for months now, never thinking of using the handy dock. That space is so special that I didn't want to disturb it - the phone, email, SMS and ipod icons are practically holy ground...

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Michael Johnston This is my fricken site, durrrr Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 2,691 Thanks: 11 Thanked 45 Times in 40 Posts	Easily Rearrange Applications Across Multiple Home Screens - September 14th, 2008, 11:46 PM #1
	<script language="JavaScript" src="http://adserver1.backbeatmedia.com/servlet/ajrotator/13894/222/viewJScript?pool=13886&type=3158&pos=20&zone=5000"></script> One of the most irritating problems that iPhone owners face is having to manage many apps across multiple home screens. Thankfully apps return to their previous spot after being updated, but new apps can still be a pain, especially when you want to stick a new one 3-4 home screens deep. This tip comes from Leo Laporte, and I didn't realize how insanely useful this method was until I actually gave it a try. I personally arrange my 3rd party applications alphabetically, which means many new apps need to push their way past a barrage of other applications to get to their destination, leaving a mess of disorganized apps in its path. The problem is that, as you move an app across pages that are full, a space is made the application you're moving, which pushes other apps down a page. The way around this is simple. Before you start moving applications around, move an icon or two out of your dock and drag it to its own temporary page. Now drag your new application into the free spot in the dock, navigate to its destination page, and drag it in. When you're done, put the original app back in the dock, and you've just avoided a giant mess and saved loads of time. Enjoy! __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: White 32GB iPhone 3GS iPhone Version: Whatever the latest is because I'm crazy like that. Computer & OS: 15" Unibody MacBook Pro + OS X Leopard 10.5 AIM: iPhoneAlley twitter: MichaelJohnston

Nikolay Andreev Guest Posts: n/a	September 15th, 2008, 02:00 AM #3
Nikolay Andreev Guest Posts: n/a	Very usefull tip. Thanks Michael

Swn Guest Posts: n/a	September 15th, 2008, 05:11 AM #4
Swn Guest Posts: n/a	I've been using this ever since jailbreak came out. I thought other people already new about this... I guess not.

WmH2 iPA Regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 43 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	September 15th, 2008, 08:09 AM #5
	I must have something messed up on my iPhone or it's a new feature with 2.1, but when I update an application, it doesn't stick it back where it was originally. So I've been having to do the icon shuffle. I have wished that it actually did put it back where it originally was. The tip about using the dock however is I one of the "duh" moments for me... like why didn't I think of that before. That is such a fantasic idea! 8)

Chas Forum Lurker Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	September 19th, 2008, 01:23 PM #7
	Hey, just like playing Freecell!

pdconner Forum Lurker Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	App - October 7th, 2008, 09:17 PM #8
	Why cant they make (Apple) an app or inset it into iTunes that has a layout of your screens just like the picture above so you can move them where you want and then when you hit apply they move to that position..