How to Create a Blank Home Screen on iPhone or iPad

Apple is building the iPhone’s reputation for the flexibility it gives users to customize their devices. Clearing the iPhone home screen and deleting any app from it is one such customization feature.

Removing all apps from the home screen not only creates an aura of uniqueness, but also makes it clearer.

How to make a blank iPhone home screen

To create a blank home screen on iPhone, you need to delete all app icons on the home screen, leaving empty space everywhere.

The process is simple and only requires a few drags here and there.

Create a blank home screen and hide everything else

This method involves removing all other screens, leaving the main screen behind. Consequently, all apps on remote screens are moved to the App Library. You can then send the remaining home screen app icons to the App Library.

Removing an entire section of the screen is handy for hiding multiple apps at the same time.

To remove all other screens and keep the home screen on iPhone:

1. Press and hold the slider dots at the bottom of the screen; while this activates the wiggle mode, it also displays your applications in separate fields (screens).
2. Remove all screens. The iPhone won’t let you uncheck all default screens, as you need to leave one of them as your home screen. But in this case, you want to hide everything else. Tip: Leave the screen with the fewest apps behind to reduce the number of apps you’ll have to uninstall later.
3. Click “Done”in the top right corner to hide only these screens without submitting their apps to the App Library. This makes it easy to restore them later. To submit apps to the App Library instead (not recommended): Tap the delete (–) icon in the top right corner of each unmarked screen. Select “Delete”to remove this screen and send its apps to the App Library.

Now that you’ve hidden other screens or moved their apps to the App Library, you may be left with some apps on the screen you can’t hide, which is now your home screen.

The approach is to hide these apps, including the pinned ones, so you have a blank home screen. I will show you how to do this in the next subsection.

Move app icons to app library

You can also remove the app icons on the home screen one by one. I recommend doing this after you hide the screens as described earlier to make it less repetitive and cumbersome.

However, deleting an app does not mean that you have deleted it or any data it contains. You can find these apps in the App Library by swiping left to the bottom of the screen.

To hide apps left on the home screen, one by one:

1. On the home screen, press and hold the app you want to hide.
2. Click Remove App.
3. Then select “Remove from Home Screen”. This will send the selected apps to your app library.
4. Repeat this process for all apps on the home screen.

Prevent new apps from appearing on the home screen

iOS adds new apps to the home screen by default. So, you want to prevent recently downloaded apps from appearing on your home screen.

You will only set up the home screen to send recently downloaded apps to the App Library.

Do it:

1. Open iPhone settings.
2. You’re probably wondering how to find it: go to your app library and look for “Settings”. Or better yet, use the search bar at the top.
3. Next, go to the main screen.
4. Click App Library Only.

How to return applications to the home screen

Bringing applications back to the home screen is very easy. If you’ve only hidden your screens, it will be easier for you to restore your apps:

1. Touch and hold the slider at the bottom of the home screen until the screen blocks appear.
2. Touch all screen fields to select them.
3. Click “Done”in the top right corner. The screens should now be back with your apps.

To return certain apps to the home screen without other screens:

1. Go to the App Library.
2. Press and hold the selected app and select “Add to Home Screen”.
3. The selected applications should appear on the home screen.

If you want recently installed apps to appear on your home screen:

1. Go to iPhone Settings → Home Screen.
2. Click Add to Home Screen.

That’s all!

You will now have a blank home screen after following the steps above. However, you might want to spruce up your home screen even more with one of these minimalistic iPhone wallpapers.

Have questions or comments? Let me know in the comments section below.