Sometimes apps on your iPhone home screen can go missing or get deleted by accident. This can be frustrating as you try to locate the app you need. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to restore and recover deleted apps on your iPhone’s home screen.
Check the App Library
The first thing to check is the App Library on newer iPhones running iOS 14 or later. The App Library contains all your installed apps and organizes them automatically into categories. To access it, swipe left past all your home screen pages. Then scroll down to locate the app you need. If it’s in the App Library, just tap and hold the icon to add it back to your home screen.
Search for the App
You can also search for the app using the iPhone’s built-in Spotlight Search feature. Pull down anywhere on the home screen to bring up the search bar. Type in the name of the app and tap the search result to launch the app. If you want the app back on your home screen, tap and hold the icon in the search results and select “Add to Home Screen.”
Check the App Store
If you cannot find the app on your iPhone, open the App Store. Tap on your profile icon in the top right corner. Then select “Purchased” to see a list of all apps you’ve ever installed. Locate the missing app here and tap “Install” to download it again for free. This will add the newly installed app back to your home screen.
Restore from iCloud Backup
You may be able to restore the deleted app from an iCloud backup of your iPhone. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups. Select the desired backup and tap “Restore” to bring your device state back to the iCloud backup point, apps included. Be aware this will overwrite your current device state.
Restore from iTunes Backup
If you sync your iPhone with iTunes on a computer, you likely have backups available there too. Connect your iPhone to the computer, launch iTunes, and go to the device summary page. Click “Restore Backup” in the Backups section and choose the backup you want. Click “Restore” to download the apps and data from that backup to your iPhone.
Re-purchase Previously Bought Apps
For paid apps you’ve purchased in the past, you can download them again for free. Go to the App Store > Updates > Purchased. Find the paid app you want and tap the cloud icon to re-download it. The app will reappear on your home screen for no additional charge. This works even if you originally downloaded the app on a previous iPhone.
Check App Restrictions
Sometimes apps disappear because they were restricted. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Enter your passcode if asked. Then check the Apps list to see if any have restrictions applied. Remove any restrictions on apps you want to be able to use.
Offload Unused Apps
If your iPhone storage is full, iOS will automatically offload unused apps while keeping their data. To reinstall offloaded apps, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Manage Storage. Scroll down to the Apps section and tap any app marked “Offloaded” to reinstall it.
Restart the iPhone
Try restarting your iPhone as a troubleshooting step. Press and hold the side or volume button and the top button at the same time until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your phone. Wait 30 seconds, then restart your iPhone to see if the app reappears on the home screen.
Check for App Update
It’s possible the developer released an update to the app that’s causing issues. Open the App Store and pull down to check for updates. Install any available updates for the missing app. Some updates may include fixes for home screen disappearance issues.
Delete App Leftover Files
Sometimes app icons disappear but leftover files get stuck on your phone. To delete any leftover app files, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Look for the problematic app under Apps, tap it, then tap “Delete App” to remove any leftover files. Then reinstall the app from the App Store or one of the other methods outlined.
Fix App Syncing Issues
Syncing problems between your iPhone and iTunes or iCloud can create app problems. To fix, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud and turn off “Apps Using iCloud.” Do the same in iTunes under Apps when your phone is connected to your computer. Then restart syncing and your app icons should reappear normally.
Reset Home Screen Layout
If other troubleshooting steps don’t work, resetting your iPhone’s home screen may resolve the issue. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Home Screen Layout to revert the home screen back to its default layout, apps included. You’ll have to rearrange icons again, but this often fixes missing app issues.
Factory Reset iPhone
The nuclear option is to factory reset your iPhone if no other solutions bring the app icon back. Backup your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes first. Then go to Settings > General > Reset and choose “Erase All Content and Settings.” This will wipe your phone completely clean, removing all data and apps, so only use this method as a last resort.
Conclusion
While apps disappearing from the iPhone home screen can certainly be annoying, there are thankfully quite a few ways to restore them. First check the App Library, App Store purchase history, Spotlight Search and any iCloud or iTunes backups for the app. Reinstalling, updating or deleting and re-adding the app often works. Make sure any app restrictions aren’t blocking it. As a last case scenario, resetting the home screen layout or factory resetting your iPhone should return the missing app icon and get your iPhone home screen back to normal.
| Method | How To |
|---|---|
| Check App Library | Swipe left past final home screen page |
| Search for App | Use iPhone Spotlight Search |
| Check App Store | View “Purchased” app history |
| Restore from iCloud Backup | Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups |
| Restore from iTunes Backup | Connect iPhone to computer > Open iTunes > Restore from backup |
| Re-download Paid Apps | App Store > Updates > Purchased > Install |
| Check App Restrictions | Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions |
| Offload Unused Apps | Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Manage Storage |
| Restart the iPhone | Hold Power + Volume Button to turn off > Turn back on |
| Check for App Update | App Store > Pull down to check for updates |
| Delete App Leftover Files | Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Delete App |
| Fix App Syncing Issues | Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > turn off “Apps Using iCloud” |
| Reset Home Screen Layout | Settings > General > Reset > Reset Home Screen Layout |
| Factory Reset iPhone | Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings |
Restoring a missing app icon to your iPhone home screen is straightforward once you know where to look. Check the App Library, App Store purchase history, and any iCloud or iTunes backups for the app first. Reinstalling or updating the app, removing any restrictions, restarting your iPhone, or deleting leftover files can also help get the app back on your home screen where it belongs.
With a few simple troubleshooting steps, you can easily recover and restore any apps that have gone missing from your iPhone home screen. Just methodically work through each solution outlined above until you rediscover that lost app icon. Before you know it, your iPhone home screen will be back to normal, with every app easily accessible right where you want it.
Some key points to remember when trying to restore a missing iPhone app icon:
- First check the App Library, Spotlight Search, and App Store Purchase History
- Restore the app from an iCloud or iTunes backup if still not found
- Reinstall, update or delete and re-add the app if needed
- Make sure any App Restrictions aren’t blocking the app
- Restart your iPhone or reset the home screen layout
- Factory reset the iPhone as a last resort
With persistence and systematically working through these solutions, you should be able to recover your missing iPhone app icon in no time. Don’t let a disappeared app throw off your iPhone home screen harmony. Get it back where it belongs with these handy tips.
Some key points to remember when trying to restore a missing iPhone app icon:
- First check the App Library, Spotlight Search, and App Store Purchase History
- Restore the app from an iCloud or iTunes backup if still not found
- Reinstall, update or delete and re-add the app if needed
- Make sure any App Restrictions aren’t blocking the app
- Restart your iPhone or reset the home screen layout
- Factory reset the iPhone as a last resort
With persistence and systematically working through these solutions, you should be able to recover your missing iPhone app icon in no time. Don’t let a disappeared app throw off your iPhone home screen harmony. Get it back where it belongs with these handy tips.
Some key points to remember when trying to restore a missing iPhone app icon:
- First check the App Library, Spotlight Search, and App Store Purchase History
- Restore the app from an iCloud or iTunes backup if still not found
- Reinstall, update or delete and re-add the app if needed
- Make sure any App Restrictions aren’t blocking the app
- Restart your iPhone or reset the home screen layout
- Factory reset the iPhone as a last resort
With persistence and systematically working through these solutions, you should be able to recover your missing iPhone app icon in no time. Don’t let a disappeared app throw off your iPhone home screen harmony. Get it back where it belongs with these handy tips.
Some key points to remember when trying to restore a missing iPhone app icon:
- First check the App Library, Spotlight Search, and App Store Purchase History
- Restore the app from an iCloud or iTunes backup if still not found
- Reinstall, update or delete and re-add the app if needed
- Make sure any App Restrictions aren’t blocking the app
- Restart your iPhone or reset the home screen layout
- Factory reset the iPhone as a last resort
With persistence and systematically working through these solutions, you should be able to recover your missing iPhone app icon in no time. Don’t let a disappeared app throw off your iPhone home screen harmony. Get it back where it belongs with these handy tips.
