On iPhone, apps usually don’t “vanish” – they get moved.
Maybe you removed the app from your Home Screen (so it’s only in the App Library). Maybe an entire Home Screen page is hidden. Or (on newer iOS versions) the app could be locked/hidden and moved into the Hidden folder.
Key takeaways
- If an app is missing from your Home Screen, it may still be in the App Library – Apple explicitly notes apps on hidden/removed pages still appear there.
- If you hide an app, iPhone moves it to the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library (and it’s also locked).
- If Screen Time is restricting apps/content, that can affect what you can open/download – and it’s worth checking if “nothing makes sense.”
The 60-second checklist (do this first)
If you just want your app back quickly:
- Open App Library and search the app name
- Scroll to the bottom of App Library → check the Hidden folder (if you use “hide app”)
- Check if a Home Screen page is hidden (page dots)
- If you still can’t find it, check purchase history (proves whether it was downloaded on that Apple ID)
Now let’s go step-by-step.
1) Use App Library search (fastest and most reliable)
App Library is basically your “master list” of apps, even if you remove icons from the Home Screen.
How to find an app in App Library
- Swipe left through all Home Screen pages until you reach App Library
- Use the search field at the top, or scroll the alphabetical list
Apple’s iPhone User Guide explains how to find and use apps in App Library.
Pro tip: If you locate the app and want it back on your Home Screen, you can press and hold it and drag it out (Apple also describes moving apps from App Library back to Home Screen).
2) Check the Hidden folder (if you used “Hide App”)
If you’re on a newer iOS and used the Lock/Hide feature, the app won’t just be “not on the Home Screen” – it gets moved into a special place.
Apple’s guidance is clear:
- Hiding an app means it’s locked and it “disappears from your Home Screen and moves to the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library.”
Where to find Hidden apps
- Open App Library
- Scroll all the way to the bottom → find the Hidden folder
- Authenticate (Face ID / Touch ID / passcode) to open it (because hidden apps are locked)
Expectation setting: Apple also notes hidden/locked status is device-specific and doesn’t sync via iCloud.
3) Your app might be on a hidden Home Screen page
A super common scenario: you hid an entire Home Screen page (or removed it temporarily), so the apps aren’t visible where you expect.
Apple’s support doc explains:
- If you hide or remove a Home Screen page, the apps on that page still appear in App Library, and you can use Search to find them.
How to unhide a Home Screen page
- Touch and hold an empty area on the Home Screen until apps jiggle
- Tap the page dots above the dock
- Re-check the hidden page(s) and tap Done
4) Check Screen Time restrictions (especially if apps seem “blocked”)
Sometimes the issue isn’t “hidden” – it’s restricted.
If Screen Time is enabled (yours or a child’s device), it can block apps, downloads, or certain features.
Apple’s iPhone guide covers blocking apps, purchases, and features using Screen Time.
What to check
- Settings → Screen Time
- Look for restrictions related to:
- allowed apps
- content & privacy restrictions
- app installs/deletes
- allowed apps
If Screen Time is managed by someone else (parent/guardian), you may not be able to change it.
5) Confirm the app was downloaded using purchase history
If you genuinely can’t find the app anywhere, purchase history is the cleanest “reality check” for whether it was ever downloaded under that Apple ID.
Apple explains how to view your App Store (and Apple media) purchase history online.
Related Articles:
- How to See Which Apps Use the Most Data on iPhone & Android?
- How to Hide Apps on Android (No App Required)
- How to Find Hidden Apps on Android?
FAQs
Why can’t I find an app on my iPhone Home Screen?
Most common reasons:
- It was removed from the Home Screen but still exists in App Library
- A Home Screen page is hidden
- The app was hidden (moved to the Hidden folder in App Library)
- Screen Time restrictions are blocking it
How do I access hidden apps on iPhone?
Open App Library → scroll to the bottom → open Hidden (authentication required).
Can hidden apps still show up anywhere else?
Apple notes locked apps keep their contents from appearing in places like search and suggestions, but “hidden” isn’t presented as “invisible everywhere.” Use it as privacy/peace-of-mind, not as magic.
Wrap-up (the exact order I’d use)
If you want the fastest workflow:
- App Library search (find it fast)
- Hidden folder (if you used hide)
- Unhide Home Screen pages (page dots)
- Screen Time check (if it feels blocked)
- Purchase history (confirm it was downloaded)
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