As we spend more and more time on our iPhones, it’s no surprise that we want to make our home screens look and feel more personalized. Apple’s iOS 14 update brought new features that make customizing your home screen easier and more enjoyable than ever before. In this guide, we’ll show you how to customize your iPhone’s home screen like a pro, step by step.

Why Customize Your iPhone’s Home Screen?

Customizing your iPhone’s home screen is more than just a trend or a way to show off your creativity. It’s an opportunity to create a personalized experience that reflects your style and needs. By organizing your apps, creating custom widgets and shortcuts, and choosing wallpapers and icons that inspire you, you can make your iPhone feel like an extension of yourself.

Customizing your home screen can also increase your productivity and efficiency. By rearranging your apps and using Siri suggestions, you can access the tools and information you need quickly and easily.

Basic Customization Steps

Before we dive into the more advanced customization options, let’s start with the basics.

Step 1: Choose a Wallpaper

Your wallpaper is the backdrop for your home screen, so it’s important to choose one that you love. You can choose from Apple’s built-in wallpapers or use your own photo. Here’s how:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
2. Tap “Wallpaper.”
3. Choose “Choose a New Wallpaper.”
4. Select the source of your wallpaper: “Dynamic,” “Still,” or “Live.” If you choose “Photos,” you can select a photo from your camera roll or choose from one of Apple’s categories.
5. Choose the wallpaper you want to use and adjust it as needed by zooming in or out.
6. Tap “Set” and choose whether you want to use the wallpaper for your home screen, lock screen, or both.

Step 2: Rearrange App Icons

You can rearrange your app icons on your home screen to make it easier to access the apps you use most. Here’s how:

1. Tap and hold an app icon until it starts to jiggle.
2. Drag the app icon to its new location on the home screen.
3. If you want to move an app to a different page, drag it to the edge of the screen until the page starts to move, then drop the app where you want it.
4. To create a new page, drag an app to the edge of the screen until a new page appears.
5. When you’re finished rearranging your app icons, tap the “Done” button in the top-right corner of the screen.

Step 3: Delete Apps

If you have apps that you no longer use, you can delete them to free up space on your home screen. Here’s how:

1. Tap and hold an app icon until it starts to jiggle.
2. Tap the “X” icon in the top-left corner of the app icon.
3. Tap “Delete” to confirm that you want to delete the app.
4. If you want to delete multiple apps at once, tap and hold an app icon until it starts to jiggle, then tap the other apps you want to delete. Finally, tap the “Delete” button.

Creating a Cohesive Look

Now that you know the basics of customizing your home screen, let’s explore some ways to create a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing look.

Step 4: Choose a Color Scheme

Choosing a color scheme is an easy way to create a cohesive look for your home screen. You can choose a monochromatic color scheme or use complementary colors for contrast. Here’s how:

1. Choose a wallpaper.
2. Choose a dominant color from the wallpaper, such as the most prominent color or the one that inspires you the most.
3. Use that color as a guide to choose app icons and widgets that match the color scheme.
4. You can also use folders to group apps with similar colors together.

Step 5: Use a Theme

Using a theme is another way to create a cohesive and unique look for your home screen. You can choose a theme based on your interests or style, such as nature, vintage, or minimalism. Here’s how:

1. Choose a wallpaper that matches the theme, such as a nature photo for a nature theme.
2. Use app icons and widgets that match the theme, such as a leaf icon for a nature theme or a retro clock widget for a vintage theme.
3. You can also use a custom icon pack to give all your icons a consistent look.

Step 6: Customize App Icons

Customizing app icons is a popular way to create a personalized look for your home screen. You can use your own photos or download custom icon packs from the App Store. Here’s how:

1. Choose the app icon you want to customize.
2. Tap and hold the app icon until it starts to jiggle.
3. Tap the “Edit” button in the top-left corner of the app icon.
4. Choose “Choose Photo” to use your own photo or “Choose File” to select an icon pack.
5. Select the photo or icon you want to use as the app icon.
6. Tap “Choose” and adjust the icon as needed by zooming in or out.
7. When you’re finished, tap “Done” in the top-right corner of the screen.

Step 7: Create Custom Widgets and Shortcuts

Creating custom widgets and shortcuts is a more advanced way to customize your home screen, but it can add functionality and efficiency to your iPhone. Here are two popular apps to help you create custom widgets and shortcuts:

Widgetsmith

Widgetsmith is an app that allows you to create custom widgets for your home screen. You can choose from a variety of widget styles and customize the content, such as the weather, calendar, or photos. Here’s how:

1. Download Widgetsmith from the App Store.
2. Open Widgetsmith and tap “Add Widget.”
3. Choose the widget style you want to use.
4. Customize the content of the widget by tapping on the element you want to change, such as the text or image.
5. When you’re finished customizing the widget, tap “Save” and choose the widget size.
6. Return to your home screen and tap and hold an empty space until the apps start to jiggle.
7. Tap the “+” icon in the top-left corner of the screen.
8. Search for “Widgetsmith” and select the widget size and style you want to use.
9. Tap “Add Widget” and drag the widget to its desired location on the home screen.

Shortcuts

Shortcuts is an app that allows you to create custom shortcuts for your home screen. You can create shortcuts to perform actions, such as sending a message, playing a song, or opening a website. Here’s how:

1. Download Shortcuts from the App Store.
2. Open Shortcuts and tap the “+” icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
3. Choose the action you want to perform, such as “Send Message” or “Play Music.”
4. Customize the action by adding details, such as the recipient of the message or the song you want to play.
5. When you’re finished creating the shortcut, tap “Done.”
6. Tap and hold an app icon until it starts to jiggle.
7. Tap the “+” icon in the top-left corner of the screen.
8. Search for “Shortcuts” and select the shortcut you want to use.
9. Tap “Add to Home Screen” and customize the name and icon of the shortcut.
10. Tap “Add” in the top-right corner of the screen.

Step 8: Organize Your Apps

Organizing your apps into folders can help you declutter your home screen and make it more functional. Here’s how:

1. Tap and hold an app icon until it starts to jiggle.
2. Drag the app icon on top of another app icon to create a folder.
3. Customize the name of the folder by tapping on it.
4. To add more apps to the folder, drag and drop them onto the folder.
5. You can also use Siri suggestions to automatically organize your apps into folders based on usage.

Step 9: Backup Your Home Screen Layout

After spending time customizing your home screen, you don’t want to lose your layout if something happens to your iPhone. You can backup your home screen layout to iCloud or your computer. Here’s how:

iCloud

1. Go to “Settings” on your iPhone.
2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.
3. Tap “iCloud” and make sure “iCloud Drive” is turned on.
4. Scroll down and make sure “Home Screen” is turned on.
5. Your home screen layout will be automatically backed up to iCloud.

Computer

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer.
2. Open iTunes or Finder on your computer.
3. Select your iPhone from the list of devices.
4. Click on the “Back Up Now” button to backup your iPhone, including your home screen layout.

Step 10: Troubleshoot Common Issues

Customizing your home screen can sometimes lead to issues, such as app icons disappearing or widgets not updating. Here are some common issues and how to troubleshoot them:

App Icons Disappearing

If your app icons disappear after customizing your home screen, try restarting your iPhone by pressing and holding the power button and swiping to power off. Then, turn on your iPhone and check if the app icons reappear.

Widgets Not Updating

If your widgets are not updating, try removing the widget from your home screen and adding it again. Also, make sure your iPhone has an internet connection and the app associated with the widget is allowed to access your location and data.

Conclusion

Customizing your iPhone’s home screen can be a fun and creative way to make your iPhone feel more personalized and functional. With the right tools and techniques, you can create a home screen that reflects your style and interests. Whether you prefer a minimalist look or a colorful theme, there are endless possibilities to customize your home screen like a pro.