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Downloaded app not showing on iPhone? 8 Ways to fix it!

After downloading an app, you might discover that it has disappeared from your iPhone home screen when it is time to open it. It can be frustrating to have apps seemingly disappear on your device, but fear not. In this article, I will guide you on how to fix downloaded apps not showing on your iPhone home screen.

1. Use App Store to check if the app is installed or not 

This is the first thing you must do. There might be a chance that you or someone might have deleted the app accidentally, or the download might have been left incomplete.

  1. Open App Store on your iPhone.
  2. Type the name of the missing apps on the home screen.

    Use the App Store to check If an app is installed or not 
  • If you see Get next to the app, then the app has either not been installed or was previously uninstalled.
    You can simply tap Get and install the app again.
  • If you see Open next to the app, then that means the app has been installed on your iPhone.

2. Enable show apps on iPhone home screen

 By enabling these settings, you can ensure all the installed apps appear on the homescreen.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Home Screen.
  3. Toggle on Show on Home Screen.

    Enable show apps on Homscreen on iPhone

Even if the app is not on the home screen after installing, you can do the following trick.

Drag the app from App Library to Home Screen 

  1. Open App Library.
  2. Hold and drag the app to the home screen.

3. Look inside folders to find hidden apps

I am a person who organizes all apps on my home screen into folders. If you also do the same, there might be a chance for your desired app to be hidden inside a folder. So, open all the folders and see if they have the app you are looking for.

Once you find it, drag them out from the folder or place it somewhere you can easily notice.

4. Unhide apps from Screen Time 

If you have hidden any app mistakenly, then it’s no wonder that the apps have disappeared from your iPhone.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Screen Time.
  3. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  4. Choose Allowed Apps.

    Choose Allowed Apps on iPhone
  5. Toggle on the app you want to enable.
  6. Go back and tap Content Restrictions.
  7. Select Apps.

    Select Apps in Setting on iPhone
  8. Now, tap Allow All.

    Unhide apps from Screen Time on iPhone

5. Unhide Home Screen pages to see all your apps

If you have hidden any home screen page on your iPhone, then the apps on that page will also be hidden. So let’s unhide those pages:

  1. Tap and hold the home screen to start jiggle mode.
  2. Tap the slider dots at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Enable the home screens you want to see.
  4. Tap Done at the top-right.

6. Use Spotlight to find apps 

I am gonna be honest here; I still find it hard to find my app from the iPhone home screen, despite making sure it’s there. So the best way is to use the help of Spotlight on your iPhone. You can open Spotlight and search for the app. 
Use Spotlight to find apps on iPhone

7. Use Siri to open the missing app

Other than Spotlight, Siri can also search for the missing apps on your iPhone. Invoke Siri and ask them to open the app you are looking for.

8. Unhide purchased apps and re-download them 

If you are using your device linked with Family Sharing, then you won’t be able to download an app if it’s hidden by anyone. Keep in mind this doesn’t hide the app if it’s already downloaded; you won’t be able to re-download it. So here’s how you can unhide apps in the App store.

  1. Open App store.
  2. Go to your Profile.
  3. Select Purchased.

    Unhide Purchased Apps and Re-Download Them on iPhone
  4. Tap your Apple ID.
    Verify using Face ID or Touch ID or sign in with Apple ID
  5. Scroll down and tap Hidden Purchases.
  6. Tap Unhide.

8. Reset Home Screen layout on iPhone

Your iPhone home screen might be a mess like your life (props to you if you have got things together)! While I cannot help you figure out your life, I can help you sort out your iPhone home screen.

  1. Go to Settings General.
  2. Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  3. Tap Reset.

    Tap Reset in Settings on iPhone
  4. Choose Reset Home Screen Layout.
  5. Tap Reset Home Screen to confirm.

    Reset the Home Screen Layout on iPhone

Your home screen will return to the default, and you can start to sort it from the beginning and find the missing app.

FAQ

Does iPhone have a hidden folder for apps?

While there isn’t any official way to hide any apps, you can still hide it by either hiding the home screen page or screen time or even hiding it so that members of the family ID won’t be able to install it on their device.

Found it?

Hope this guide was helpful enough to find the apps that disappeared from iPhone. While I was here to help you with this guide, it’s up to you to find happiness even in the little things in life and stay best. Got any queries or suggestions? The comment section is all yours.

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Author

  • Darryl

    Consumer Technology and Motorcycles are the two things that excite Darryl the most. Why? Because Tech helps better people's lives, and solving people's problems related to tech is something he enjoys. And what about bikes, you ask? Well, drop a gear and disappear.

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