Folders have been a part of smartphone home screens since the early days. As an Android user, I never really thought about folders much. Then I briefly switched to an iPhone—which really needs folders—and realized just how useful they are.
How Android and iOS treat the home screen puts a very different emphasis on folders. Over on Android, you’ve got the “App Drawer” that contains every single app on the phone. That means you can keep the home screen for only your essentials. iOS, on the other hand, puts everything on the home screen—though the App Library has changed that slightly—which makes folders absolutely necessary to prevent an unorganized mess.
So, whether you’re an Android user who keeps most of their apps in the overflowing App Drawer or an iPhone user who banishes apps to the App Library, I’ll explain why you should be using this long-time feature more.
Better Than an App Drawer
As mentioned, I didn’t use folders on my home screen much because of the Android App Drawer system. I would set up one or two folders, but I essentially used the App Drawer as a giant catch-all folder. I felt like if an app wasn’t used enough to be put on the home screen on its own, it just shouldn’t be on the home screen at all.
The truth is the App Drawer isn’t that great of a way to find apps. It’s alphabetical, but there’s a lot in there. Even when I know exactly what I’m looking for, it’s easy to skim past it or get distracted by another app. Folders are a much more focused way to find apps. Want music? Go to the “Music” folder. Want a movie? Go to the “Streaming” folder. Need groceries? Go to the “Food” folder. It’s so much faster than a massive alphabetical grid.
Condense More Apps Into Fewer Screens
Another great thing about folders is they allow you to fit more apps on a single screen. On an iPhone, you can see around 30 app icons on a single screen, including the dock. Android offers more customization for this, but it’s usually similar by default. That probably sounds like a lot, but most people still use multiple screens for all their apps.
With folders, you don’t have to jam-pack your screens with apps. You can have all your apps within reach on the first home screen page. This will also force you to think about how you want to group your apps, which will make it even easier to find the one you want. Think about how nice it would be to unlock your phone and see a tidy grid of categories and only your most frequently used apps out on their own, all on one page.
Hide Your Distracting Apps
I’ve been talking a lot about how folders can help you stay organized and find things easier, but they can also be used in a very different way. There are times when I’ve wanted to use certain apps less—not stop using entirely—and putting the app in a folder can make that easier to do.
If you’re used to unlocking your phone and tapping the Instagram app on your home screen right away, it becomes a habit. Sometimes you need to disrupt that fluid motion a bit to break the habit. Putting an app that used to be on your home screen inside of a folder adds an extra step you’re not used to. It makes you think a bit more about what you’re doing and whether you actually need to open the app. In reality, there are probably a lot of apps that you don’t need instant access to that could be put into a folder.
Smartphones have come a long way over the years, and sometimes that makes us overlook the core, basic features—like home screen shortcuts. Home screen folders aren’t flashy or very exciting, but they are useful. I’m willing to bet a lot of people—especially in the case of Android users—aren’t using folders enough. Give them a try!
