IOS 18: Who else HATES the app library?

It happen with iOS 17 and several betas of 18. My issue if I open it, it is hard to close it.

Hi,
It sounds like you're using an iPhone SE variant, is that correct?
I just tested this on my iPhone 15 Pro and had no issues. I was able to swipe up to go home, and a three finger swipe right took me out of the app library and to the previous page of my home screen.
Generally what's meant when people refer to apps jiggling is pressing and holding on them. For our purposes, acting as if we were trying to edit the home screen. But in that mode, there's no way to get out of the library with the rotor.
Sidenote: Have you tried exploring by touch? As I was typing this out my phone did say, "app library," at random, but exploring by touch I was able to determine I hadn't, in fact, entered it.
I hope this helps somehow.

There are several bugs with the app library. The search function doesn't work, crashes the phone with voiceover, and sometimes the phone thinks you're still in the app library even when you've gotten out of it. The only way to fix this issue is to restart your phone after using the app library, and avoid using it until they fix it.

Michael,
I totally understand where you're coming from. When I got my iPhone XR back in 2019, I wasn't sure how I was supposed to manage without a home button. But it wasn't too difficult for me to adjust. When voiceover is running, you will get slight haptic feedback and an audio tone as you swipe, so you know what region your finger is in and what will happen if you release it.

Besides restarting your phone, you can try turning voiceover off and back on to see if that fixes the issue. I haven't tried that, but it might work. As for having no home button, you get used to it within about a week. I actually prefer having no home button now, I thought I would miss it, but Apple made it so easy to navigate without it.

You should be able to restart your iPhone using Siri, and can also create a shortcut to do so.

I just use the gesture that takes me to the home screen. The app library usually disappears for a small amount of time, before returning. To prevent it from returning, I simply put a finger anywhere on the screen and leave it there for a few seconds, probably a minute just to be safe. So, in short, press the home button, then immediately put a finger anywhere on the screen for a few seconds and see if it works for you. Normally, when you press the home button, or use the home button gesture, the app library will be gone for a few seconds and it is during that time that you will have to make your move, before it returns. Good luck.

the sounds for the gestures replacing the home button are different pitches. when placing a finger for home, A sharp, for app switcher, F, and for control centre and notification centre, A sharp up the octive and F, respectably. as well haptic feedback is present. having perfect pitch manifests in interesting contexts, such as this post.

This has got to be one of the more bizarre bugs encountered within iOS. Some people have this and some do not. It also seems to plague a variety of iPhone models.

For example, I am running an iPhone SE3, and I do, not, have this issue.

At all.

Yet I have read on here where others with both older model iPhones as well as the latest model(s) (see: iPhone 15x) have this issue.

My best advice would be to go to settings > general > transfer & reset, and reset your settings.

I know, I know, it is such a hassle, and nobody wants to take the time to manually go through and adjust the multitude of settings per app, etc.

Instead they want to restore a backup. . .

Guess what? The backup has the bug in it, 9 times out of 10.

So reset your settings, take the time to, manually, adjust the settings, and this should resolve the issue.

HTH. 🙂

Hi there,
Voiceover usually doesn't speak when you're trying to swipe to go home, unless you leave your finger in place for an extended period of time, at which point it will tell you what you'll trigger if you lift your finger.
Like a poster above, it really only took me a week or so to get used to it, maybe less.
If you like, I can record a demo of using the gestures for going home, the app switcher and now, Type to Siri.

To be honest, I don't like the app library either. I think it's kind of redundant. I mean, all of the apps are now listed under the applications section in settings, so what's the point of this? I feel like it takes up unnecessary space on the device, and it becomes clustered. In my opinion, they should keep the apps listed in settings, and if you choose to hide an app, then, there should be a section in the settings, under application settings, that says, hidden apps. You don't need an entire section for that. Most people have their applications in folders, or randomly scattered on their home screen on different pages. They don't need a library to tell them what applications they have on their phone, or, at least, give us the option to customize this aspect of the device. Maybe some people like it, and others don't. I don't want to make general assumptions here, or to say it's not relevant or necessary. Yeah, I don't see the use for it myself, but I totally respect that others do.
Regarding using an iPhone without the home button, you're able to create gestures, or reassign gestures, to get to the home screen and the control center. That might be something worth looking into. That's the first thing I suggest to individuals, instead of trying to tell them to swipe up And feel for vibrations. Seems like the easier choice, if you ask me.

For me, I only have apps on my home screen.

Everything else is either in the library, or I know the name of the app so I can use Braille Screen input to get to it.

No more hunting for apps.

The apps on my home screen are mainly the defaults that were already there, such as Weather, iTunes, notes, phone, etc.

I will finish using an app on my phone and just put it down and leave it unlocked since it’s in a safe location and I come back in the app library is on the screen in my face. I don’t know how to get out of the thing with voiceover, I would like to see Apple give us the option to turn it off.

Hi,
I never really had an opinion about the app library until I got iOS 18. But now I hate it too! Ever since iOS 18, I've had it appear at random times when I lock my screen, so when I unlock it, I'm stuck on page 4, which is my last page of apps, or I'm actually taken into the app library, and I couldn't figure out a way to get out of it without restarting my phone. I'm on iOS 18.1.1 Iphone 12 mini, and this still happens ocasionally. I've found a workaround though. If you get stuck in the app library, go to app switcher, hold your finger on either the home button, or when you here the third tone if you've got a phone without a home button, wait for VoiceOver to say, 'lift for app switcher', and then you'll be taken to the app switcher. From there, press the home button, now you'll be on your last page of apps, so then you can navigate to your first page of apps again. At least you won't have to restart your phone. Hopefully this will work for all of you having this issue. It worked for me the last time this happened.

Well I would not say that I hate it because is to strong word. Do agree with you about the issue you are having. When it came out it was nice and sometimes I used it but in general did not. Maybe apple will fix it in iOS 30? Not.

I want to say that I have not experienced this issue with the App Library, but then I said the same thing over on the Kindle thread; now I too am having the issue reported over there as of iOS 18.1.1.
So ... stick with Tara's work-around I guess. 😇