Manage Home Screen Pages with iOS 15 Focus Mode

With the release of iOS 15, Apple introduced Focus modes to help users minimize distractions and set contextual boundaries on their devices. A key component of this system is the ability to control Home Screen page visibility, allowing users to tailor their iPhone’s interface to specific tasks, locations, or times of day by displaying only relevant app pages while hiding the rest.

Dedicated Custom Home Screen Pages

Prior to iOS 15, rearranging or hiding app pages was a manual, system-wide process. iOS 15 integrated page visibility directly into the Focus setup, enabling users to bind pre-arranged Home Screen pages to specific profiles, such as Work, Personal, Fitness, or Sleep. When a particular Focus is triggered, the iPhone automatically displays only the selected pages, keeping irrelevant or distracting apps out of sight.

Key Capabilities Introduced

  • Custom Pages Selection: Users can choose exactly which pages appear when a Focus is active. Unselected pages are temporarily hidden from the Home Screen loop.
  • App Library and Spotlight Access: Hiding a page does not disable or uninstall the apps. Users can still access hidden applications through the App Library, Siri suggestions, or Spotlight search if necessary.
  • Hide Notification Badges: iOS 15 added a toggle within the Focus Home Screen settings to silence red notification badges on app icons, preventing visual clutter and interruptions.
  • Contextual Automation: Home Screen pages can switch automatically based on triggers such as scheduled times, geographic locations, or the launch of a specific app.

How to Configure Home Screen Pages in a Focus

  1. Open Settings on iOS 15 and tap Focus.
  2. Select an existing Focus profile (such as Work) or tap the + icon to create a new one.
  3. Under the Options section, tap Home Screen.
  4. Enable the Custom Pages toggle.
  5. Select the checkmarks beneath the specific Home Screen pages you want visible during that Focus state, then tap Done.

Once configured, activating the Focus mode instantly updates the Home Screen layout, restoring the default layout automatically whenever the Focus is turned off.