Find Apple Music & Add It Back to iPhone Home Screen
If the Apple Music icon has vanished from your iPhone’s Home Screen, it’s usually because it was removed from the Home Screen (not deleted) or hidden by Screen Time restrictions. This guide walks you through finding Apple Music in your app library, search, or Settings, and then placing it back on your Home Screen in just a few taps.
What You’ll Need
- Your iPhone with iOS 14 or later (earlier versions use a slightly different method, noted below).
- Your Apple ID password if you need to re-download the app (only if it was truly deleted).
- Access to Settings if the app is hidden due to Screen Time.
Step-by-Step
- Check if the app is actually installed. Swipe down from the middle of the Home Screen to open Spotlight Search. Type “Apple Music.� If the app appears in the results, tap it to open it. If it opens, the app is installed but just not on the Home Screen. If you see a cloud icon next to it, tap that icon to re-download it.
- Find it in the App Library. Swipe left on your Home Screen until you reach the App Library (the last page). Use the search bar at the top and type “Music.� The Apple Music app will appear in the results. You can also look under the “Creativity� or “Entertainment� folders (the exact folder may vary).
- Add it back to the Home Screen from the App Library. Touch and hold the Apple Music icon in the App Library until a context menu appears. Choose “Add to Home Screen.â€� The app will be placed on your first available Home Screen page. (If you don’t see that option, skip to Step 5.)
- Alternative: Drag it directly. In the App Library, touch and hold the Apple Music icon. When the icons start jiggling, drag the icon to the right edge of the screen. iPhone will switch to your Home Screen pages; drop it where you want it. Tap “Done� in the top right.
- If you can’t find it anywhere, check Screen Time restrictions. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. If it’s enabled, tap Allowed Apps and make sure the toggle next to Music is on (green). If it’s off, turn it on. The app should reappear on your Home Screen immediately.
- If the app is completely gone (deleted), re-download it. Open the App Store, tap your profile icon (top right), then tap Purchased. Find “Apple Music� in the list and tap the download icon (cloud with arrow). Alternatively, search for “Apple Music� in the App Store and tap the download button. The developer is Apple, and the app is free.
- For iOS 13 and earlier: If you’re on an older iOS, the App Library doesn’t exist. Instead, swipe left on the Home Screen to the Search screen (or swipe down from the middle), search for “Music,â€� and if it shows, tap it. If it’s not there, go to the App Store > Purchased to re-download.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing the Apple Music app with the iTunes Store app. The Apple Music app has a colorful music note icon; the iTunes Store has a blue “storeâ€� icon. Make sure you’re adding the right one.
- Thinking you deleted the app when it’s just hidden. On iOS, you can’t delete Apple Music if it’s a system app, but you can remove it from the Home Screen. It stays in the App Library. So before re-downloading, check the App Library first.
- Forgetting to check Screen Time. If the app is missing from both the Home Screen and the App Library, Screen Time restrictions are the most likely cause. Many people overlook this and try to re-download, but the App Store will say “Cannot Connectâ€� or the download won’t start.
- Dragging the icon off the screen too quickly. When dragging from the App Library, you need to hold the icon for a second until it lifts up, then drag to the edge. If you drag too fast, it might just scroll the Home Screen.
Tips
- Use Spotlight for the fastest access. Even if you don’t add it back to the Home Screen, you can just swipe down and type “Musicâ€� to open it instantly. This is a good temporary workaround.
- Create a folder for media apps. If you have multiple music or streaming apps, group them in a folder to keep your Home Screen tidy. Just drag one app onto another to create a folder.
- Reset your Home Screen layout. If you’ve moved things around a lot and want to get the default layout back (which includes Apple Music on the first page), go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Home Screen Layout. This will restore all default app positions, but note it also removes your custom folders and widget placements.
- Check if the app is offloaded. If you have “Offload Unused Apps� enabled in Settings > App Store, the app may be removed from the device but its data is kept. The icon will appear grayed out with a cloud icon. Tap it to re-download.
Troubleshooting
- The app is in the App Library but “Add to Home Screenâ€� is grayed out. This usually means the app is already on the Home Screen somewhere. Check all pages, including folders. If you still can’t find it, try restarting your iPhone (press and hold the side button and volume up, then slide to power off).
- You re-downloaded the app, but it doesn’t appear on the Home Screen. By default, newly downloaded apps are added to the Home Screen. If not, go to Settings > Home Screen & App Library and select “Add to Home Screenâ€� under “New App Downloads.â€� If it’s set to “App Library Only,â€� change it.
- Screen Time toggle is already on, but the app is still missing. Try turning the toggle off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. Also, check if there’s a separate “Musicâ€� restriction under Content Restrictions > Apps – set it to “Allowâ€� or a higher age rating.
- The App Store shows a cloud icon but tapping it does nothing. This can happen if you’re not signed in to the App Store. Go to Settings > App Store and sign in with your Apple ID. Also, check your network connection.
- You see a grayed-out Apple Music icon with a loading bar that never completes. This is often a temporary glitch. Force-restart your iPhone (press and release volume up, then volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears). If it persists, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, find Apple Music, tap “Offload App,� then re-install it.
- After a software update, the icon is missing. Sometimes iOS updates can rearrange icons. Use the Spotlight search or App Library to find it, then add it back using the steps above. If it’s truly gone, re-download from the App Store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apple Music a free app?
Yes, the Apple Music app is free to download. However, using the streaming service requires a subscription after a free trial period. You can still use the app to play music you’ve purchased or synced from your computer without a subscription.
Can I delete Apple Music completely?
On iOS, Apple Music is a system app, so you cannot delete it entirely. You can only remove it from the Home Screen, which leaves it in the App Library. You can also offload it to free up storage, but the app itself remains.
Why did Apple Music disappear from my Home Screen?
The most common reasons are: you accidentally removed it from the Home Screen (long-press > Remove App > Remove from Home Screen), Screen Time restrictions hide it, or the app was offloaded to save storage. It’s rarely a bug.
Will I lose my music if I delete the Apple Music app?
No, deleting or offloading the app does not delete your music library. Your purchased music and playlists are stored in your Apple ID account and iCloud Music Library. They will reappear when you re-download the app and sign in.
How do I add Apple Music to a specific Home Screen page?
After finding the app in the App Library, touch and hold it, then choose “Add to Home Screen.� It will be placed on the first available page. To move it to a specific page, use the drag method: hold the icon, drag to the right edge, and navigate to the page you want, then drop it.
Why is Apple Music not in my App Library?
If it’s not in the App Library, it’s likely hidden by Screen Time restrictions or the app has been offloaded. Check Screen Time settings as described in Step 5. If it’s offloaded, you’ll see a cloud icon in the App Library – tap it to re-download.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.