iOS 17: How to Organize Your iMessage Apps in Messages - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

iOS 17: How to Organize Your iMessage Apps in Messages

by

In iOS 17, Apple not only added several new Messages features, but it also tweaked the design of the Messages app to give it a cleaner look.

ios 17 messages apps
Now, all iMessage apps and tools like the camera and photo options can be accessed by tapping a "+" button above the keyboard and to the left of the text input field.

Tapping the "+" button brings up a menu column, which has a default order of options. From the top, there's Camera, Photos, Stickers, Cash (where available), Audio, and Location. At the very bottom is a More button which when tapped reveals any other installed Messages apps (you can also swipe up to reveal this hidden list).

How to Reorganize Your iMessage Apps

You can reorganize the apps in the list and bring your most-used apps nearer to the top, and even bring up more apps to the first menu screen, in the following way.

messages
To move an app within the same screen, press and hold on its icon, then drag it to your preferred location and let go. To move an app up to the first page of icons, simply do the same, but drag it up to the top of the screen and place it where you want.

How to Delete iMessage Apps

If you have no need for certain third-party Messages apps in the list, you can delete them by following these steps. Note that when you delete an iMessage app, it will also delete the associated app from the Home Screen.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and tap Messages.
  3. Tap iMessage Apps.
  4. Tap the red minus button next to an app, then tap the Delete button that appears.

settings

Apple has added several new features to its Messages app in iOS 17 to make communicating with other Apple users more creative and fun. One of these new features is the ability to turn Live Photos into Live Stickers. Click the link to learn how it works.

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....