If the Messages app is missing from your iPhone Home Screen, you can find it in the App Library, Spotlight Search, an app folder, or a hidden Home Screen page and add it back.

Quick Answer: Open the App Library, find Messages, then touch and hold its icon and drag it to your Home Screen or Dock.

Why Is the Messages App Missing from My iPhone?

If Messages isn’t visible on your Home Screen, the app may still be installed on your iPhone. It could be on another Home Screen page, inside an app folder, in the App Library, or on a hidden Home Screen page.

Use the methods below to find and add the Messages app back to your iPhone Home Screen.

How to Add Messages to the Home Screen on iPhone

From the App Library

Open the App Library and look for the Social folder.
Look for the Messages app.
Touch and hold the Messages app icon, then drag it to your Home Screen or Dock.
Tap Done in the top-right corner.

If you don’t see Messages in the Social folder, swipe down on the App Library page and search for Messages.

Alternative: Touch and hold the Messages icon in the App Library and select Add to Home Screen.

Note: The Add to Home Screen option won’t appear if Messages is already on your Home Screen, inside an app folder, or on a hidden Home Screen page. Check those locations if you can’t find the app.

Using Spotlight Search

If you can’t find Messages on your Home Screen or in the App Library, use Spotlight Search to locate the app.

Swipe down on the Home Screen to open Spotlight Search.
Type Messages in the search field.
If Messages is inside a folder, Spotlight will show the folder containing the app.
Open the folder, then move Messages to your preferred Home Screen page.

Tip: If Messages doesn’t appear in Spotlight Search, check its Search settings and make sure the Show App in Search option is enabled.

ALSO READ: How to permanently delete an app hidden from Home Screen

Find Messages on a Hidden Home Screen Page

Messages may be missing from view if the Home Screen page containing the app is hidden.

Touch and hold an empty area on your Home Screen.
Tap the page dots near the bottom of the screen.
Find the hidden Home Screen page containing Messages.
Select the checkbox below the page to unhide it.
Tap Done or the checkmark in the top-right.

ALSO READ: How to rearrange Home Screen pages on iPhone

Last Resort: Reset the Home Screen Layout

If you still can’t find Messages, you can reset the Home Screen layout. This restores the default app arrangement, so your apps and Home Screen organization will change.

To reset the Home Screen layout, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone. Tap Reset, select Reset Home Screen Layout, and tap Reset Home Screen to confirm.