Put iOS Settings Into Folders On iPhone Home Screen

Learn how to create iPhone Settings folders on iOS 18+ for one-tap access to Wi-Fi, Battery, Privacy, and more. Boost productivity!

For many busy professionals in the United States, navigating the iPhone Settings app has become a productivity bottleneck. Despite Apple’s polished iOS interface, the native Settings app lacks folder organization. Want to toggle Wi-Fi, check Battery health, or adjust Privacy permissions during a tight workday? You’re met with endless scrolling and multiple taps. In high-paced US office environments, these small delays accumulate into real friction, making it harder to stay efficient.

iOS 18+ introduces more flexibility, but the system still doesn’t allow grouping Settings panes on the Home Screen. Enter Preference Folders, a lightweight third-party app (~$2.99 on the US App Store) that revolutionizes access to your most-used iOS controls. Without jailbreaking your device, you can create custom Home Screen widgets linking directly to deep Settings URLs like:

prefs:root=Wi-Fi
prefs:root=Bluetooth&path=General
prefs:root=BATTERY_USAGE

With these shortcuts, toggling Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Notifications, or Battery Saver takes one tap, not five.

Prerequisites for US users:

• iPhone 13 or newer

• iOS 18.2+

• Shortcuts app enabled and synced with iCloud for multi-device use

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a fully organized system of Settings folders on your iPhone Home Screen, optimized for quick access during meetings, travel, or multitasking at home or in the office. Let’s transform your iPhone into a productivity powerhouse.

Installation & Initial Setup

Follow these steps to get Preference Folders running smoothly on your iPhone:

1. Download & Install

   • Open the App Store on your iPhone.

   • Search for “Preference Folders”.

   • Tap Get and confirm the $2.99 purchase.

2. Grant Permissions

   • On first launch, the app will request access to Settings shortcuts and the Shortcuts app.

   • Enable all requested permissions to allow deep-link creation.

3. iCloud Sync Setup

   • US households with multiple iPhones or iPads can sync folders across devices.

   • In Preference Folders > Settings > iCloud Sync, toggle On.

   • This ensures that any folder you create on your iPhone 14 Pro is mirrored on your iPad or secondary iPhone.

4. Create Initial Folder Templates

   • The app provides prebuilt templates like:

     • Network: Wi-Fi, Cellular, Bluetooth

     • Privacy: Location, Contacts, Camera

     • Power User: Battery, Display, Accessibility

   • You can import these or start from scratch.

5. Add Widget to Home Screen

   • Long-press any empty space on your Home Screen > tap + > search for Preference Folders widget.

   • Select your preferred size (small, medium, large).

   • Place it in your chosen Home Screen location for instant access.

Pro Tip for US professionals: Position the “Network” folder on your primary work-focused Home Screen and “Privacy” or “Power User” folders on your personal or travel Home Screen for seamless context switching.

Step-by-Step Folder Creation

Creating a functional Settings folder involves these steps:

1. Long-Press Home Screen

• Enter jiggle mode by long-pressing a blank area.

• Tap +, then select Preference Folders.

2. Add Your First Folder

• Tap Add Folder in the widget setup.

• Name it, e.g., Network.

• Choose Icon (SF Symbols recommended for a clean look).

3. Populate with Settings Shortcuts

• Tap Add Shortcut within the folder.

• Select a predefined Settings pane or custom URL scheme:

prefs:root=Wi-Fi
prefs:root=Bluetooth
prefs:root=General&path=Keyboard

• Repeat for other commonly used controls: Notifications, Display & Brightness, Battery, Focus.

4. Organize by Category

• Network: Wi-Fi, Cellular, Bluetooth, VPN

• Privacy: Location, Contacts, Camera, Microphone

• Power User: Battery, Display, Accessibility, Storage

5. Advanced Tips

• URL Schemes: Use prefs:root=… for direct deep links. For example:

prefs:root=Bluetooth&path=General
prefs:root=BATTERY_USAGE
prefs:root=Privacy&path=Camera

• Batch Import with Shortcuts:

  • Open Shortcuts app > Create Shortcut

  • Use “Open URL” action for each Settings link

  • Add to your Preference Folder via “Add Shortcut” > “Shortcut”

• Multi-Page Folders: Maximum 12 shortcuts per page. For more, add a second page in the same widget.

6. US Workflow Automation

• Assign folders to Focus modes:

  • During work calls, show Network & Notifications folders.

  • On personal time, reveal Privacy & Entertainment folders.

7. Screenshot Placeholders

• Use placeholders in your guide:

[Insert Screenshot: Home Screen > Add Preference Folders Widget]
[Insert Screenshot: Dragging Wi-Fi & Bluetooth into Network Folder]
[Insert Screenshot: Shortcut URL setup in Preference Folders]

Pro Tip: Label folders clearly and color-code icons to reduce mental load during high-pressure US workdays.

Customization & Optimization

Preference Folders offers several ways to personalize and optimize your setup:

1. Icon Theming

• Use SF Symbols for professional consistency.

• Color-code folders: Blue for network, Green for battery, Red for privacy.

2. Refresh & Battery Optimization

• Widgets refresh every 10–15 minutes by default.

• To conserve battery, set folder refresh only when tapped.

3. Templates for US Users

• Carrier Folder: Quick access to AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile toggles

• Work Setup Folder: Focus, Wi-Fi, VPN, Notifications

4. Comparison Table

Feature	Native Settings	Preference Folders
Folder Grouping	No	Yes (customizable)
Home Screen Access	No	Direct widget
Deep Links	Manual scroll	One-tap URL schemes

5. Time-Saving Tips

• Drag most-used shortcuts to the first folder page.

• Combine Focus automation with folder widgets to instantly reveal relevant controls.

• Use iCloud sync to mirror folders across devices, ideal for US multi-device households.

Troubleshooting & Alternatives

Even the best setups occasionally encounter glitches:

• Widget Not Refreshing:

  • Long-press > Remove > Re-add widget.

  • Check Background App Refresh for Preference Folders.

• URL Scheme Errors:

  • Some iOS updates may break prefs:root= deep links.

  • Use Shortcuts as a fallback to open settings.

• Alternatives:

  • Native Shortcuts: One-tap opening of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth via shortcut automation.

  • Control Center Widgets: Quick access to toggles without Home Screen folders.

• Future iOS Updates: Rumors about iOS 19 suggest deeper Home Screen widget control, potentially reducing the need for third-party apps—but Preference Folders remains superior for multi-shortcut organization today.

With Preference Folders, you can transform your iPhone into a high-efficiency tool, streamlining access to Wi-Fi, Battery, Privacy, and more—all in a few taps. Stop scrolling, save time, and focus on what matters.

Streamline your iPhone now—share your folder setups in the comments!