FIELD GUIDE · HomeSort
Preview an iPhone Home Screen reorganization safely
A cautious sequence for reading a layout, reviewing a proposed arrangement and testing before applying changes.
Editorial review:
Prepare the phone and Mac
HomeSort is a macOS prototype for Apple silicon and macOS 14 or later. It uses Apple Configurator for a real iPhone connection. Before changing a layout, make a Finder backup and capture screenshots of pages or widgets whose placement matters to you. Apple Configurator is a separate tool; HomeSort does not install or supervise the phone.
Connect the intended iPhone over USB, confirm the trusted device and verify the selected device identity. Do not continue if the device or account is not the one you meant to organize.
Read, sort and compare before applying
Read the supported app and folder layout into HomeSort, then inspect the original and proposed previews. Adjust category rules, alphabetical sorting, page capacity and optional Dock or first-page preservation one choice at a time. Check every page and folder, including apps that do not fit the expected categories.
For example, if you want a page for daily tools, confirm that every included icon is actually in the intended category and that the page capacity leaves the apps you use most accessible. HomeSort's category edits apply to the loaded layout and reset after a later import/read, so save a snapshot before closing the current work.
Start with the small compatibility test
For a real phone, begin with the two-icon test on one page, then read the layout back and verify the result before applying a larger arrangement. HomeSort takes snapshots before writes, checks that the layout is fresh before apply and reads it back afterward. Stop if a device tool omits an item or the compatibility result is uncertain.
A saved snapshot can support a restore preview for the same device and icon inventory. Keep the original and proposed records until you are satisfied with the read-back.
Treat the snapshot as a layout record
HomeSort snapshots cover the supported app and folder layout supplied by the device tools. They are not full-device backups and cannot guarantee preservation of widgets, hidden pages, Focus page associations, intentional gaps or wallpaper arrangements. Some omissions may come from the device tool itself.
The prototype has not been verified on a physical phone, and iOS 27 apply/restore compatibility remains unverified. Keep the Finder backup and a way to restore the familiar layout before testing.