Saturday, November 14, 2009

Add More Screens to iPod Touch/ iPhone

I have 19 visible screens (pages) on my 2nd Gen iPod Touch. The trick to getting more than 11 screens is rather simple, but there are a number of details you must be aware of.  I've detailed the procedure below. This trick should work on the iPhone too, but I've no way of testing it.

This operation may be attempted by anyone, but is really more for advanced users and power users who have a good understanding of how to move apps around.

Note that I came up with this undocumented method myself, and neither Apple nor myself assume any responsibility for its failure to work or for any lost apps, lost time, or any damages, etc.

   1. [Get OS 3.x] Make sure you are running OS 3.x, because you will need the "Voice Memos" app.
   2. [Fill screens] Make sure all of your current screens are full of apps. This trick won't work if you have room on your screens for any more new apps.
   3. [Move Voice Memos] Move Apple's "Voice Memos" app to the bottom right of your final screen. You can drag it there from wherever it is, or an easier way is with the iTunes software: Connect and Sync your iPod, then click on your iPod, and select the "Applications" tab. Arrange your apps and pages as you wish, and click "Apply."
   4. [Disconnect] Now disconnect your iPod from your computer.
   5. [Hide Voice Memos] Drag any app up from your bottom row, or from the next-to-last screen to the last screen. This should push the "Voice Memos" app off into oblivion. (Don't worry, you will get it back!)
   6. [Get new app] Now open the App Store app on your iPod Touch, and download any new random app. Check out the "Top Free" apps for possibilities. Don't worry about your choice of apps, any app will do, and you can delete it in a minute. The new app will install where "Voice Memos" was.
   7. [Did it work?] After the new app has been downloaded and installed, you should find that you have a new screen inserted right after screen #1. It will probably only contain 1 or 2 apps (or more if you've had an app surplus for a while).
   8. [Reorganize] Now you can rearrange your current apps to take advantage of your new screen! (You may want to go to your last screen, and return that app you just moved a minute ago back to where it was.)
   9. [WARNING!] Now you can use the iTunes software to backup and sync your iPod Touch, but please don't use iTunes to arrange your apps, as it will hide any screens above #11. You can always get them back with this trick, but the iTunes app arranger may jumble your icon organization on your higher screens.
Any questions or comments? Please contact me here or on Twitter (@TCM_viewer)

Thanks for reading!

2 comments:

  1. Awesome, thanks a lot. This works a treat.

    Now Apple - what are you thinking putting in such an arbitrary limitation? This is ludicrous!

    IMO with 64GB storage on the current Touch and 25000 apps - the # available app screens should be effectively unlimited.

    If that's not feasible then we need sub-folders for infrequently used but still desired apps.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It worked but my apps didn't fill into the new page?? They are still invisible.

    ReplyDelete