Starting with iOS 16, Apple introduced a significant change to the iPhone’s Home Screen layout: a dedicated “Search” button permanently docked just above the bottom row of apps. Tapping this button instantly launches Spotlight Search, allowing you to quickly find apps, contacts, or search the web. While Apple intended this as a convenience, many users find it frustrating. It sits exactly where the small dots indicating your Home Screen pages used to be, and it is incredibly easy to tap by accident while swiping between pages. Fortunately, if you prefer the old layout or simply prefer triggering Spotlight Search by swiping down on the screen, you can easily remove the button.
This guide explains how to completely disable and hide the Search button from your iPhone’s Home Screen, restoring the classic page dot indicators.
Remove the Search Button via iOS Settings
Apple provides a simple toggle within the Settings app to revert this specific UI change. This method applies to any iPhone running iOS 16, iOS 17, or iOS 18.
- Unlock your iPhone and open the main Settings app.
- Scroll down the main list and tap on Home Screen & App Library. (On some older versions of iOS 16, this menu is simply called “Home Screen”).
- In the Home Screen settings, look for a section titled Search.
- Under this section, you will see a toggle labelled Show on Home Screen.
- Toggle this switch to the Off position (the switch will turn from green to grey).
Verify the UI Change
Once you toggle the switch off, the change is instantaneous. You do not need to restart your iPhone.
Swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or press the physical Home button on older devices like the iPhone SE) to return to your Home Screen. Look directly above the bottom row of docked apps. The word “Search” housed inside a pill-shaped bubble will be completely gone. In its place, you will see the classic, minimalist row of small dots indicating how many pages of apps you currently have.
Note: Disabling this button does not disable Spotlight Search itself. You can still access the powerful search tool at any time by simply placing your finger in the middle of any Home Screen page and swiping downwards.