How to Fix Messages Icon Missing on iPhone: Top 4 Fixes

Why the Messages icon missing on iPhone?

If the Messages icon is missing on your iPhone, there are a few possible reasons.

How to fix the Message icon disappeared on iPhone

Now that you know the possible causes of this issue, you can continue reading to find helpful solutions.

Solution 1. Restart your iPhone

When the issue occurs, try to restart your device may work.

For iPhone X or later: Press and hold either volume button and the side button simultaneously until the power-off slider appears > Drag the power-off slider to the right to turn off your device.

For iPhone 6/7/8 or SE(2nd or 3rd generation): Press and hold the side button until the power-off slider appears on the screen > Drag the slider to the right to power off your iPhone.

For iPhone SE (1st generation), 5, or earlier: Press and hold the top button > When the power-off slider appears, drag the slider to turn off the device.

After that, press and hold the side/top button until you see the Apple logo to turn on your iPhone.

Solution 2. Find the Messages App in the App Library

You may have accidentally removed the Messages app from your Home screen. If that's the case, you can find it in the App Library and add it back. 

Step 1. Swipe left on your iPhone or iPad's Home screen until you reach the App Library.

Step 2. In the search bar at the top of the App Library, type "Messages." Then, tap and hold the Messages app icon and select "Add to Home Screen."

Solution 3. Reset the Home Screen Layout

If you still can't locate the Messages app, you might want to try resetting your Home screen layout. This will restore all apps to their original positions, making it easier to find missing icons. Keep in mind, though, that any custom folders you've created will be removed.

Step 1: Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap General, and then select Transfer or Reset iPhone.

Step 2: Tap Reset, choose Reset Home Screen Layout from the options, and then confirm by selecting Reset Home Screen.

Once done, all apps will return to their default locations, and you should find the Messages app on the bottom bar of your iPhone or on the dock of your iPad.

Solution 4. Reset all settings

If all ways above don't have effect, you can try to reset all settings on iPhone to fix the issue.

Step 1: Open the Settings app > tap General > select Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.

Step 2: Choose Reset All Settings > enter your device passcode > tap Reset All Settings again to confirm.

After that, restart your iOS device, and you should see the Messages app on the home screen.

Bonus: How to back up text messages selectively

The application icon for Messages suddenly disappeared from the iPhone, causing great concern that the message data stored on the iPhone might also be lost. For users with a significant amount of important information in their messages, this is nothing short of a major disaster. However, there is no need to worry, as there is a professional backup software that can help you solve this issue.

When it comes to backing up your phone, users may be accustomed to using iTunes or iCloud, but they do not allow you to selectively back up certain important data. Additionally, users cannot easily view the backed-up data. In these situations, FoneTool can help you perfectly avoid these problems.

You can use it to selectively back up messages, contacts, photos, videos and music. Once the process is finished, you can easily view all backed up data. Now just download it on your computer to make it in a few clicks.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to the computer > Launch FoneTool > Go to Phone Backup > Click Get Started to continue.

Step 2. Check the Messages icon to back up > If necessary, click the icon to choose the specific data you need > Tap on Start Backup to make it.

Conclusion

Now you can know how to fix the Messages icon missing on iPhone issue. You can use 4 ways above to solve the problem efficiently! If necessary, you can use FoneTool mentioned in bonus part to back up your iPhone messages.

FoneTool - All-in-one iPhone Data Manager

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• iPhone 15 Supported

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