When Apple introduced iOS 17 last year, it made a substantial change to how you may access your applications from text messages. In earlier versions, the applications in Messages were located at the top of your keyboard. Swiping left and right between your applications allowed you to instantly send money using Apple Cash or share a GIF from within your messages.

Then Apple changed things up with iOS 17.

Instead of all the Messages applications being located just above your keyboard on your iPhone, Apple built a single button to the left of the text message field that you can push to open a full-screen interface with all of your apps.

The new menu is huge,

Aggressive and structured differently than before, and you may not like it. While we can’t change the size, there is a hidden method for structuring the menu so that your most critical Messages applications appear at the top.

Here’s how to change these pieces around.

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If you don’t know how to access the applications in your text messages, open the Messages app, navigate to any text message thread, and hit the plus (+) icon in the bottom left corner. The menu for your Messages applications will display, with the default (Apple) apps on the first page and your downloaded (third-party) apps on the second, which you may access by swiping up.

Messages applications for iOS 17
These are all of the applications I have in Messages, sorted by default on the first page and alphabetically on the second.
Nelson Aguilar

If you don’t use any of the default applications on the first page, or if you just use a few, you may quickly rearrange them so that your most critical apps appear first. To relocate an application, tap and hold it before dragging your finger up or down the menu. This allows you to shift any of the default programs from the first to the second page, as well as any downloaded apps from the second to the main page.

The first page may be filled with as many applications as you wish. I tested it and was able to place every download and default program on the first page, leaving none on the second. However,

I tend to keep only a few of my most often used applications on the first page, with everything else on the second.

Move the applications in Messages.
Simply press and hold to move your applications around.
Nelson Aguilar / CNET
Now I don’t have to go through all of the applications to find what I need.

For more, see how to fix the most irritating iOS 17 features and settings.