One Annoying Problem With The iPhone Messages App Has An Easy Fix

Apple's iMessage app arrangement has drawn user complaints, with rarely used apps appearing at the top of the dropdown menu while frequently used ones remain buried at the bottom. The issue stems from the default setup introduced with iOS 18, which pre-installs several iMessage apps, a number that has grown to 14 as of the latest iOS 27 update. These built-in apps cover features such as location sharing, voice recordings, stickers, GIFs, music, photos and polls, while third-party options like ESPN and Venmo extend functionality further. The fix is straightforward: users can manually customize the menu layout to prioritize their most-used apps. For Apple, the friction highlights a tension between promoting its expanding iMessage app ecosystem and preserving a streamlined user experience. Watch for whether future iOS updates change the default app arrangement or give users more control out of the box.