How do I fix the inability to move app icons on iPhone after iOS 26 upgrade?

Ok force restart the phone Force restart iPhone - Apple Support

If that doesn't work make sure you have all restrictions in Screen Time turned off.

After that the process of erasing and setting up again can very often fix a glitch.

Resources…

Backing Up: How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Restoring: Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

Important Note, this is not a feature of ios26, it is a glitch on your phone

sp_64 wrote:

@LD159 This doesn’t work. I have an iPhone 13 Pro Max and I try move apps the same way I’ve been able to do it for years. I’ve do the force restart and same things happens. I will not erase my device and restore. That is an UNACCEPTABLE solution.

I still can, If you cannot then it is not the update.

...and the method you reposted from the essay writer is not the best way...

Tap and hold app until it jiggles

Move it slightly to unstick it from the screen.

Use a finger of the other hand to slide the required home screen UNDERNEATH the app that is jiggling.

There is no need to hold on the border and wait.

It's called thinking outside the box.

Mine are same as before.

Try tap and hold on the blank space between the icons, then drag to move

@John, I found a way to move the apps. It’s slow, but this works.

See @J0r0b0 solution here.

Unable to move or organize apps after iOS… - Apple Community

@LD159 This doesn’t work. I have an iPhone 13 Pro Max and I try move apps the same way I’ve been able to do it for years. I’ve do the force restart and same things happens. I will not erase my device and restore. That is an UNACCEPTABLE solution.