Organize Your Apps
Why App organization matters
As you create more Apps, the hardest part becomes finding the right one fast. A few small habits—clear names, consistent icons, and occasional cleanup—make your App Library feel simple again.
Name Apps so you can spot them instantly
Use a “verb + thing + context” name
- Track blood pressure (AM/PM)
- Log workouts (gym)
- Plan weekly meals
- Pack for travel (carry-on)
Add a short “where/when” tag
If you have similar Apps, add a tiny tag at the end:
- (Home), (Work), (Kids), (Vacation)
- (Quick) for the simplest version, (Full) for the detailed one
Avoid names that blur together
These tend to become confusing later:
- “List” / “Tracker” / “Stuff”
- “New app” / “Test” / “Untitled”
Rename an App when it starts doing more
If an App grows beyond its original purpose, update the name so it still matches what you use it for today.
Use icons (when available) as visual shortcuts
If your version of Spanner lets you set an App icon, use it to make your most-used Apps stand out at a glance.
Pick icons by category, not by mood
- Health: heart, pill, dumbbell
- Home: house, broom, shopping cart
- Money: receipt, wallet
- Family: people, calendar
Use simple rules if you have many Apps
- One icon per category (all meal-planning Apps use a fork/plate)
- One “favorite” icon reserved for your top 1–3 Apps
When to create a new App vs. improve an existing one
This is the #1 habit that keeps your App Library manageable: avoid making “almost the same” Apps unless you truly need separate ones.
- You still want the same outcome, just with a tweak (simpler, clearer, fewer steps).
- You need one or two additions (a checkbox, a note, a new category, a different default choice).
- You find yourself thinking: “This app is close—it just needs…”
Example: You have “Grocery list (Home)” and want it to group items by aisle. That’s an improvement, not a new App.
- The goal is different enough that combining them would feel messy.
- You need a “simple version” and a “detailed version” for different situations.
- You want separate spaces because the information shouldn’t mix (work vs. personal, one family member vs. another).
Example: “Meal plan (Weekly)” and “Restaurant favorites” might both involve food, but they’re different jobs—separate Apps keeps each one clean.
Ask yourself:
- Will I open this for the same moment? If yes, improve the existing App.
- Will I want different screens or different fields? If yes, create a new App.
- Would combining them confuse me later? If yes, create a new App.
Clean up old Apps without regret
A tidy library comes from small, safe cleanup—not big risky deletions.
A simple monthly cleanup routine (5 minutes)
What to do with “almost duplicates”
- Pick a winner: choose the one you like using more.
- Rename the winner clearly so you don’t recreate the duplicate later.
- Park the other for a week (archive/hide if available). If you don’t miss it, remove it.
Make your “top Apps” feel effortless
Your most-used Apps should be the easiest to spot. Here are lightweight ways to do that:
- Name priority Apps consistently (for example, start with “Today …” or “Daily …”).
- Use distinctive icons for your top few Apps (when available).
- Keep only one “general” App (like one main “To‑do list”), and push special-purpose lists into their own clearly named Apps.
Quick examples (ready-to-copy names)
- Track meds (daily)
- Track symptoms (migraine)
- Log expenses (work trips)
- Plan groceries (Costco)
- Pack list (beach weekend)
- House chores (weekly)