As of November 2026, iPhone users running iOS 27 have access to a more robust messaging ecosystem than ever before. However, that growth has led to a common interface frustration: a cluttered iMessage app drawer. With Apple now including 14 default applications in the Messages menu, ranging from Photos and Stickers to newer “Apple Intelligence” tools, the vertical list can quickly become unwieldy for users who only rely on a few core features.
The solution to this “convoluted” menu is a native customization system that allows users to reorder, hide, or prioritize specific tools. While the default layout places certain Apple services at the top, the entire interface is flexible enough to be tailored to individual workflows.
How to Reorder the iMessage App Menu
The most immediate way to fix a cluttered menu is by reordering the icons within the Messages app itself. This method is effective for moving frequently used tools—like the camera or Apple Pay—to the top of the list while pushing less-used extensions into the “More” sub-menu.
- Open any conversation in the Messages app.
- Tap the + (Plus) button to the left of the text entry field.
- Locate the app icon you wish to move.
- Perform a long-press on the icon until it slightly enlarges.
- Drag the icon to your preferred position in the list.
Users can also drag apps from the secondary “More” section into the primary top-level menu, or vice-versa. This allows for a minimal interface where only three or four essential tools are visible upon the first tap.
Granular Control via System Settings
While dragging and dropping organizes the visible list, it does not stop third-party apps from automatically adding themselves to the iMessage drawer. To completely disable or remove extensions that clutter the interface, users must navigate through the system settings.
iOS 27 offers a specific management path located at Settings > Apps > Messages > iMessage Apps. From this menu, you can toggle off specific third-party extensions. Disabling an app here removes its icon from the Messages drawer without deleting the parent application from the iPhone, providing a way to keep a clean chat interface while retaining the app’s main functionality elsewhere.
The Expanding iMessage Ecosystem
The need for better menu management has grown alongside the complexity of iOS. In August 2026, OpenAI integrated ChatGPT into iMessage for Mac, and similar third-party integrations have continued to populate the mobile drawer. Furthermore, iOS 27 introduced deeper “Apple Intelligence” features, including Siri-assisted drafting, which occupies significant real estate in the messaging UI.
These AI-driven writing tools allow for real-time text revision and writing directly within a chat thread. While these are central to the iOS 27 experience, they contribute to the “catch-all” nature of the plus menu that some users find overwhelming. Apple’s design philosophy with this menu is intended to provide a unified entry point for all messaging extensions, though it relies on the user to curate which ones remain prominent.
