# How the iPhone's Jiggling App Icons Work

> This patent describes the 'jiggle mode' on iPhones, where app icons shake to show they can be moved or deleted.

- **Patent:** US 7509588
- **Original title:** Portable electronic device with interface reconfiguration mode
- **Owner:** Apple Inc
- **Granted:** 2009
- **Status:** Public domain (expired)
- **Times cited:** 148
- **Field:** consumer_electronics, software

## What it does

The patent defines a method for a touch-sensitive device to enter a reconfiguration mode. When a user performs a specific action, such as holding a finger on an icon, the device triggers an animation where multiple icons oscillate around a fixed center point. This 'jiggling' effect visually signals that the user can now rearrange or delete the icons. The patent also covers the logic for dragging an icon to a new location and automatically shifting other icons to make room for it.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover icon movement that does not include an oscillation or 'jiggling' animation.
- Does not cover non-touch interfaces, such as using a mouse or keyboard to move icons.
- Does not cover reordering icons that do not utilize a touch-sensitive display.
- Does not cover icon arrangements that do not allow for user-defined repositioning.

## The clever bit

The innovation lies in using a specific, physics-based animation (the oscillation) as a visual affordance to communicate a change in the device's state, turning a functional task into an intuitive, tactile experience.

## Real-world examples

1. iOS home screen app rearrangement (jiggle mode)
2. iPadOS home screen icon management

## Why it matters

This feature became a fundamental part of the iOS user experience, establishing the standard for how users interact with and organize mobile applications. It was a key component of the interface design that helped differentiate the original iPhone from its competitors, which often relied on complex menus or stylus-based navigation.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How the iPhone's Jiggling App Icons Work cover?

This patent describes the 'jiggle mode' on iPhones, where app icons shake to show they can be moved or deleted.

### Who owns patent US 7509588?

Apple Inc owns this patent, granted in 2009.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent is expected to expire on March 24, 2029, when the invention enters the public domain.

### What is patent US 7509588 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 148 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This feature became a fundamental part of the iOS user experience, establishing the standard for how users interact with and organize mobile applications. It was a key component of the interface design that helped differentiate the original iPhone from its competitors, which often relied on complex menus or stylus-based navigation.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover icon movement that does not include an oscillation or 'jiggling' animation.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7509588/os-x-spotlight-search

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US7509588

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._