# 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 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Smartphones Let You Rearrange and Organize Your Home Screen Icons](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11449194/spatial-audio-with-dynamic-head-tracking) — Apple's patent describes the specific software logic used to let users drag, drop, and rearrange app icons on a touchscreen by entering a special 'jiggle' mode. - [How Smartphones Organize Apps into Folders](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8423911/ios-control-center) — Apple's 2010 patent describing the logic for creating and interacting with app folders on a touchscreen device, specifically distinguishing between 'normal' use and 'editing' modes. - [How Folders With Multiple Pages Work on Touchscreens](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11809700/vision-pro-eye-tracking) — Apple's patent describes how to organize apps into multi-page folders and move icons between those pages by dragging them to specific screen edges. - [How Mobile Devices Switch Between Open Apps Using Gestures](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8291344/ios-autocorrect-keyboard) — Apple's patent describes a way to switch between open apps on a touchscreen by showing a bar of app previews and selecting one with a tap. - [How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8046721/unlocking-a-device-by-performing-gestures-on-an-unlock-image) — Apple's 2011 patent describes a method for unlocking a touchscreen device by dragging a specific graphical icon from a starting point to a designated end point.