How to Delete Apps From Your iPhone

There are several options to remove unwanted apps and free up storage space

What to Know

  • Easiest way: Tap and hold the app icon > Remove App > tap Delete App or Remove from Home Screen.
  • From the App Store: Go to app updates, swipe left on the app, and tap Delete.
  • Alternatively, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Select app to delete > Delete App.

This article explains how to remove apps from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, including deleting apps that came with your device. Deleting unused and unwanted apps frees up storage space on your phone.

How to Delete Apps From the iPhone Home Screen

This is the fastest and simplest way to delete apps from your phone:

  1. On the iPhone home screen, tap and hold the app icon. You can also tap and hold an empty space on the home screen until all of the icons start to wiggle.

    This is the same process you follow to re-arrange apps. If you have a phone with a 3D Touch screen, don't press too hard or you'll activate a menu. It's more like a tap and light hold.

  2. Tap Remove app or the X in the upper-left corner of the icon (depending on your device model). If you're editing the home screen and your app icons are wiggling, tap the minus icon on the corner of the app icon, then select Delete App.

  3. When prompted to confirm your decision, tap Delete to delete the app. If you changed your mind, tap Cancel.

    App icon, X button, and Delete confirmation on iOS

    If the app stores some of its data in iCloud, you're asked whether you want to remove your data from Game Center/iCloud or leave it. If you expect to use the app again, leave the data there.

If you change your mind about deleting the app, you can't undo the uninstall to undelete the app. However, you can install the app again by re-downloading it.

There's one scenario in which your apps might seem to be deleted but are still on your iPhone. If that's the case, you can get missing apps back on your iPhone.

How to Delete Apps From the App Store App

This option is only available on devices with iOS 13 and up. On those devices, you can delete apps from the Update screen in the App Store app by following these steps:

  1. In the App Store, go to the upper-right corner and tap your photo or icon.

  2. Scroll to view your list of Available Updates.

  3. For any app that has an update that you want to delete, swipe right to left to reveal the Delete button.

    Profile icon. down arrow, and Delete in the iOS App Store
  4. Tap Delete. In the pop-up window, tap Delete again to remove the app from your phone.

How to Delete Apps From iPhone Settings

This method of deleting apps isn't the easiest—and one most people haven't considered—but it works. This approach is helpful if you want to uninstall apps that use a lot of storage space.

These directions work for modern iOS versions but should also be relevant for older ones like iOS 10, 9, and 8.

  1. Open the Settings app.

  2. Go to General > iPhone Storage. If you don't use a modern version of iOS, tap Usage.

    In older versions of iOS, tap Manage Storage to see all the apps on your phone and how much space each takes up.

  3. Select the app you want to delete, then tap Delete App.

    Three iOS screens showing iPhone Storage button in General Settings, the app to delete, and a Delete App button

    Beginning in iOS 12, you can offload the app. This removes the app and leaves associated documents and data intact. Reinstall the app to get everything back up and running.

  4. In the confirmation menu, tap Delete App to continue with the uninstall.

How to Delete Apps Using iTunes

You can use iTunes to add apps and other content to your iPhone. You can also use iTunes to remove apps.

This technique doesn't work with iTunes 12.7 or higher since those versions of iTunes no longer support the App Store. Another way to use your computer to delete apps from your iPhone is with a third-party iPhone manager like Syncios.

  1. Sync your iPhone to iTunes. You can sync over USB or sync over Wi-Fi.

  2. In the upper-left corner of iTunes, select the iPhone icon.

  3. Choose the Apps tab.

  4. The left column lists the apps installed on your iPhone. Scroll through it and find the one you want to delete.

  5. Select Remove next to the app. Repeat this process for as many apps as you want to remove.

  6. In the lower-right corner, select Apply to sync iTunes and your iPhone. Any changes you made in iTunes are reflected on your iPhone, including removing the apps from your phone.

FAQ
  • Why can't I uninstall apps on my iPhone?


    If you set up iPhone parental controls, you might need to turn them off to delete apps. You can't delete pre-installed apps on some older iPhones.

  • How do I delete hidden apps on my iPhone?

    First, unhide an iPhone app: go to your App Library and locate the app, then tap and hold the icon and slide it left. You can then delete the app as normal.

  • How do I delete apps from iCloud?

    To delete apps from iCloud, go to Settings > your name > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups > your device > Show All Apps. Turn off the toggle next to the app that you wish to delete from iCloud.

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