How To Delete Apps On iPhone: Essential Guide

Quick Summary: Deleting apps on your iPhone is simple! Just tap and hold an app icon until it jiggles, then tap the ‘X’ or the minus sign, and confirm. This frees up storage and declutters your screen.

Feeling like your iPhone is running out of space? Or maybe you’ve downloaded an app you no longer use and want to tidy things up? It’s a common situation, and the good news is that learning how to delete apps on your iPhone is incredibly straightforward. You don’t need to be a tech wizard to do it! This guide will walk you through the easiest ways to remove apps, helping you reclaim storage and keep your device organized. We’ll cover everything from the quickest methods to a slightly more thorough approach in your iPhone’s settings.

Why Delete Apps?

Before we dive into the “how,” let’s quickly touch on the “why.” There are several great reasons to delete apps from your iPhone:

• Freeing Up Storage Space: This is the most common reason. Apps, especially games and those with lots of media, can take up a significant amount of your iPhone’s storage. Deleting unused apps is one of the fastest ways to make room for new photos, videos, or even just to improve your iPhone’s performance.
• Improving Performance: While iPhones are powerful, too many apps running in the background can sometimes slow things down. Removing unnecessary apps can help your iPhone run more smoothly.
• Decluttering Your Home Screen: A clean home screen is a happy home screen! Getting rid of apps you don’t use can make it easier to find the ones you do.
• Security and Privacy: If an app is no longer updated or you’re unsure about its security practices, deleting it can be a good privacy move.
• Saving Battery Life: Some apps consume battery even when not actively in use. Removing them can contribute to longer battery life.

Method 1: The Quickest Way – From the Home Screen

This is the method most people use because it’s incredibly fast and intuitive. Follow these simple steps:

1. Find the App: Locate the app icon on your Home Screen that you want to delete.
2. Tap and Hold: Press and hold down on the app icon. Don’t just tap it; keep your finger on it for a second or two.
3. Enter “Jiggle Mode”: You’ll see the app icons start to shake or “jiggle.” This indicates that you’re in editing mode.
4. Tap the Delete Icon:
   • On iPhones running iOS 13 or later, you’ll see a context menu pop up. Tap “Remove App”. Then, select “Delete App” and confirm by tapping “Delete” again.
   • On iPhones running iOS 12 or earlier, you’ll see a small minus sign (–) appear in the top-left corner of the app icon. Tap this minus sign.
5. Confirm Deletion: A confirmation prompt will appear asking if you’re sure you want to delete the app and its data. Tap “Delete”.

Once you confirm, the app will be removed from your Home Screen and your iPhone. To stop the jiggling, tap anywhere on the screen that isn’t an app icon, or press the Home button (if your iPhone has one).

What About Apps That Can’t Be Deleted This Way?

You might notice that some app icons don’t have a minus sign or don’t offer the delete option. These are usually essential system apps that Apple includes with your iPhone. For example, you can’t delete apps like Safari, Camera, or Messages using this method. However, Apple has allowed users to delete many built-in apps since iOS 13, like Stocks, Mail, Maps, and more. If you don’t see the delete option for an app you believe is removable, try the next method!

Method 2: Deleting Apps Through Settings (More Control)

This method is especially useful if you want to see exactly how much space an app is using before you delete it, or if you encountered an app that didn’t have the delete option on the Home Screen. It also allows you to “offload” apps, which we’ll discuss later.

1. Open Settings: Find and tap the grey “Settings” app icon on your Home Screen.
2. Go to General: Scroll down and tap on “General”.
3. Tap iPhone Storage: Within the General menu, you’ll see an option for “iPhone Storage”. Tap on it.
4. Wait for Load: Your iPhone will take a moment to calculate and display a list of all your apps, sorted by how much storage they are using (from largest to smallest). This can take a few seconds.
5. Select the App: Scroll through the list and tap on the app you wish to delete.
6. Choose Your Action: You’ll see two main options:
   • Offload App: This option removes the app itself but keeps its documents and data. If you reinstall the app later, your settings and data will be restored. This is great for apps you don’t use often but might need again, as it frees up significant storage space.
   • Delete App: This option removes the app and all of its associated data permanently. This is the action you want if you’re sure you don’t need the app or its data anymore.
7. Confirm: Tap either “Offload App” or “Delete App”, and then confirm your choice when prompted.

This method gives you a clear overview of your storage and allows you to make more informed decisions about which apps to remove.

Understanding “Offload App” vs. “Delete App”

It’s important to understand the difference between these two options, as “Offload App” can be a very useful feature:

Think of “Offload App” as temporarily packing away an item you don’t need right now but want to keep its contents safe for later. “Delete App” is like donating or discarding it entirely.

Automatically Offload Unused Apps

To help manage storage automatically, your iPhone can offload apps that you haven’t used in a while. This is a fantastic feature if you’re prone to downloading many apps but only use a few regularly.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap iPhone Storage.
4. Scroll down to the bottom.
5. Toggle “Offload Unused Apps” ON. It’s usually located just above the list of apps.

When this setting is enabled, your iPhone will automatically offload apps that haven’t been opened for a significant period. You can still access and reinstall them from the App Store or through the “Not on This iPhone” section in your Settings. If you prefer to manage this manually, you can turn this automatic offloading off and use the “Offload App” option for specific apps as needed.

What Happens to App Data When You Delete an App?

This is a crucial point. When you delete an app:

• Most Data is Gone: Unless you specifically chose “Offload App” via Settings, all data associated with that app—settings, game progress, downloaded content, user profiles, etc.—is permanently erased from your iPhone.
• iCloud Data Might Remain: Some apps use iCloud to sync data. If the app was designed to sync its data with iCloud, and you have iCloud Sync enabled for that app, some of your information might still be stored in your iCloud account. You would typically need to go into your iCloud settings and manage storage there to remove it completely.
• Subscription Data: If you had a subscription for an app, deleting the app does NOT cancel your subscription. You must cancel subscriptions separately through your Apple ID settings to avoid further charges. We’ll cover how to manage subscriptions next.

How to Cancel App Subscriptions Before Deleting

This is a common pitfall! Deleting an app doesn’t automatically cancel any subscriptions you have for it. To avoid unwanted charges, you need to cancel subscriptions through your Apple ID settings:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap your Name/Apple ID at the very top of the Settings screen.
3. Tap “Subscriptions”.
4. Review your active subscriptions.
5. Tap on the subscription you want to cancel.
6. Scroll down and tap “Cancel Subscription”. Confirm your cancellation.

It’s always a good practice to check your subscriptions before deleting an app, especially if it’s a paid service or offers in-app purchases.

Can You Reinstall Deleted Apps?

Yes, absolutely! If you delete an app and later decide you want it back, you can easily reinstall it from the App Store.

• Open the App Store.
• Tap the “Search” icon (magnifying glass) at the bottom right.
• Type the name of the app you want to find.
• Look for the app in the search results. If you previously purchased or downloaded it (even if it was free), you’ll see a cloud icon with a downward arrow next to its name, instead of a price.
• Tap the cloud icon to download and install the app again.

If you had previously offloaded the app through Settings, tapping the grayed-out icon on your Home Screen will also reinstall it, often with your data intact.

What About System Apps?

As mentioned earlier, some apps are deeply integrated into iOS and cannot be deleted using the standard methods. These include core apps like Phone, Messages, Safari, Camera, Photos, Settings, and the App Store. However, since iOS 13, Apple has allowed users to delete many other built-in apps, such as:

• Apple Books
• Calculator
• Calendar
• Compass
• FaceTime
• Find My Friends
• Home
• iBooks Store
• iTunes Store
• Mail
• Maps
• Music
• News
• Notes
• Podcasts
• Reminders
• Shortcuts
• Siri & Search
• Stocks
• Tips
• Voice Memos
• Watch app
• Weather

If you find one of these apps taking up space and you don’t use it, you can delete it using Method 1 or Method 2. If you accidentally delete a system app that Apple does allow you to remove (like Mail or Safari), you can always reinstall it from the App Store.

Troubleshooting: App Won’t Delete?

Occasionally, you might run into issues when trying to delete an app. Here are a few common problems and their solutions:

• App is part of a Home Screen Folder: If the app is inside a folder on your Home Screen, you need to remove it from the folder first. Open the folder, tap and hold the app icon until it jiggles, then drag it out of the folder onto your Home Screen. Then, you can proceed with deleting it from the Home Screen.
• Parental Controls or Restrictions: If you have Screen Time or other restrictions set up, you might be prevented from deleting apps. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases > Deleting Apps. Ensure it’s set to “Allow.”
• App is Currently Running: Sometimes, an app might resist deletion if it’s actively performing a task. Try closing the app completely by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (or double-pressing the Home button on older iPhones) and then closing the app from the app switcher. Then, try deleting it again.
• System Glitch: A simple restart can often resolve temporary software glitches. Press and hold the side button (and one of the volume buttons on newer iPhones) until the power off slider appears, slide to power off, wait 30 seconds, and then press and hold the side button to turn it back on.
• App Not Owned (Third-Party): Some apps that come pre-installed with your iPhone are not actually Apple apps but were licensed by Apple. These might behave differently. However, the methods described above should generally work.

FAQ

Q1: How do I know if an app is using a lot of storage?

A1: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. This screen lists all your apps sorted by storage usage, showing you exactly how much space each one occupies.

Q2: Will deleting an app delete my photos and videos?

A2: No, deleting an app does not delete your photos or videos unless those photos/videos were specifically stored within that app’s private data and not in your main Photos library or iCloud Photos.

Q3: What’s the difference between deleting an app and offloading it?

A3: Deleting an app removes the app and all its data permanently. Offloading an app removes the app but keeps its data and documents, allowing you to quickly reinstall it later with your settings intact.

Q4: Can I delete Apple’s built-in apps like Safari or Camera?

A4: No, core system apps like Safari, Camera, Photos, and Messages cannot be deleted. However, many other Apple apps (like Mail, Maps, Stocks) can be deleted if you don’t use them.

Q5: If I delete an app, will it cancel my subscription?

A5: No, deleting an app does not cancel its subscription. You must cancel subscriptions through your Apple ID settings to avoid continued charges.

Q6: My app won’t delete. What should I do?

A6: First, ensure the app isn’t in a folder. Try closing the app and restarting your iPhone. Also, check if Screen Time restrictions are preventing deletion. If issues persist, contact Apple Support.

Conclusion

Learning how to delete apps on your iPhone is a fundamental skill for managing your device effectively. Whether you’re looking to free up precious storage space, improve performance, or simply declutter your Home Screen, the methods we’ve covered—from the quick tap-and-hold on your Home Screen to the more detailed control within Settings—make it easy. Remember the distinction between “Offload App” and “Delete App” to make the best choice for your needs, and always double-check your subscriptions before removing an app that offers paid services. With these steps, you’re now well-equipped to keep your iPhone tidy, efficient, and running smoothly!