How to delete an app on iPhone?

Having too many apps on your iPhone can clutter up your home screen and slow down your phone. When you no longer need an app or want to free up storage space, deleting apps you don’t use is a great solution. Deleting apps on iPhone is easy and straightforward. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to delete apps on iPhone.

Why Should You Delete Apps on iPhone?

There are a few key reasons you may want to delete apps on your iPhone:

• Free up storage space – Apps can take up a lot of storage space on your phone. Deleting unused apps can free up storage for photos, videos, music and more.
• Get rid of clutter – Too many apps on your home screen can make your iPhone feel cluttered and disorganized. Deleting apps helps declutter.
• Improve performance – Having too many apps installed, especially larger apps and games, can slow down your iPhone’s performance. Deleting apps you don’t need can help speed it up.
• Security/privacy – Deleting unused apps gives apps you don’t use anymore less access to your personal data.

How to Delete an Individual App

Deleting a single app on your iPhone is very simple. Follow these steps:

1. Find the app you want to delete on your home screen.
2. Press and hold the app icon until all of the apps start to jiggle.
3. Tap the “X” that appears in the corner of the app you want to delete.
4. Tap “Delete” to confirm.

The app will be removed from your home screen immediately.

Notes

• Deleting an app just removes the app from your phone, not your Apple ID. You can redownload it later from the App Store if you change your mind.
• Some built-in Apple apps can’t be deleted, only hidden. The “X” will not appear on these apps.
• Deleting an app does not delete any related data or documents. These remain saved until manually deleted.

How to Delete Multiple Apps at Once

If you want to delete several apps at the same time, you can do so right from your home screen:

1. Press and hold on any app icon until all icons start to jiggle.
2. Tap the icons of all the apps you want to delete so they are marked with a checkmark.
3. Tap “Delete” in the bottom right corner.
4. Confirm again by tapping “Delete” to remove all the selected apps.

This will remove all the marked apps at once. Much faster than deleting one by one!

Notes

• You can delete up to 10 apps at once using this method.
• Built-in apps cannot be deleted this way, only third-party apps.
• Recently deleted apps go into the “Recently Deleted” folder and can be recovered if needed.

How to Delete Apps from the App Library

The App Library on newer iPhones provides an easy way to delete multiple apps right from the search screen:

1. Go to your App Library by swiping left past all your home screen pages.
2. Tap “Search” or scroll to find the apps you want to remove.
3. Tap “Select” in the top right corner.
4. Tap all the apps you want to delete so they have a checkmark.
5. Tap “Delete” in the bottom right corner.
6. Confirm by tapping “Delete” again and the apps will be removed.

You can delete tons of apps in just a few taps this way!

Notes

• You can only delete third-party apps, not built-in Apple apps.
• Recently deleted apps go to the “Recently Deleted” folder for 30 days.
• Deleting an app from the App Library also deletes it from your home screen.

How to Permanently Delete Apps

When you delete apps the normal way, they get stored in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days before being permanently erased. If you want to permanently delete an app right away, follow these steps:

1. Open the App Store app.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
3. Scroll down and tap “Purchased”.
4. Under the “My Purchases” tab, find the app you want to delete.
5. Swipe left on the app and tap “Delete”.
6. Tap “Delete App” to confirm and permanently remove the app.

This will immediately and permanently erase the app from your account and phone with no Recently Deleted recovery period.

Notes

• You need an internet connection to permanently delete apps this way.
• Built-in Apple apps still can’t be permanently deleted, only hidden.
• You can redownload and install an app again later if needed.

How to Delete All Apps from iPhone

If you really want to start fresh and delete ALL your apps, you can easily do so by erasing your iPhone completely:

1. Go to Settings > General > Reset.
2. Tap “Erase All Content and Settings”.
3. Enter your passcode if prompted.
4. Tap “Erase Now” to confirm and erase your iPhone.
5. Go through the setup process to start your iPhone with no apps again.

This resets your entire iPhone back to factory settings, deleting every single app, photo, setting, etc.

Warnings

• Erasing your iPhone deletes everything with no recovery, so backup first.
• You’ll have to reconfigure all settings, accounts, etc. afterwards.
• Built-in Apple apps will still be reinstalled after erasing.

How to Delete Apps Using iTunes

For those who still sync their iPhone with iTunes on a computer, you can delete apps using iTunes:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using the USB cable.
2. Open iTunes and select your iPhone.
3. Click on the Apps tab in the sidebar.
4. Scroll to find the app you want to delete and click the “X” icon to remove it.
5. Click “Apply” to sync the changes to your iPhone and delete the app.

The app will be deleted from your iPhone but not your iTunes library, allowing you to add it again later if needed.

Notes

• You need to physically connect your iPhone to your computer via USB.
• Built-in Apple apps can be hidden but not permanently deleted.
• Changes don’t apply until you click the “Apply” button.

How to Stop Automatic App Downloads and Deletions

iOS can automatically download apps you’ve downloaded on other devices and delete infrequently used apps to save space. Here’s how to disable this:

1. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
2. Under Apps, toggle OFF “App Download & Install”.
3. Toggle OFF “Offload Unused Apps”.

This prevents iOS from automatically manipulating your apps without your knowledge.

Other Ways to Free Up Storage Space

Along with deleting apps, here are some other tips for freeing up storage space on your iPhone:

• Offload unused apps – This keeps the app but deletes its data.
• Delete old text messages and email attachments.
• Remove songs and videos you no longer need.
• Backup photos to cloud storage and delete from iPhone.
• Turn on iCloud Photo Library to store full resolution photos in the cloud.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I delete an app off my iPhone 11?

Deleting an app is the same whether you have an iPhone 11, 12, 13 or any other model. Press and hold any app icon until they all start to jiggle, then tap the “X” on the app you want to delete and confirm by tapping “Delete”.

What happens when you delete an app on iPhone?

Deleting an iPhone app removes the app from your home screen and frees up storage space. The app itself is stored in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days before being permanently erased. App data and documents are not deleted.

Can you delete preinstalled apps on iPhone?

No, you cannot delete built-in Apple apps that come preinstalled on your iPhone, such as Messages, Safari, Mail, etc. You can only hide these apps from your home screen.

How do I delete all apps on iPhone at once?

To delete all apps at once, go to Settings > General > Reset and select “Erase All Content and Settings”. This resets your iPhone back to factory default with no apps installed.

Is it safe to delete apps on iPhone?

Yes, it is generally safe to delete apps from your iPhone as long as you are not deleting integral system apps required for your iPhone to run properly. Make sure to backup your iPhone before deleting just in case.

Do deleted apps stay in your purchase history?

Yes, apps you delete remain in your iTunes/App Store purchase history and can be downloaded again in the future if needed. To permanently remove an app from your history, you must delete it from your account’s purchase history.

Conclusion

Learning how to delete apps on iPhone is an easy and useful iPhone skill to have. With just a few taps, you can remove unwanted apps to clean up your home screen, free up storage space, increase security, and improve performance. Just be cautious not to delete any critical system apps. Remember that deleted apps can still be recovered from the Recently Deleted folder for up to 30 days. So don’t hesitate to delete those unused apps cluttering up your iPhone!