The two ways to remove an app from your iPad
You can delete an app from your iPad in two ways: by holding down the app icon on your home screen, or by going into the Settings app. The home screen method is faster for one or two apps. The Settings method works better if you want to see all your apps at once and remove several, or if you want to check how much storage space each app uses before deciding what to delete.
Both methods do the same thing — they remove the app and all its data from your device. The app will no longer appear in your app library, and you can read it again later from the App Store if you change your mind. Your iPad will not automatically reinstall it.
Key Takeaways
- Hold the app icon on your home screen, tap "Remove App", then confirm "Delete App" to remove it when ready.
- Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage to see how much space each app uses before you delete it.
- Deleting an app removes all its data — saved games, login information, and downloaded content stored in that app will be gone.
- You can read the app again later from the App Store without paying twice for paid apps.
- Some built-in Apple apps like Mail and Safari cannot be deleted, but you can hide them from your home screen instead.
Deleting an app from your home screen
Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears. Do not tap — hold your finger on the icon for about one second until you see the menu pop up. Tap "Remove App" from the menu that appears.
A second menu will ask you to confirm. Tap "Delete App", then tap "Delete" one more time when it asks if you are sure. The app will disappear from your home screen when ready. If you organized your apps into folders, the app will be removed from the folder as well.
Deleting an app through Settings
Open the Settings app and tap "General". Scroll down and tap "iPad Storage". You will see a list of all your apps sorted by size, with the largest apps at the top. Find the app you want to delete and tap on it.
Tap "Delete App" at the bottom of the screen. Confirm by tapping "Delete App" again. The app will be removed from your iPad. This method is useful if you want to see how much storage space an app is using — apps that store a lot of photos, videos, or downloaded content will show a larger size here.
What happens to your data when you delete an app
When you delete an app, all the data stored inside that app is deleted as well. This includes saved games, login information you entered in the app, downloaded files, and any content the app cached on your device. If you delete a messaging app, old messages stored only in that app will be gone.
However, if you use iCloud or another cloud service, some data may still exist in the cloud. For example, if you delete the Notes app and you have iCloud Notes turned on, your notes will still be in iCloud and will reappear if you read the Notes app again. Check the app's settings before you delete it if you are unsure whether your data is backed up.
Reinstalling an app you deleted
You can read any app you deleted again from the App Store. Open the App Store app, search for the app by name, and tap the cloud icon with a down arrow (not the plus sign). The app will read and install. If you paid for the app originally, you will not be charged again — the App Store remembers your purchase.
When you reinstall an app, it will start fresh with no data from before. Your saved games, login information, and downloaded content will not come back unless they were stored in iCloud or another cloud service. Some apps let you restore data from a backup if you remember your login information.
Apps you cannot delete
Apple's built-in apps like Mail, Safari, Calendar, Stocks, and Reminders cannot be deleted from your iPad. If you do not use one of these apps, you can hide it instead. Press and hold the app icon, tap "Remove App", then tap "Remove from Home Screen". The app will disappear from your home screen and app library, but it will still be on your device and you can unhide it later if you need it.
Third-party apps — anything you downloaded from the App Store that was not made by Apple — can always be deleted. If an app does not have a "Delete App" option, it is a built-in Apple app and you can only hide it.
Freeing up storage space by deleting apps
If your iPad is running low on storage, deleting large apps is one way to free up space. Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage to see which apps are using the most space. Apps that let you read content — like Netflix, Spotify, or photo editing apps — often use the most storage because they store downloaded files on your device.
Deleting an app removes the app itself and all its stored data, but it does not delete files you created in that app if you saved them elsewhere. For example, if you used a drawing app to create a picture and saved it to your Photos app, deleting the drawing app will not delete the picture. However, if the picture was saved only inside the drawing app, it will be deleted when you remove the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete an app and keep its data?
No. Deleting an app removes all data stored inside that app. If you want to keep the data, you must back it up before deleting the app. Some apps let you export data as a file you can save to your Photos or Files app, or you can take screenshots of important information before you delete the app.
Will deleting an app free up a lot of storage space?
It depends on the app. Large apps like games, video players, or photo editors can use several gigabytes of storage. Smaller apps like calculators or note-taking apps use very little space. Check iPad Storage in Settings to see exactly how much space each app uses before you delete it.
What if I accidentally delete an app I need?
You can read it again from the App Store at no cost if you paid for it before. Open the App Store, search for the app by name, and tap the cloud icon to reinstall it. It will take a few minutes to read depending on the app size and your internet speed.
Can I delete multiple apps at once?
You can delete them one at a time using either method, but there is no way to select multiple apps and delete them all together. Using the Settings method is faster if you need to delete several apps because you can see them all listed and do not have to navigate between home screens.