The fastest way to delete an app
Press and hold the app icon on your home screen or in the App Library until a menu appears. Tap Remove App, then tap Remove from Home Screen if you want to keep it installed but hidden, or tap Delete App to remove it entirely. Confirm by tapping Delete when prompted.
That's the method most people use because it's the quickest. The app disappears when ready, though if you chose to remove it from the home screen only, it stays on your phone taking up storage space — you can still find it by searching or opening the App Library.
If you want the app completely gone from your iPhone, choose Delete App at the first prompt. This removes the app and all the data it stored on your phone, like saved games, login information, or cached files.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon, tap Remove App, then Delete App to remove it entirely from your iPhone.
- Deleting an app also removes the data it stored on your phone, so you lose saved settings and login information unless the app's company backs them up to the cloud.
- You can reinstall a deleted app later from the App Store at no cost if you originally downloaded it free, or if you purchased it, you can redownload it without paying again.
- Some apps that came with your iPhone cannot be deleted, but you can remove them from your home screen and App Library using the same method.
What happens to your data when you delete an app
When you delete an app, your iPhone removes the app itself and the local data it stored — things like saved games, downloaded files, or cached photos. If you reinstall the app later, that data is gone unless the app's maker backed it up to their servers or to iCloud.
Some apps do back up their data automatically. For example, if you delete Gmail and reinstall it, your emails are still there because Google stores them on Gmail's servers, not just on your phone. But if you delete a game with local save files, those saves disappear unless the game developer set up cloud saving.
If you're unsure whether an app backs up its data, check the app's settings before you delete it. Look for options like "Cloud Sync" or "Backup" — if you see them and they're turned on, your data is probably safe. If you're deleting an app you paid for and want to keep the data, take a screenshot of important information first.
Reinstalling an app you deleted
Open the App Store, tap the search icon at the bottom, and search for the app by name. When you find it, tap the cloud icon with a down arrow (if you downloaded it before) or the price button (if it was paid). Your iPhone will reinstall it without charging you again.
This works because Apple keeps a record of every app you've ever downloaded on your account. Even if you deleted it years ago, the App Store remembers and lets you redownload it for free. If the app has been removed from the App Store entirely, you won't be able to reinstall it — this happens when developers stop supporting an app or when Apple removes it for policy violations.
Apps you cannot delete from your iPhone
Some apps that came pre-installed with your iPhone cannot be deleted, including Phone, Messages, Mail, Safari, Camera, Photos, Health, and Wallet. You can remove them from your home screen and App Library by pressing and holding the icon and choosing Remove from Home Screen, but the app itself stays on your phone.
If you don't use one of these built-in apps, removing it from your home screen keeps it out of sight without wasting effort trying to delete it. You can still find it by searching or by opening the App Library and scrolling to the "Utilities" or "Productivity" section.
Freeing up storage space by deleting apps
If your iPhone is running low on storage, deleting large apps can help. To see which apps take up the most space, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. The list shows every app ranked by size, with the largest at the top.
Games and photo or video editing apps tend to be the biggest storage hogs. If you delete an app and later want it back, you can reinstall it from the App Store — the reinstall usually takes less time than the original read because your phone is already set up for it.
Deleting an app is faster than other storage-saving methods like clearing your browser cache or deleting old photos, but it only helps if you're willing to lose access to that app. If you use the app occasionally but want to save space, you could instead delete the app's cached data by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, tapping the app name, and choosing Offload App — this removes the app but keeps your data, so reinstalling it later restores everything.
Deleting apps to improve security and privacy
Removing apps you no longer use reduces the number of programs that can access your location, contacts, photos, and microphone. Each app you install asks for permission to use these features, and even apps you stopped using can still request access in the background.
If you're concerned about a specific app's privacy practices, deleting it is the most direct way to stop it from collecting your data. You can check what permissions any app has by going to Settings > Privacy and scrolling through each category — Location, Contacts, Photos, Microphone, and others. If you see an app you don't recognize or don't use, that's a good candidate for deletion.
Deleting an app also removes any tracking cookies or login tokens it stored on your phone. If you were logged into that app and it was compromised by hackers, deleting it means you should change your password for that service on another device, since the app may have stored your credentials locally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete an app and then change my mind?
Yes. Open the App Store, search for the app, and tap the cloud icon to reinstall it. Your data is gone unless the app's maker backed it up to their servers, but the app itself comes back quickly. This works for any app you've ever downloaded on your Apple account, even if you deleted it years ago.
What's the difference between removing an app from the home screen and deleting it?
Removing from the home screen hides the app but leaves it on your phone taking up storage. Deleting removes it entirely. You can still find a removed app by searching or opening the App Library, but a deleted app is completely gone until you reinstall it.
Does deleting an app delete my account with that service?
No. Deleting the app only removes the software from your phone. Your account with that service stays active on their servers. If you reinstall the app, you can log back in with the same username and password. To actually close your account, you usually need to visit the company's website or contact their support.
Will deleting an app free up a lot of storage space?
It depends on the app. Large games or video apps can free up several gigabytes, while small utility apps might only free up a few hundred megabytes. Check Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see which apps are taking up the most space before you decide what to delete.
Can someone else delete my apps if they have my iPhone?
Yes, if they have physical access to your unlocked phone, they can delete any app. To prevent this, use a strong passcode and enable Face ID or Touch ID. You can also set up Screen Time restrictions in Settings > Screen Time to require a passcode before allowing app deletion, though this also applies to you.