The two ways to delete an app from your iPhone

You can delete an app in two ways: by holding down its icon on your home screen, or by going into your iPhone's Settings. The home screen method is faster if you know which app you want to remove. The Settings method works better if you want to see how much space each app takes up before you decide what to delete.

Both methods remove the app completely from your phone. The app's data goes with it — if you reinstall it later, you start fresh. Neither method harms your iPhone or other apps.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold the app icon on your home screen for two seconds, tap "Remove App", then tap "Delete App" to remove it when ready.
  • Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see how much space each app uses before deciding what to delete.
  • Deleting an app removes its data from your phone, so reinstalling it later starts with a blank slate.
  • You cannot delete some built-in Apple apps like Mail or Maps, but you can hide them from your home screen instead.
  • If you change your mind, you can reinstall any app you deleted from the App Store at no cost.

Deleting an app from your home screen

Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears. This takes about two seconds — do not tap, just hold. A row of options will pop up above the icon.

Tap "Remove App" from the menu. 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 disappears from your phone when ready.

This method works on any iPhone running iOS 13 or newer. If your phone is older, press and hold the icon, then tap the minus sign or "Remove" option that appears.

Deleting an app through Settings to check storage space first

Open Settings and scroll down to find "General". Tap it, then tap "iPhone Storage". You will see a list of every app on your phone, sorted by size — the largest apps appear at the top.

Find the app you want to remove and tap its name. A screen will show you how much space it uses and when you last opened it. Tap "Delete App" at the bottom, then confirm by tapping "Delete".

This route takes a few more taps, but it shows you exactly which apps are taking up the most room. If your phone is running slow or you are running out of storage, this is the best way to see what is worth removing.

What happens to your data when you delete an app

When you delete an app, everything it stored on your phone goes with it — messages, photos, settings, login information, all of it. The app does not send this data to Apple or anywhere else; it straightforward erases it from your device.

If you reinstall the app later from the App Store, it will not remember your old settings or data. You will have to log in again and set it up from the beginning. The only exception is if the app backs up its data to a cloud service like iCloud or Google Drive — in that case, reinstalling might let you restore from that backup, but that depends on how the app itself is built.

This is why it is worth thinking before you delete an app you use regularly. If you just want to free up space temporarily, you can also offload an app instead — that removes it but keeps its data, so reinstalling it later restores everything. To offload, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, tap the app, and tap "Offload App".

Apps you cannot delete and what to do instead

Apple does not let you delete its built-in apps like Mail, Messages, Maps, Calendar, Stocks, or Reminders. If you try to delete one, the "Delete App" option straightforward will not appear.

If you do not use one of these apps, you can hide it instead. Press and hold the icon, tap "Remove App", then tap "Remove from Home Screen" (not "Delete App" — that option will be grayed out). The app stays on your phone but disappears from your home screen. You can still find it by searching for it or by going to your App Library.

If you truly do not want these apps on your phone at all, the only option is to reset your entire iPhone to factory settings, which erases everything. That is not worth doing just to remove one app.

Reinstalling an app you deleted

Open the App Store and search for the app by name. Tap the cloud icon with a down arrow (not the plus sign — that is for a different action). The app downloads and installs automatically.

You will not be charged again, even if the app originally cost money. Your purchase history is tied to your Apple ID, so the App Store knows you own it. The reinstall takes a few minutes depending on the app's size and your internet speed.

Why you might delete an app instead of just not using it

Apps take up storage space even when you never open them. A large app like a game or video editor can use hundreds of megabytes or even gigabytes. If your iPhone is running low on storage, deleting apps you do not use regularly is one of the fastest ways to free up room.

Apps also run background processes — checking for notifications, refreshing content, using location services — even when you are not looking at them. Deleting apps you do not need can make your phone's battery last longer and reduce how much data it uses.

Deleting an app also removes it from your lock screen and notification center, so you stop seeing alerts from it. If an app sends notifications you find annoying, deleting it is more thorough than just turning off its notifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting an app delete my account with that service?

No. Deleting the app only removes it from your phone. Your account with the service — whether it is a social media account, email account, or anything else — remains active. If you reinstall the app and log back in, your account is still there.

Can I delete multiple apps at once?

Not in a single action, but you can delete them quickly one after another. Press and hold the first app, tap "Remove App", confirm the deletion, then move to the next app. The whole process takes just a few seconds per app.

What is the difference between offloading and deleting?

Offloading removes the app but keeps its data and settings. Deleting removes both the app and everything it stored. Offload if you might use the app again soon; delete if you are sure you will not need it or want to completely clear its data.

Will deleting an app make my iPhone faster?

Possibly, but only if the app was running background processes or using a lot of storage. Deleting one app will not make a noticeable difference unless your phone was already running very low on storage or the app was particularly heavy.

Can I undo a deletion if I change my mind right after?

Once you confirm the deletion, the app is gone. There is no undo button. You will need to reinstall it from the App Store, which takes a minute or two. This is why the iPhone asks you to confirm twice before actually deleting.