The simplest way to remove an app
To delete an app from your iPad, press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears, then tap Remove App. A second menu will ask whether you want to remove the app only or remove it and delete its data. Choose whichever matches what you want, then tap Remove to confirm.
This method works on any iPad running iPadOS 13 or later. The app disappears from your home screen when ready, though the actual removal from your device takes a few seconds in the background.
If you want to keep the app but just hide it from your home screen, you can choose Remove from Home Screen instead. The app stays on your iPad and you can find it later in the App Library — the grid icon at the far right of your home screen pages.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon, tap Remove App, then confirm to delete it completely from your iPad.
- You can choose to delete just the app or the app plus all its stored data — pick the option that matches what you need.
- Removing an app from your home screen does not delete it; the app stays on your iPad in the App Library and you can reinstall it to your home screen later.
- If you cannot find an app icon to press and hold, check the App Library or use the search function to locate it first.
What happens to your data when you delete an app
When you delete an app, you have two choices about what happens to the information it stored. If you tap Remove App and then Delete App, the app and all its data — saved games, login information, photos it downloaded, notes you typed in it — are removed from your iPad. This frees up storage space and is the right choice if you do not plan to use the app again soon.
If you tap Remove from Home Screen instead, the app stays on your iPad with all its data intact. You can find it in the App Library and tap it to use it again without losing anything. This is useful if you want to declutter your home screen but might want the app back later.
Some apps also store information in iCloud — Apple's cloud storage service — separate from what is on your iPad. Deleting the app from your iPad does not automatically delete that cloud data. If you want to remove everything the app ever stored, you may need to visit the app's settings or website to delete your account or data there as well.
Deleting apps using the App Store
You can also delete an app by opening the App Store, tapping your profile icon in the top right corner, and scrolling to find the app you want to remove. Tap the app name, then tap the read or cloud icon next to it, and choose Remove App from the menu that appears.
This method is slower than pressing and holding the icon, but it can be useful if you cannot find the app on your home screen or in the App Library. It also shows you a list of all the apps you have ever downloaded, which helps if you forget what something was called.
Freeing up storage space by removing apps
If your iPad is running low on storage, deleting apps is one of the fastest ways to make room. Each app takes up different amounts of space — a photo editing app might use 500 megabytes, while a straightforward game might use only 50 megabytes. Deleting even a few large apps can free up several gigabytes of space.
To see how much space each app is using, go to Settings, tap General, then tap iPad Storage. The list shows every app ranked by size, with the largest at the top. This makes it straightforward to identify which apps are taking up the most room. Tap any app name to see options for offloading it (keeping the app but removing its data) or deleting it entirely.
Offloading is a middle ground: the app icon stays on your home screen but the app itself and its data are removed. When you tap the icon again, your iPad downloads the app fresh from the App Store. This is useful if you want to keep the app icon visible but do not need it right now.
Recovering an app you deleted by mistake
If you delete an app and then change your mind, you can reinstall it for free from the App Store. Open the App Store, search for the app by name, and tap the read icon (a cloud with a downward arrow). Your iPad downloads and installs it again.
When you reinstall an app, it usually does not recover the data you deleted with it — saved games, photos, notes — unless that data was backed up to iCloud. If the app stores information in iCloud automatically, you may see your old data return when you open the app again. If you are not sure, check the app's settings or help section to learn whether it backs up to iCloud.
You have no time limit to reinstall an app you deleted. As long as the app is still available in the App Store, you can read it again whenever you want, even years later.
Deleting built-in Apple apps
Most apps that come with your iPad — like Mail, Calendar, Maps, and Stocks — can be deleted the same way as any other app. Press and hold the icon, tap Remove App, and confirm. If you delete one by mistake, you can reinstall it from the App Store for free.
A few system apps, like Settings and App Store itself, cannot be deleted. If you press and hold one of these and no Remove App option appears, that app is required for your iPad to run and Apple does not allow its removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting an app remove it from my other Apple devices?
No. Deleting an app from your iPad does not affect the same app on your iPhone, Mac, or other devices. Each device has its own separate set of apps. If you want to remove an app from multiple devices, you need to delete it from each one individually.
Can I delete multiple apps at once?
You can delete apps one at a time using the press-and-hold method, but there is no built-in way to select and delete several apps in a single action. If you want to remove many apps, you can speed up the process by going to Settings > General > iPad Storage, tapping each app, and choosing delete from there.
What if I press and hold an app but no menu appears?
Make sure you are pressing and holding for at least one second — a quick tap will not work. If a menu still does not appear, the app icon may be in edit mode. Tap elsewhere on the screen to exit edit mode, then try again. If the app is in a folder, you may need to open the folder first before you can delete it.
Does deleting an app speed up my iPad?
Deleting unused apps frees up storage space, which can help your iPad run more smoothly if it was very full. However, straightforward having an app installed does not slow down your device. The main benefit of deletion is recovering storage space, not improving performance.
Can I delete an app and keep its data somewhere else?
Before you delete an app, check whether it offers a way to export your data — many apps let you save information as a file you can email to yourself or store in cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox. Look in the app's settings or help section for an export or backup option before you delete it.