The basic way to remove an app you no longer use
On most phones, deleting an app takes about 10 seconds. The exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone or Android device, but both work the same way: you find the app on your home screen or in your app drawer, press and hold it, then choose delete or uninstall from the menu that appears.
When you delete an app, the program and all its data leave your phone. This frees up storage space and removes any notifications that app was sending you. If you change your mind later, you can reinstall it from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) — your login information is usually saved, so you won't have to set it up from scratch.
The steps below walk you through deletion on both phone types. If your phone looks different from what's described, you may have an older version of the operating system, but the general idea is the same.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, press and hold the app icon on your home screen, tap "Remove App," then confirm you want to delete it.
- On Android, press and hold the app icon, then drag it to the "Uninstall" option that appears at the top of the screen.
- Deleting an app removes it completely from your phone and frees up storage space, but you can reinstall it later from the app store.
- Some apps that came with your phone cannot be deleted, only hidden or disabled, depending on your device.
How to delete an app on iPhone
Start by looking at your home screen — the main page you see when you unlock your phone. Find the app you want to remove and press your finger on it for about two seconds without lifting. A menu will pop up with several options.
Look for the option that says "Remove App" (on newer iPhones) or "Remove" (on older models). Tap it. A second menu will appear asking you to confirm. Choose "Remove from Home Screen" if you want to hide it but keep it on your phone, or "Delete App" if you want to remove it completely. If you choose "Delete App," the phone will ask one more time whether you're sure — tap "Delete" to finish.
If the app you want to delete is not on your home screen, swipe left to find it in your app library, or open the App Store, go to the "Apps" tab at the bottom, tap your profile picture in the top right corner, find the app in your list, swipe left on it, and tap "Delete."
How to delete an app on Android
Find the app on your home screen or open your app drawer (usually a grid icon at the bottom of your screen). Press and hold the app icon for about two seconds. The screen will change and you'll see options appear, often including an "Uninstall" button at the top or a trash can icon.
Drag the app icon upward toward the "Uninstall" option or tap the trash icon directly. The phone will ask you to confirm that you want to uninstall the app. Tap "OK" or "Uninstall" to remove it.
If you cannot find an uninstall option, the app may be a system app that came with your phone. These cannot be deleted, but you can usually disable them by going to Settings, then Apps, finding the app in the list, and tapping "Disable" or "Turn Off." This hides the app and stops it from running in the background.
What happens to your data when you delete an app
When you delete an app, everything it stored on your phone goes away — messages, photos, settings, login information, all of it. The app's files are removed from your storage, which means you get that space back on your phone.
However, if the app backed up your data to the internet (many apps do this automatically), that backup usually stays in the cloud. When you reinstall the app later, you can often sign back in and recover your old data. This is why many apps ask for your email and password when you first open them — they're checking whether you have a backup to restore.
If you're concerned about losing something, check the app's settings before you delete it. Many apps have an option to export your data or send it to your email. Take that step first if the app contains information you want to keep.
When you cannot delete an app
Some apps come built into your phone and cannot be deleted. These are usually things like the phone dialer, messages, camera, or settings. On iPhone, you can hide these apps by removing them from your home screen, but they stay on the phone. On Android, you can disable them through Settings, which stops them from running and hides them from your app drawer.
Apps you downloaded from the app store can always be deleted. If you see a "Disable" option instead of "Uninstall," the app is a system app. If you see "Uninstall," you can remove it completely.
Freeing up phone storage by deleting apps
If your phone is running low on storage, deleting apps you don't use is one of the fastest ways to get space back. Large apps like games, social media, or video streaming services often take up hundreds of megabytes or even gigabytes. Removing a few of these can free up several gigabytes of space.
To see which apps are taking up the most room, go to Settings on your phone. On iPhone, tap "General," then "iPhone Storage" — you'll see a list of apps ranked by size. On Android, go to "Apps" or "process Manager," then look for storage information. Delete the largest apps you no longer use, starting from the top of the list.
Keep in mind that deleting an app only frees up the space the app itself used. Photos, videos, and files stored in other apps won't be affected. If you need more storage after deleting apps, you may need to delete old photos or videos, or clear the cache of apps you're keeping.
Reinstalling an app you deleted
If you delete an app and later want it back, open the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) and search for the app by name. Tap the read or install button. The app will read and install to your phone in a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on its size and your internet speed.
When you open the app for the first time after reinstalling, it may ask you to sign in. Use the same email and password you used before. Many apps will then restore your old data from their backup. Some apps, especially games, may ask whether you want to restore your progress — tap yes if you do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting an app remove it from my app store account?
No. The app store remembers that you downloaded it, so you can reinstall it later without paying again (if it was free) or repurchasing it (if you paid for it). Your purchase history stays in your account forever.
Can I delete multiple apps at once?
On iPhone, you can press and hold one app, then tap other apps while still holding to select multiple, then tap "Remove App" to delete them all together. On Android, most phones require you to delete apps one at a time, though some versions allow you to select multiple apps in the app drawer.
What's the difference between removing and deleting an app on iPhone?
"Remove from Home Screen" hides the app but keeps it on your phone and in your app library. "Delete App" removes it completely. If you're just tired of seeing it, removing from the home screen is faster and you can still use it later by searching for it.
Does deleting an app stop notifications from it?
Yes. Once the app is deleted, it cannot send you notifications. If you only want to stop notifications without deleting the app, go to Settings, find the app in your notification settings, and turn notifications off.
Can I recover an app I accidentally deleted?
Yes. Open your app store, search for the app by name, and reinstall it. Your data may be restored if the app had a backup. If you're worried you deleted something important, reinstall it right away — the sooner you do, the more likely your backup is still available.