You can disable apps on iPhone in two ways: turn off notifications and background activity, or hide the app from your home screen

Disabling an app means stopping it from running in the background, sending notifications, or appearing on your home screen — without actually removing it from your phone. This is useful when you want to keep an app installed but don't want it cluttering your screen or draining battery. iPhone gives you two main paths: you can restrict what an app does while keeping it installed, or you can hide it entirely and reinstall it later if you change your mind.

The method you choose depends on whether you want the app completely out of sight or just quieter. If you use an app occasionally but don't want constant notifications, restricting its permissions is faster. If you never use it and want it off your home screen, hiding it takes seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • You can turn off notifications, location access, and background app refresh for any app in Settings without deleting it.
  • Hiding an app removes it from your home screen and app library but keeps it installed, so you can search for it later.
  • Offloading an app removes it from storage but saves your data, letting you reinstall it without losing saved progress.
  • Restricting app permissions in Settings stops apps from accessing your camera, microphone, photos, and location without uninstalling them.

Turn off notifications and background activity

Open Settings, then tap Notifications. Scroll down and find the app you want to disable. Tap it, then toggle off Allow Notifications. This stops the app from sending alerts to your lock screen and notification center, but the app still runs if you open it manually.

To stop an app from using battery in the background, go to Settings, then General, then Background App Refresh. Find the app and toggle it off. The app will no longer check for updates or run tasks when you're not actively using it. You can do this for multiple apps at once to improve battery life.

You can also restrict what an app can access. Go to Settings, then Privacy, and tap the permission you want to limit — Location Services, Camera, Microphone, Photos, or Contacts. Find the app and change its permission from Always or While Using to Never, or choose Ask Next Time to get a prompt each time the app tries to use that feature.

Hide an app from your home screen

Press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears. Tap Remove App, then choose Remove from Home Screen. The app stays installed on your phone but disappears from view. You can still find it by swiping down on your home screen and searching for it by name, or by opening the App Library (swipe to your last home screen page).

If you want to put the app back on your home screen later, search for it, press and hold the icon, tap Add to Home Screen, and choose where you want it. This method is useful for apps you rarely use but might need someday — like a banking app you only check monthly, or a tool you use once a year.

Offload an app to free up storage

Offloading removes the app from your phone's storage but keeps your saved data and login information. Go to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage. Scroll down and find the app. Tap it, then tap Offload App. A dialog will ask you to confirm — tap Offload again.

The app icon stays on your home screen but shows a small cloud with a read arrow. When you tap it, your phone downloads and reinstalls the app, and all your saved data reappears. This is helpful when you want to reclaim storage space but know you'll use the app again. If you want to remove it completely instead, tap Delete App on the same screen.

Disable apps that came with your iPhone

Apple's built-in apps like Mail, Maps, and Stocks cannot be deleted, but you can hide them or turn off their features. Press and hold the app icon and tap Remove App, then Remove from Home Screen. The app stays installed but won't clutter your home screen.

You can also restrict permissions for built-in apps the same way you would for downloaded apps. Go to Settings, then Privacy, and turn off access to Location, Camera, Microphone, Photos, or Contacts for any app you don't want using those features. For example, you can disable location access for Maps but keep it for Weather.

What happens when you disable an app

Disabling an app does not delete your account or saved data. If you turn off notifications, the app still works when you open it — you just won't get alerts. If you hide it from your home screen, you can still search for it and use it anytime. If you offload it, your login information and saved progress stay on your phone and return when you reinstall it.

The only way to actually lose data is to delete the app entirely by tapping Delete App in Settings. Even then, some apps (like games linked to Game Center or apps with cloud backup) may save your progress online. If you're unsure whether an app backs up your data, check the app's settings or support page before deleting it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I disable an app without removing it from my home screen?

Yes. Go to Settings, then Notifications, and toggle off Allow Notifications for that app. You can also turn off background app refresh in Settings > General > Background App Refresh. The app stays on your home screen and works normally when you open it, but it won't send alerts or run in the background.

Will disabling an app delete my saved data?

No. Hiding an app, turning off notifications, or restricting permissions does not delete anything. Even offloading an app saves your data — it only removes the app's files from storage. Only deleting the app entirely can remove your data, and even then, some apps back up your progress online.

What's the difference between hiding and offloading an app?

Hiding removes the app from your home screen and app library but keeps it fully installed and taking up storage. Offloading removes the app's files to free up space but keeps your data, so reinstalling it later restores everything. Use hiding for apps you use occasionally; use offloading when you need storage space.

Can I disable notifications for all apps at once?

No, you must disable notifications app by app in Settings > Notifications. However, you can turn off notifications for entire categories — like Mail, Messages, or Calendar — by tapping the category name and toggling off Allow Notifications. You can also use Focus modes to silence notifications during specific times or activities.

If I hide an app, can I search for it later?

Yes. Swipe down on any home screen page to open search, type the app's name, and tap it to open it. Hidden apps also appear in your App Library (the last page of your home screen), organized by category. You can tap and hold the icon there and choose Add to Home Screen if you want it back.