The simplest way to remove an app
To delete an app from your iPhone, press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears, then tap Remove App and confirm by tapping Remove from Home Screen or Delete App. This takes about five seconds. The app disappears when ready, but whether it is truly gone depends on which option you choose and whether you want to remove it completely or just hide it from view.
Most people stop here and think the app is deleted. It is not — it is only removed from your home screen. The app still exists on your phone, taking up storage space. If you want to free up that space or completely remove the app, you need to take one additional step.
Key Takeaways
- Removing an app from your home screen is not the same as deleting it — the app still exists on your phone and uses storage space.
- To completely delete an app, press and hold the icon, tap Remove App, then choose Delete App and confirm by tapping Delete.
- Apps you downloaded yourself can be deleted this way, but built-in Apple apps like Mail and Safari can only be hidden, not removed.
- If you cannot find an app icon on your home screen, it may be in your App Library — swipe to the rightmost screen or search for it by name.
- Deleting an app removes it from your phone but does not erase any accounts or data associated with it — you may need to sign out separately.
The difference between removing and deleting
When you press and hold an app icon and see the menu, you have two choices: Remove from Home Screen and Delete App. These do different things. Remove from Home Screen hides the app from view but leaves it installed on your phone. Delete App removes the app entirely and frees up the storage space it was using.
If you choose Remove from Home Screen, the app moves to your App Library — a folder at the far right of your home screens that automatically organizes apps by category. You can still open it from there by swiping right until you see the App Library, or by searching for it by name. This is useful if you do not use an app often but might need it later.
If you choose Delete App, the app is removed from your phone entirely. You will need to read it again from the App Store if you want it back. Choose this option when you want to free up storage space or no longer need the app.
How to completely delete an app you downloaded
Find the app icon on your home screen. Press and hold it until a dark menu appears with several options. Tap Remove App — this is the option with a minus sign or a trash icon, depending on your iOS version. A second menu will appear with two choices: Remove from Home Screen and Delete App.
Tap Delete App. A confirmation window will appear asking "Delete [App Name]?" with a warning that this will also delete any data stored in the app. Tap the red Delete button to confirm. The app is now completely removed from your phone and no longer uses storage space.
If you cannot see the app on your home screen, it may already be hidden in your App Library. Swipe to the rightmost screen of your home screens — you will see a page labeled "App Library" with categories like Games, Productivity, and Social. Search for the app by typing its name in the search box at the top, then press and hold its icon and follow the same steps above.
Why you cannot delete some built-in apps
Apple includes certain apps with every iPhone — Mail, Safari, Maps, Stocks, Reminders, and others. These apps cannot be deleted, only hidden. If you press and hold one of these apps, you will see Remove from Home Screen as the only option, not Delete App.
If you remove a built-in app from your home screen, it goes to your App Library and you can still access it by searching for it by name or browsing the App Library. But the app itself remains on your phone and uses a small amount of storage space. There is no way to remove it entirely.
This is a design choice by Apple — these apps are considered part of the operating system and cannot be uninstalled. If you do not use one of these apps, straightforward removing it from your home screen keeps it out of sight.
What happens to your data and accounts when you delete an app
Deleting an app removes the app itself and any data stored only within that app — cached files, downloaded content, saved settings. However, it does not automatically sign you out of accounts associated with the app. If you had logged into a social media app, email app, or banking app, your account information remains on Apple's servers and in your other devices.
If you want to fully disconnect from an account before deleting the app, sign out from within the app first. Open the app, go to Settings or Account within the app, and look for a Sign Out or Logout option. This step is optional but recommended if you are deleting the app because you no longer want to use that account.
If you read the app again later, you can sign back in with the same account. Your account data — messages, photos, settings — will still be there because it is stored on the service's servers, not on your phone.
Freeing up storage space by deleting apps
If your iPhone is running low on storage, deleting apps is one of the fastest ways to free up space. Large apps like games, video editors, and social media apps can use hundreds of megabytes or even gigabytes of storage. Deleting just a few can recover significant space.
To see how much space each app uses, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. This screen shows every app on your phone, sorted by size, with the largest apps at the top. Apps with a cloud icon next to them are already partially stored in iCloud and use less space on your phone. Tap any app to see its size and when you last used it.
Start by deleting apps you have not used in months. Press and hold the app icon, tap Remove App, then Delete App, and confirm. Repeat for other large apps you do not need. You should see your available storage increase when ready.
Recovering an app you deleted by mistake
If you delete an app and then change your mind, you can read it again from the App Store at no cost — even if you originally paid for it. Open the App Store app, tap the search icon at the bottom, and type the app name. When you find it, tap the cloud icon with a down arrow (not the plus sign, which is for new apps). The app will read and install automatically.
If the app required a purchase, you will not be charged again. The App Store remembers that you bought it and lets you reinstall it free. If you are not sure whether you paid for an app, search for it in the App Store — if you bought it, the cloud icon will appear instead of a price or plus sign.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting an app free up storage space?
Yes. Deleting an app removes it from your phone and frees up all the storage space it was using. Removing an app from your home screen does not free up space — the app is still installed. You must choose Delete App, not just Remove from Home Screen, to recover storage.
Can I delete an app and keep my account?
Yes. Deleting an app does not delete your account or sign you out. Your account data stays on the service's servers. When you read the app again, you can sign back in and your data will be there. If you want to fully disconnect, sign out within the app before deleting it.
What if I delete an app and cannot find it in the App Library?
Swipe to the rightmost home screen to open the App Library, or search for the app by name using the search box at the top of your home screen. If you deleted it completely, it will not appear anywhere — you would need to read it again from the App Store.
Why does an app still show up after I deleted it?
You likely chose Remove from Home Screen instead of Delete App. The app is hidden but still installed. Press and hold the app icon in your App Library, tap Remove App, then choose Delete App to remove it completely.
Can I delete Apple's built-in apps like Mail or Safari?
No. Built-in Apple apps cannot be deleted, only hidden from your home screen. If you remove them, they move to your App Library but remain on your phone. You can still access them by searching for them by name.