The simplest way: press and hold the app icon
To delete an app on your iPhone, press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears. This usually takes about one second. A set of options will pop up — look for "Remove App" and tap it. You'll see a confirmation asking whether you want to remove the app only or remove it and delete the data. Choose what you want, and the app is gone.
This method works on any iPhone running iOS 13 or later. The app icon disappears from your home screen when ready, though the actual app files may take a few seconds to fully delete from your phone's storage.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon, tap "Remove App," and confirm — this is the fastest way to delete an app.
- You can choose to remove the app from your home screen only (keeping the data) or remove it completely and delete all its data.
- Deleting an app frees up storage space on your phone, which matters if you're running low on room.
- You can reinstall a deleted app later from the App Store without paying again, even if you originally paid for it.
What happens to your data when you delete an app
When you delete an app, you have two choices. The first option removes the app from your home screen but keeps its data on your phone — this is called "Remove from Home Screen." The second option, "Remove App," deletes both the app and all the data it stored, like saved games, login information, or photos you edited in that app.
If you choose to delete the app and its data, that information is gone. You cannot recover it unless you had backed it up separately. If you think you might want to use the app again later, choose "Remove from Home Screen" instead — the app stays hidden but you keep the option to restore it without losing your progress.
Using Settings to delete apps instead
If the press-and-hold method doesn't work or you prefer a different route, you can delete apps through your iPhone's Settings. Open Settings, go to General, then tap iPhone Storage. You'll see a list of all your apps ranked by how much space they take up. Find the app you want to remove, tap it, and select "Offload App" or "Delete App."
"Offload App" removes the app but keeps its data, similar to "Remove from Home Screen." "Delete App" removes both the app and everything it stored. This method is useful if you want to see exactly how much space each app is using before you decide what to delete.
The difference between offloading and deleting
Offloading removes the app itself but leaves its data behind on your phone. This frees up some storage space — usually the amount the app's code takes up, not the data it created. You might offload an app you use occasionally but don't need right now, so you can reinstall it quickly later without losing your saved information.
Deleting removes both the app and all its data, freeing up the most storage space. Choose this when you're certain you won't use the app again, or when you want to completely remove something from your phone. If you delete an app by mistake, you can reinstall it from the App Store, but you'll lose any saved games, photos, or settings that app had stored.
How much storage space you'll free up
The amount of storage space you recover depends on the app. Small apps like a calculator or note-taking tool might use only a few megabytes. Large apps like games, photo editors, or video streaming services can use hundreds of megabytes or even several gigabytes. If your iPhone is running slowly or you're getting storage warnings, deleting large apps is one of the fastest ways to free up room.
To see exactly how much space an app uses, go to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage. The list shows each app's size. Apps at the top of the list are taking up the most space. Deleting even one large app can sometimes free up enough room to noticeably speed up your phone.
Reinstalling an app you deleted
If you delete an app and later change your mind, you can reinstall it from the App Store. Open the App Store app, search for the app by name, and tap the cloud icon with a down arrow (not the plus sign). The app will read and install again. If you originally paid for the app, you won't be charged again — the App Store remembers your purchase.
If you deleted the app and its data together, reinstalling it will give you a fresh start with no saved information. If you offloaded the app instead of deleting it, reinstalling will restore your saved data, games, and settings automatically.
Apps that come with your iPhone and can't be deleted
Some apps that come built into your iPhone — like Phone, Messages, Camera, and Settings — cannot be deleted. If you try to press and hold one of these apps, the "Remove App" option won't appear. You can remove them from your home screen by pressing and holding and selecting "Remove from Home Screen," but the app itself stays on your phone.
Apple includes these core apps because they're essential to how your iPhone works. If you don't want to see them on your home screen, you can hide them in the App Library instead, which organizes all your apps automatically by category. The app still exists on your phone and you can open it from the App Library whenever you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting an app delete my account with that service?
No. Deleting the app only removes the software from your phone. Your account with the service (like your email, social media, or streaming account) stays active. When you reinstall the app, you can log back in with the same username and password. To actually delete your account, you usually have to do that through the service's website.
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, then repeat for the next app. If you want to delete many apps, the Settings method (General > iPhone Storage) can be faster because you see all your apps listed and can tap through them without returning to your home screen each time.
What if I accidentally delete an app I need?
Open the App Store, search for the app by name, and tap the cloud icon to reinstall it. The read is usually fast. If you deleted the app and its data together, you'll lose any saved information, but the app itself will work normally once reinstalled. If you offloaded it instead, your data will be restored automatically.
Does deleting apps make my iPhone faster?
Deleting large apps frees up storage space, which can help if your phone was running low on room. A phone with very little free storage sometimes runs slower. However, straightforward having an app installed doesn't slow down your phone if you have plenty of storage left. Deleting apps you don't use is most helpful when your storage is nearly full.
Can I hide an app without deleting it?
Yes. Press and hold the app and select "Remove from Home Screen" instead of "Remove App." The app stays on your phone and all its data is preserved, but it disappears from your home screen. You can find it in your App Library (swipe to the rightmost home screen) and open it from there anytime. This is useful for apps you rarely use but might need later.