Deleting an app completely from your iPhone requires two separate steps
When you delete an app from your iPhone's home screen, the app itself stays on your device taking up storage space. To remove it entirely, you need to uninstall it from your phone's storage. The process takes less than a minute once you know where to look, and you can reverse it anytime by downloading the app again from the App Store.
Most people only do the first step — removing the icon from their home screen — and wonder why their storage space hasn't improved. The second step, which actually frees up the gigabytes the app was using, lives in your Settings app and is straightforward to miss.
Key Takeaways
- Swiping an app off your home screen only hides it; the app files remain on your phone and still use storage space.
- To fully remove an app, you must go to Settings, then Storage, find the app by name, and select Delete App.
- Apps you delete can be reinstalled anytime from the App Store at no cost, even if you originally paid for them.
- Some built-in Apple apps like Mail and Safari cannot be fully deleted, only hidden from your home screen.
- Deleting an app also removes any data it stored on your phone, including saved games, login information, and cached files.
Step 1: Remove the app icon from your home screen
Open your home screen and locate the app you want to delete. Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears with several options. Tap "Remove App" from this menu.
A second menu will appear asking where you want to remove it from. If you only want to hide the icon but keep the app installed, tap "Remove from Home Screen" — the app will still be on your phone and you can find it by swiping down and searching. If you want to fully delete it, tap "Remove App" again, then confirm by tapping "Delete" when the warning appears.
Step 2: Delete the app files from your phone's storage
Even after removing the icon, the app's files remain on your iPhone. To remove them completely, open the Settings app and tap "General." Scroll down and tap "iPhone Storage" (on some older iPhones this may say "Storage").
You will see a list of all apps on your phone, sorted by how much space each one uses. Scroll through the list to find the app you want to delete. Tap on it, then tap the red "Delete App" button. Confirm by tapping "Delete" when prompted. The app and all its files will now be removed from your phone.
What happens to your data when you delete an app
When you fully delete an app, your phone also removes any data that app stored locally — saved game progress, login credentials, photos you edited within that app, and cached files all disappear. If the app syncs data to the cloud (like photos to iCloud or messages to a cloud backup), that data may still exist in your cloud account depending on the app's settings.
Before deleting an app that contains important information, check whether it has a backup or export feature. Some apps let you save your data before uninstalling. Once you delete the app, you cannot recover locally stored data unless you have a backup of your entire phone from before the deletion.
Apps you cannot fully delete from iPhone
Apple's built-in apps — including Mail, Safari, Maps, Stocks, Reminders, and a few others — cannot be completely removed from your iPhone. You can remove their icons from your home screen, but the app files will remain in your phone's storage.
If you do not use these apps, removing them from your home screen is the only option available. They take up minimal space compared to third-party apps, so the storage impact is usually negligible. If you want to use one of these apps again later, you can restore it by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, finding the app, and tapping "Reinstall App."
Reinstalling an app you deleted
If you change your mind after deleting an app, you can reinstall it anytime through the App Store. Open the App Store app, tap the search icon at the bottom, and type the app's name. When you find it, tap the cloud icon with a downward arrow (not the price or "Get" button). The app will read and install automatically.
If you originally paid for the app, you will not be charged again — the App Store remembers your purchase. Your phone will reinstall the app, but it will not restore the data that was deleted (saved games, photos, login information). That data is gone unless you have a separate backup.
Freeing up storage space by deleting apps
If your iPhone is running low on storage, deleting large apps is one of the fastest ways to free up space. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see exactly how much space each app uses. Apps like games, video editors, and social media platforms often consume the most storage.
After you delete an app, the freed space becomes available when ready. You do not need to restart your phone or do anything else — the storage is ready to use right away. If you regularly run low on storage, check this list monthly and remove apps you no longer use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete an app without losing my data?
Not completely. Deleting an app removes locally stored data like saved games and login information. However, if the app backs up data to the cloud (iCloud, Google Drive, etc.), that data may remain in your cloud account. Check the app's settings before deleting to see if it offers cloud backup.
What is the difference between removing an app and deleting it?
Removing an app hides its icon from your home screen but leaves the app files on your phone. Deleting an app removes both the icon and all the app files from your storage. Only deleting actually frees up space on your device.
If I delete an app, can I get it back?
Yes. You can reinstall any app you deleted by searching for it in the App Store and tapping the cloud icon. If you paid for the app originally, you will not be charged again. However, any data the app stored on your phone (like saved games) will not return unless you have a backup.
Why does my iPhone say an app is still installed after I deleted it?
You may have only removed the icon from your home screen. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, search for the app by name, and tap "Delete App" to fully remove it. If the app does not appear in that list, it has been completely deleted.
Do I need to restart my iPhone after deleting an app?
No. Deleting an app takes effect when ready, and your phone does not need to restart. The storage space becomes available right away and you can use your phone normally.