The fastest way to delete an app
To delete an app on your iPad, press and hold the app icon on your home screen for about two seconds until a menu appears. Tap Remove App, then tap Remove from Home Screen if you want to keep the app installed but hide it, or tap Delete App to remove it completely from your iPad.
If you choose Delete App, a confirmation screen will ask if you're sure. Tap Delete again to finish. The app and all its data will be removed from your iPad. This process works the same way whether you're deleting a built-in Apple app or one you downloaded from the App Store.
Some built-in apps like Mail, Calendar, and Maps cannot be fully deleted, but you can remove them from your home screen using the same method. They will remain on your iPad but won't clutter your main view.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon for two seconds, then tap Delete App to remove it completely from your iPad.
- Deleting an app also removes all its data, so make sure you've saved anything you need before confirming the deletion.
- You can remove built-in Apple apps from your home screen without fully deleting them, and reinstall them later from the App Store.
- If you accidentally delete an app, you can download it again from the App Store at no cost if it was free, or using your original purchase if it was paid.
Deleting apps from the App Store instead
You can also delete apps through the App Store app itself. Open the App Store, tap your profile icon in the top right corner, then tap Manage Your Purchases or Purchased. Find the app you want to remove, swipe left on it, and tap the trash icon that appears.
This method is useful if you want to see all the apps you've ever downloaded in one place, including ones you've already removed from your home screen. It's also the way to go if you want to delete an app but can't find it on your home screen because it's buried in a folder or on a different page.
What happens when you delete an app
When you delete an app, your iPad removes the app itself and all the data it stored — saved games, login information, photos you edited in that app, and any other files it created. This deletion is permanent unless you reinstall the app later, in which case you'll start fresh with no previous data.
If the app cost money when you bought it, you won't be charged again if you reinstall it. Your purchase history is tied to your Apple ID, so you can download paid apps again without paying a second time. Free apps can also be reinstalled at any time.
Recovering a deleted app
If you delete an app by mistake, you can get it back by opening the App Store and searching for the app by name. Tap the cloud icon with a down arrow (or the Get button if it's free) to reinstall it. The app will download and install just as if you were downloading it for the first time.
Keep in mind that reinstalling will not restore your old data. If you had saved games, photos, or other files in that app, they will be gone. Some apps back up their data to the cloud automatically, so check the app's settings after you reinstall to see if your information is still there.
Deleting multiple apps at once
If you want to delete several apps quickly, you can enter edit mode on your home screen. Press and hold any empty space on your home screen (not on an app) until the icons start to jiggle and a minus sign appears in the corner of each app. Tap the minus sign on each app you want to delete, then tap Remove or Delete App.
When you're finished deleting, press the home button or swipe up from the bottom of the screen to exit edit mode. All the apps you selected will be removed. This method is faster than deleting one app at a time if you're clearing out several apps you no longer use.
Built-in apps you can't fully delete
Apple's built-in apps like Mail, Calendar, Maps, Stocks, Reminders, and Podcasts cannot be completely removed from your iPad. However, you can remove them from your home screen so they don't take up space or clutter your view. They will still be on your iPad but hidden from sight.
If you later decide you want one of these apps back on your home screen, you can find it in the App Library (swipe to the far right of your home screens) and drag it back to your home screen. You can also search for it by name using Spotlight search, which will let you open it even if it's not on your home screen.
Freeing up storage space
Deleting apps is one of the fastest ways to free up storage space on your iPad. Each app takes up a certain amount of space, and some apps — especially games and photo editors — can use several gigabytes. If your iPad is running low on storage, deleting apps you don't use regularly can help.
To see how much space each app is using, go to Settings, tap General, then tap iPad Storage. You'll see a list of all your apps sorted by size, with the largest ones at the top. This makes it easy to identify which apps are taking up the most room so you can decide what to delete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete an app and keep its data?
No, deleting an app removes both the app and all its data at the same time. If you want to keep the data, you'll need to export or save it before deleting the app. Some apps let you back up your data to the cloud or email it to yourself — check the app's settings or help section first.
Will deleting an app remove it from my other Apple devices?
No, deleting an app from your iPad only removes it from that device. It will remain on your iPhone, Mac, or other Apple devices unless you delete it from those devices separately. Your purchase history stays the same across all devices, so you can reinstall the app on any device whenever you want.
What if I delete an app by accident?
You can reinstall any app from the App Store at no extra cost if it was free, or using your original purchase if it was paid. Open the App Store, search for the app by name, and tap the cloud icon or Get button. Your data will not be restored unless the app backs up to the cloud automatically.
Can I delete built-in Apple apps like Safari or Settings?
No, core Apple apps like Safari, Settings, and App Store cannot be deleted. You can only remove them from your home screen. Apps like Mail, Calendar, and Maps can be removed from your home screen but not fully deleted, though some versions of iPadOS allow you to delete Mail and a few others completely.
Does deleting an app free up storage space immediately?
Yes, the storage space is freed up right away once the app is deleted. If your iPad was running slowly because it was low on storage, you should notice an improvement immediately after deleting large apps. You can check your available storage in Settings > General > iPad Storage.