The fastest way to delete an app from your iPad
Press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears. Tap Remove App, then tap Remove from Home Screen if you want to keep it in your library, or tap Delete App if you want to remove it completely. Confirm by tapping Delete when prompted. The app is gone in seconds.
This method works on any iPad running iOS 13 or later. If you only remove it from the home screen, the app stays on your device and you can reinstall it to your home screen anytime without downloading it again. If you delete the app entirely, you will need to download it again from the App Store if you change your mind.
The press-and-hold method is the one most people use because it is the quickest and you can see exactly what you are deleting before you confirm.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon, tap Remove App, then Delete App to remove it completely from your iPad.
- You can also remove an app from your home screen only, which keeps it in your App Library so you can put it back later without re-downloading.
- The Settings app lets you delete apps one at a time or see how much storage space each app uses before you decide.
- Deleting an app removes the app itself but not your account data — you can sign back in if you reinstall it later.
Deleting apps through the Settings app
Open Settings, then tap General, then tap iPad Storage. You will see a list of all your apps sorted by size, with the largest ones at the top. Tap any app name, then tap Delete App, and confirm. This route takes longer than press-and-hold, but it shows you exactly how much storage each app uses.
This method is useful if you are trying to free up storage space and want to see which apps are taking up the most room. For example, a video streaming app might use several gigabytes, while a note-taking app might use only a few megabytes. Deleting the largest apps first will give you the most storage back.
You can also use this method to delete multiple apps in a row without going back to your home screen between each one, which some people find faster if they are clearing out several apps at once.
Removing apps from your home screen without deleting them
Press and hold an app icon and tap Remove App, then tap Remove from Home Screen. The app disappears from your home screen but stays on your iPad in the App Library. You can find it later by swiping to the App Library (the last screen to the right) or by searching for it with Spotlight.
This is the option to choose if you do not use an app often but might need it someday. It keeps your home screen clean without forcing you to re-download the app if you want it back. The app still takes up storage space on your device, but it is out of sight.
To put the app back on your home screen later, open the App Library, press and hold the app, and tap Add to Home Screen. It appears instantly because the app was never actually deleted from your device.
What happens to your data when you delete an app
Deleting an app removes the app itself and any files it stored on your iPad, but it does not erase your account information if the app was connected to an online service. For example, if you delete Gmail, your Google account stays active and your emails stay on Google's servers. When you reinstall Gmail later and sign back in, your emails are still there.
Some apps store data locally on your device that cannot be recovered once the app is deleted. A photo editing app, for instance, might store unsaved edits on your iPad. If you delete the app without exporting those edits, they are gone. Always check if an app has unsaved work before you delete it.
If you are concerned about losing data, most apps let you export or back up your information before you delete them. Check the app's settings or help section to see what options are available.
Undoing a deletion or reinstalling an app
If you deleted an app by mistake, you can reinstall it from the App Store at no cost. Open the App Store, tap the search icon at the bottom, find the app by name, and tap the cloud icon with a down arrow (or the Get button if it is a new download). Sign in with your Apple ID if prompted, and the app downloads and installs automatically.
Reinstalling takes a few minutes depending on the app size and your internet speed. Once it finishes, the app appears on your home screen and is ready to use. If you had an account in that app, sign back in and your data should be there.
There is no time limit on reinstalling an app you have downloaded before. You can delete and reinstall the same app as many times as you want without paying anything.
Freeing up storage space by deleting large apps
If your iPad is running low on storage, deleting apps is one of the fastest ways to free up space. Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage to see which apps are using the most space. Video apps, games, and social media apps often use the most storage because they cache videos, images, and other files.
Deleting just two or three large apps can free up several gigabytes of space. For example, removing a game that uses 2 gigabytes and a video app that uses 1.5 gigabytes gives you 3.5 gigabytes back instantly. You can always reinstall them later if you need them.
If you want to keep an app but reduce the space it uses, some apps have settings to clear their cache or delete old downloads. Check the app's settings before you delete it entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete multiple apps at once?
No, you must delete apps one at a time. Press and hold one app, delete it, then repeat for the next app. There is no bulk delete feature on iPad. If you are deleting many apps, using the Settings > General > iPad Storage method is slightly faster because you stay in one place instead of returning to your home screen between each deletion.
Will deleting an app delete my photos or documents?
No. Deleting an app only removes the app itself and files it created. Your photos stay in the Photos app, and documents in other apps are not affected. The only exception is if the app was the only place you stored something — for example, if you wrote notes only in a third-party notes app and never backed them up, those notes are lost when you delete that app.
What if I cannot find the delete option when I press and hold an app?
Make sure you are pressing and holding long enough — it should take about one second before the menu appears. If nothing happens, your iPad may be in a mode that prevents editing. Try again on your home screen rather than in a folder. If the app is a built-in Apple app like Mail or Safari, you can only remove it from your home screen, not delete it completely.
Does deleting an app free up iCloud storage?
No. Deleting an app from your iPad only frees up storage on the device itself. iCloud storage is separate and is used for backups, photos, and documents you store in the cloud. Deleting an app does not affect your iCloud plan or how much iCloud space you are using.
Can I delete an app and keep my login information?
Your login information for an app is usually stored on the app's servers, not on your iPad. When you reinstall the app and sign back in with your username and password, you regain access to your account. However, if the app stored login information only on your device, you will need to sign in again. Most modern apps store account data online, so you should be fine.