The two ways to remove an app from your iPad

You can delete an app from your iPad in two ways: by long-pressing the app icon on your home screen, or by going into the Settings app. The long-press method is faster for one or two apps. Settings is better if you want to see all your apps at once and remove several, or if you want to delete an app that you've hidden and can't find on your home screen.

Both methods do the same thing — they remove the app from your iPad entirely. The app's data goes with it, unless you back up your iPad to iCloud or a computer first. If you just want the app off your home screen but still installed, there's a third option: you can hide it instead of deleting it, and unhide it later if you change your mind.

Key Takeaways

  • Long-press any app icon on your home screen, tap "Remove App," then choose "Delete App" to remove it permanently.
  • In Settings, go to General > iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage), find the app, and tap "Delete App" to remove it the same way.
  • Deleting an app removes all its data from your iPad unless you have a backup saved to iCloud or a computer.
  • You can hide an app instead of deleting it by long-pressing the icon and choosing "Remove App," then "Remove from Home Screen" — the app stays installed but hidden.
  • If you delete an app by mistake, you can reinstall it free from the App Store as long as you have the same Apple ID you used to download it originally.

Delete an app by long-pressing its icon

Find the app you want to delete on your home screen. Press and hold the app icon with your finger for about a second until a menu appears. You'll see several options, including "Remove App" near the bottom of the menu.

Tap "Remove App." A second menu will pop up with two choices: "Remove from Home Screen" and "Delete App." Tap "Delete App" to remove the app entirely from your iPad. A confirmation message will appear asking if you're sure — tap "Delete" again to confirm.

The app is now gone. If the app had any data stored on your iPad — saved games, photos, documents, login information — that data is deleted too. This happens immediately and cannot be undone, so make sure you don't need anything the app was storing before you confirm.

Delete an app through Settings

Open the Settings app on your iPad. Tap "General" in the left sidebar, then scroll down and tap "iPad Storage" (on older iPads it may say "iPhone Storage"). You'll see a list of all your apps, sorted by how much space each one takes up.

Find the app you want to delete and tap on it. A details screen will open showing how much space the app uses and when you last opened it. Tap the red "Delete App" button at the top. A confirmation message will ask if you're sure — tap "Delete" to confirm.

This method is useful if you can't find an app on your home screen because you've hidden it, or if you want to delete several apps and don't want to hunt for each one. You can also see exactly how much space each app is taking up, which helps if you're trying to free up storage on your iPad.

What happens to your data when you delete an app

When you delete an app, everything it stored on your iPad goes away: saved games, photos you edited in that app, documents, login information, settings you customized. The app cannot recover this data after deletion.

The one exception is if you have a backup. If your iPad backs up to iCloud automatically (which is the default), your data is saved there. If you later reinstall the app, you can choose to restore from that backup and get your data back. You can also back up your iPad manually to a computer using a Mac or Windows PC with iTunes or Finder.

Before you delete an app that holds important data, check whether it has its own backup or export feature. Some apps like note-taking or photo apps let you save your data to a file or cloud service before you delete them. Look in the app's settings or menu for options like "Export," "Save," or "Backup."

Hide an app instead of deleting it

If you're not sure whether you want to keep an app, you can hide it instead of deleting it. The app stays installed on your iPad and takes up the same storage space, but it won't show up on your home screen or in search results. You can unhide it anytime without losing any data.

To hide an app, long-press its icon and tap "Remove App," then choose "Remove from Home Screen" (not "Delete App"). The app disappears from your home screen immediately. To unhide it later, open the App Store, search for the app by name, and tap the cloud icon with a down arrow to reinstall it to your home screen. Your data will still be there.

Reinstall an app you deleted by mistake

If you delete an app and then realize you need it back, you can reinstall it free from the App Store. Open the App Store app, tap the search icon at the bottom, and search for the app by name. When you find it, tap the cloud icon with a down arrow (or a plus sign, depending on your iPad model).

The app will download and install again. If you had a backup saved before you deleted it, you'll see a prompt asking whether you want to restore your data from that backup. Choose "Restore" to get your saved games, documents, or other data back. If you don't have a backup, the app will install fresh with no previous data.

You need the same Apple ID that you used to download the app originally. If you're using a different Apple ID, the app may not be free, or you may not be able to reinstall it at all.

Storage space and app deletion

Deleting apps is one way to free up storage on your iPad if you're running low on space. You can see exactly how much space each app uses by going to Settings > General > iPad Storage. Apps at the top of the list take up the most space.

Deleting an app frees up only the space the app itself takes up, not the space used by its data — that gets deleted too. Some apps, especially games or photo editors, can take up several gigabytes. If your iPad is almost full, deleting a few large apps can make a real difference in how fast it runs.

Keep in mind that your iPad also needs some free space to work properly. If you're using more than 90 percent of your storage, your iPad may slow down or have trouble installing updates. Aim to keep at least 10 percent of your total storage free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete built-in Apple apps like Mail or Safari?

Most built-in Apple apps cannot be deleted, but some can. Mail, Safari, Maps, and a few others are permanent. Apps like Stocks, Tips, Reminders, and Podcasts can be deleted. If you long-press an app and don't see "Remove App," that app cannot be deleted. You can hide it instead.

Will deleting an app remove it from my other Apple devices?

No. Deleting an app from your iPad only removes it from that device. If you have the same app on your iPhone or Mac, it stays there. Each device's apps are separate, even if you use the same Apple ID on all of them.

What if I delete an app and then want my data back?

If you have an iCloud backup from before you deleted the app, you can restore your entire iPad from that backup to get the app and its data back. This erases everything on your iPad and replaces it with the backup, so it's a big step. A better option is to reinstall the app and restore from backup if the prompt appears.

Does deleting an app free up iCloud storage?

No. Deleting an app from your iPad doesn't change how much iCloud storage you're using. Your iCloud backup is separate from the apps on your device. If you want to free up iCloud storage, you need to delete files from iCloud itself or reduce the size of your backups in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage.

Can I delete multiple apps at once?

Not in one action, but you can delete several apps quickly by long-pressing each one and confirming deletion. Using Settings > General > iPad Storage is faster if you want to delete many apps, because you can see them all listed and tap each one without hunting on your home screen.