The fastest way to delete an app depends on your device

On most phones and tablets, you can delete an app by pressing and holding its icon on your home screen until a menu appears, then selecting the delete or remove option. The exact steps and wording differ between Android and iOS devices, and some apps that came pre-installed on your phone may not delete the same way as apps you downloaded yourself.

If you cannot find an app on your home screen, you can also delete it through your device's settings menu. This method works for almost every app and is often faster if you have many apps to remove or if you want to see a complete list of what is installed.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, press and hold an app icon, tap "Remove App," then confirm you want to delete it from your device.
  • On Android, press and hold an app icon and drag it to "Uninstall," or go to Settings > Apps and select the app you want to remove.
  • Pre-installed apps that came with your phone may only be hidden rather than fully deleted, depending on your device and Android version.
  • Deleting an app removes it from your device but does not delete your account or data associated with that service.
  • You can reinstall most apps later from the App Store or Google Play Store at no cost if you change your mind.

How to delete an app on iPhone

Press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears with several options. Tap "Remove App" — this is usually near the top of the menu. A second menu will ask whether you want to remove the app from your home screen only or delete it entirely from your iPhone. Select "Delete App" to remove it completely.

A confirmation screen will appear asking if you are sure. Tap "Delete" again to confirm. The app will disappear from your device immediately. If you cannot see the app on your home screen, you can also delete it by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, finding the app in the list, tapping it, and selecting "Delete App."

How to delete an app on Android

The method varies slightly depending on your Android version and phone manufacturer, but the most common way is to press and hold the app icon until a menu appears. Look for an option labeled "Uninstall" or a trash can icon, then tap it. A confirmation message will appear — tap "OK" or "Uninstall" to complete the removal.

If you do not see an uninstall option when you press and hold, go to Settings > Apps (or Application Manager on some phones), find the app you want to delete, tap it, and select "Uninstall." Some Android phones also let you swipe an app icon downward or to the side to reveal a delete option, though this varies by manufacturer.

What happens to pre-installed apps

Apps that came with your phone — like the calculator, weather app, or manufacturer-specific tools — often cannot be fully deleted. On iPhone, most pre-installed apps can be removed, but a few system apps like Settings and Phone cannot be deleted. On Android, pre-installed apps vary widely by manufacturer and Android version.

When you cannot delete a pre-installed app, you can usually hide it instead. On iPhone, removing it from your home screen hides it from view, though it still takes up storage space. On Android, go to Settings > Apps, select the app, and look for a "Disable" or "Hide" option. Some phones also let you uninstall updates to pre-installed apps, which frees up some storage.

Deleting an app does not delete your account or data

Removing an app from your device does not close your account with that service or delete the data you created in it. If you delete the Gmail app, for example, your Gmail account still exists and your messages remain on Google's servers. When you reinstall the app later, you can sign back in and access everything.

Some apps store data locally on your phone — like photos in a gallery app or notes in a notes app. Deleting the app may delete that local data depending on how the app is designed, so if you have information you want to keep, back it up before you delete. Most apps that sync to the cloud, like email or social media apps, will not lose your data when you uninstall them.

How to free up storage space by deleting apps

If your phone is running low on storage, deleting unused apps is one of the fastest ways to free up space. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see a list of apps ranked by how much space each one uses. On Android, go to Settings > Apps and look for a storage or size column to see which apps take up the most room.

Apps that use the most storage are often games, social media apps, and video streaming services. Deleting even one large app can free up several gigabytes. If you want to keep an app but reduce the space it uses, some apps let you clear their cache through the settings menu, which removes temporary files without deleting the app itself.

Reinstalling an app you deleted

If you change your mind after deleting an app, you can reinstall it at no cost from the App Store (on iPhone) or Google Play Store (on Android). Open the store app, search for the app by name, and tap the download or install button. The app will download and install automatically, and you can sign back into your account once it is ready to use.

Some apps may ask you to sign in again or set up preferences when you reinstall them, but your account data and any information stored on the app's servers will still be there. Reinstalling usually takes only a few minutes depending on the app size and your internet speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete an app and then get it back?

Yes. You can reinstall any app you downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store at no cost. Your account and data associated with that app will still exist on the company's servers, so you can sign back in when you reinstall it.

Will deleting an app delete my account?

No. Deleting an app only removes it from your device. Your account with that service remains active, and your data stays on their servers. You can reinstall the app and sign back in anytime.

Why can't I delete some apps on my phone?

Pre-installed apps that came with your phone often cannot be deleted, especially on Android. You can usually hide them or disable them instead. On iPhone, most pre-installed apps can be deleted except for a few system apps like Settings and Phone.

Does deleting an app free up storage space?

Yes. Deleting an app removes all the files associated with it from your device, which frees up storage space. Large apps like games or video streaming services can free up several gigabytes when removed.

What is the difference between removing and deleting an app?

On iPhone, removing an app from your home screen hides it from view but keeps it installed. Deleting an app removes it entirely from your device. On Android, the terms are usually used interchangeably, and both mean the app is uninstalled.