The basic steps for removing an app

Deleting an app from your phone is straightforward and works differently depending on whether you use an iPhone or Android device. On both types of phones, you can remove an app by holding down its icon on your home screen or in your app drawer, then selecting the delete option from the menu that appears. The exact wording and steps vary slightly, but the process takes less than a minute.

Removing an app frees up storage space on your phone and removes it from your home screen and app drawer. The app's data — like saved settings or login information — is also deleted unless you reinstall it later. Some phones let you temporarily hide an app instead of fully deleting it, which is useful if you think you might want it back.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, press and hold the app icon, tap "Remove App," then confirm by tapping "Delete App."
  • On Android, press and hold the app icon and drag it to "Uninstall," or open Settings, go to Apps, select the app, and tap "Uninstall."
  • Deleting an app removes it from your phone and frees up storage space, but you can reinstall it later from the App Store or Google Play.
  • Some built-in apps that came with your phone cannot be deleted, though you may be able to hide or disable them.
  • If you delete an app by mistake, you can reinstall it for free from your phone's app store as long as you still have the account you used to download it.

Deleting an app on iPhone

On an iPhone, find the app you want to remove on your home screen or in your app library. Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears with several options. Tap "Remove App," then select "Delete App" from the confirmation screen. Tap "Delete" one more time to confirm.

If the app is in your app library rather than on your home screen, the process is the same — press and hold, tap "Remove App," then confirm the deletion. Some apps that came built into your iPhone, like Mail or Maps, cannot be deleted this way. Instead, you can only remove them from your home screen by tapping "Remove from Home Screen," which hides them but keeps them on your phone.

Deleting an app on Android

On an Android phone, the method depends on your device and version of Android, but the most common way is to press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears. Look for an option that says "Uninstall" or a trash can icon, then tap it and confirm the deletion.

If you cannot find the app on your home screen, open your Settings app, scroll to "Apps" or "Application Manager," find the app in the list, tap it, and select "Uninstall." Some Android phones let you disable built-in apps instead of deleting them — this removes them from your app drawer but keeps them on your phone taking up minimal space. If you see "Disable" instead of "Uninstall," tapping it will hide the app without fully removing it.

What happens when you delete an app

When you delete an app, it is completely removed from your phone and no longer appears on your home screen or in your app drawer. The app's data — including saved passwords, settings, and any files it created — is also deleted. The storage space the app was using becomes available again, which can help if your phone is running low on storage.

If you change your mind and want the app back, you can reinstall it for free from the App Store on iPhone or Google Play on Android, as long as you still have access to the account you used to download it originally. Your previous data will not return, but you can log back in and set up the app again.

Apps you cannot delete

Most phones come with built-in apps that cannot be deleted, such as the phone dialer, messaging app, or camera. On iPhone, apps like Mail, Maps, and Stocks can only be removed from your home screen, not fully deleted. On Android, the apps you cannot delete vary by manufacturer and phone model, but typically include the phone app, contacts, and settings.

If you do not use a built-in app, hiding it from your home screen is usually enough. On iPhone, remove it from your home screen and it will move to your app library where it is out of sight. On Android, disabling an app (if that option is available) removes it from your app drawer without taking up much space.

Freeing up storage space by deleting apps

Apps take up varying amounts of storage depending on what they do. Social media apps, games, and streaming services often use the most space. If your phone is running low on storage, deleting large apps you no longer use is one of the fastest ways to free up room. You can check how much space each app uses by going to your phone's storage settings.

On iPhone, go to Settings, tap "General," then "iPhone Storage" to see a list of apps ranked by size. On Android, open Settings, go to "Apps" or "Application Manager," select an app, and look for "Storage" or "App Size." Deleting just a few large apps can free up several gigabytes of space, which is especially helpful if your phone is nearly full.

Reinstalling an app you deleted

If you delete an app and later want it back, you can reinstall it from your phone's app store. On iPhone, open the App Store app, search for the app by name, and tap the cloud icon with a down arrow to reinstall it. On Android, open Google Play, search for the app, and tap "Install." Both stores will reinstall the app for free if you originally downloaded it on that account.

When you reinstall an app, it starts fresh with no previous data or settings. You will need to log in again and set it up as if you were downloading it for the first time. If the app required a purchase to download originally, you will not have to pay again — the app store remembers that you bought it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete an app and then get it back?

Yes. You can reinstall any app you deleted from the App Store or Google Play for free, as long as you still have the account you used to download it. Your previous data will not return, but you can log back in and set up the app again from scratch.

Will deleting an app delete my data?

Yes, deleting an app removes the data it stored on your phone, including saved settings, login information, and files. If the app backed up data to the cloud (like photos or documents), that data may still exist in your cloud storage account, but the app itself will not have access to it until you reinstall it and log back in.

What is the difference between deleting and disabling an app?

Deleting removes the app completely from your phone and frees up storage space. Disabling (available on some Android phones) hides the app from your app drawer and prevents it from running, but keeps it on your phone taking up minimal space. You cannot disable apps on iPhone, but you can remove them from your home screen to hide them.

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

Built-in apps that came with your phone cannot be deleted because the operating system depends on them. On iPhone, you can only remove them from your home screen. On Android, you may be able to disable them instead, which hides them without freeing up significant storage space.

Does deleting an app make my phone faster?

Deleting an app frees up storage space and removes it from running in the background, which can help slightly if your phone is very low on storage. However, the main benefit is storage space, not speed. If your phone feels slow, restarting it or closing apps running in the background usually helps more than deleting apps.