The fastest way to delete an app from your iPad

To delete an app, press and hold its icon on your home screen until a menu appears, then tap Remove App. A second menu will ask whether you want to remove it from the home screen only or delete it entirely — choose Remove from iPad to delete it completely. The app disappears immediately.

If you want to keep the app but just hide it from view, you can choose Remove from Home Screen instead. The app stays on your iPad but moves to the App Library, a folder system that organizes all your apps by category. You can still search for it and open it from there.

This method works on any iPad running iPadOS 13 or later. If your iPad is older, you may need to use the Settings app instead — see the section below on older iPad models.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold an app icon, tap Remove App, then choose Remove from iPad to delete it permanently.
  • Choosing Remove from Home Screen hides the app but keeps it on your device — you can still find it in the App Library.
  • Deleting an app also removes its data and settings unless you backed up that data to iCloud beforehand.
  • You can delete most apps you installed yourself, but some built-in Apple apps cannot be removed.

What happens to your data when you delete an app

When you delete an app, all the data it stored on your iPad — saved games, documents, login information, photos — is deleted along with it. If you reinstall the app later, you start fresh with no saved progress or settings.

The exception is if you backed up your iPad to iCloud before deleting the app. iCloud stores a copy of your app data in the cloud. If you delete an app and then reinstall it, you can choose to restore from that backup and recover your saved data. To check whether iCloud backup is turned on, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and look for the toggle switch.

Some apps also let you back up their data separately — for example, many games let you save progress to a game account. Check the app's settings before you delete it if you want to preserve anything important.

Deleting apps using the Settings app

If the press-and-hold method does not work or you prefer a different route, you can delete apps through Settings. Open Settings, tap General, then iPad Storage. You will see a list of all your apps sorted by size.

Tap the app you want to remove, then tap Delete App. A confirmation message appears — tap Delete again to confirm. The app is removed from your iPad immediately.

This method also shows you how much storage space each app uses, which is helpful if you are trying to free up room on your device. Apps at the top of the list take up the most space.

Built-in Apple apps you cannot delete

Some apps that come with your iPad cannot be deleted — these include Stocks, Reminders, Health, Wallet, and several others. If you try to press and hold one of these apps, the menu will not show a Remove App option.

You can still hide these apps from your home screen by choosing Remove from Home Screen. They will move to the App Library and stay out of sight, though they remain on your device. If you change your mind later, you can find them in the App Library and add them back to your home screen.

Deleting apps on older iPad models

If your iPad is running iPadOS 12 or earlier, the press-and-hold method works differently. Press and hold an app icon until a menu appears, then tap Remove App. You will see only one option: Delete. Tap it to remove the app.

On very old iPad models, you may need to use the Settings method instead. Go to Settings > General > Storage & iCloud Usage > Manage Storage, find the app, and tap Delete App.

To check which version of iPadOS your iPad is running, go to Settings > General > About and look for the Software Version line.

Freeing up storage space by deleting large apps

If your iPad is running low on storage, deleting large apps is one way to make room. Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage to see which apps take up the most space. Games and video apps are usually the largest.

Before you delete an app permanently, consider whether you might want it back. If you are unsure, remove it from your home screen first — it stays on your device but out of the way, and you can delete it later if you decide you do not need it.

Deleting an app frees up the space it was using, but your iPad may need a few moments to update the storage count. If you delete several large apps, you might free up several gigabytes of space.

Reinstalling an app you deleted

If you delete an app and later want it back, you can reinstall it from the App Store. Open the App Store app, search for the app by name, and tap the cloud icon with a down arrow (not the plus sign — that is for a different action). The app downloads and installs automatically.

If you had backed up your iPad to iCloud before deleting the app, you will be asked whether you want to restore your saved data when the app finishes installing. Choose Restore to recover your old progress and settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete an app I paid for?

Yes. Deleting an app does not refund your purchase, but you can reinstall it later at no additional cost. Your purchase is tied to your Apple ID, not to the app being on your device.

Will deleting an app free up storage space?

Yes, but the amount varies. Check Settings > General > iPad Storage to see how much space each app uses before you delete it. Large games and video apps can free up several gigabytes.

What is the difference between removing from home screen and deleting?

Removing from the home screen hides the app but keeps it on your iPad — you can still find it in the App Library and open it. Deleting removes it entirely and frees up storage space. You can reinstall it later from the App Store.

Do I lose my data if I delete an app?

Yes, unless you backed up your iPad to iCloud beforehand. If you have iCloud backup turned on, you can restore your data when you reinstall the app. Check Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup to confirm backup is on.

Why can't I delete a certain app?

Some built-in Apple apps like Stocks, Reminders, and Health cannot be deleted. You can hide them from your home screen by choosing Remove from Home Screen, which moves them to the App Library instead.