The basic steps differ slightly between iPhone and Android

Deleting an app from your phone is straightforward, but the exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone or Android device. On both platforms, you can remove apps directly from your home screen or through your phone's settings. The method you choose depends on what you're comfortable with and whether you want to keep the app data or remove it completely.

Most people delete apps they no longer use to free up storage space or reduce clutter on their home screen. Some apps can be reinstalled later from the App Store or Google Play Store if you change your mind, though a few system apps cannot be deleted at all.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, press and hold an app icon, tap "Remove App," then choose whether to delete it or just remove it from your home screen.
  • On Android, press and hold an app icon and drag it to "Uninstall," or go to Settings, find the app, and tap "Uninstall."
  • Deleting an app removes it from your phone but does not always erase the data it stored — you may need to clear that separately in Settings.
  • Some built-in apps that came with your phone cannot be deleted, though you can often disable or hide them instead.
  • You can reinstall most apps later from the App Store or Google Play Store without paying again if they were free.

How to delete apps on iPhone

Press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears. Tap "Remove App" at the bottom of the menu. A second menu will show three options: "Remove from Home Screen," "Remove from Home Screen and App Library," or "Delete App." Choose "Delete App" if you want to remove it completely from your phone.

A confirmation screen will appear asking if you want to delete the app and its data. Tap "Delete" to confirm. The app will be removed immediately. If you only want to remove it from your home screen but keep it installed, choose "Remove from Home Screen" instead — the app will still exist in your App Library and you can add it back later by searching for it.

Alternatively, you can delete apps through the Settings app. Go to Settings, tap "General," then "iPhone Storage." Scroll through the list of apps, tap the one you want to remove, and tap "Delete App." This method shows you how much storage space each app uses, which can help you decide which ones to remove first.

How to delete apps on Android

Press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears. Look for an "Uninstall" option — on most Android phones, you can drag the app icon to the "Uninstall" button that appears at the top of the screen. Release the icon over "Uninstall" and confirm the removal.

If dragging does not work on your phone, try this alternative: press and hold the app icon, tap "App info" or "App details," then look for an "Uninstall" button. Tap it and confirm. Some Android phones also let you uninstall apps through the Play Store — open the Play Store app, search for the app you want to remove, tap it, and select "Uninstall."

You can also delete apps through Settings. Go to Settings, tap "Apps" or "Application Manager," find the app in the list, tap it, and tap "Uninstall." This method is useful if you want to see all your installed apps at once or if you are having trouble finding an app on your home screen.

What happens to your data when you delete an app

Deleting an app removes the app itself from your phone, but it does not always remove the data the app stored. Photos, messages, login information, and other files the app created may remain on your phone even after you uninstall it. If you want to erase everything the app stored, you need to clear its data separately.

On iPhone, go to Settings, tap "General," then "iPhone Storage," find the app, and tap "Delete App." This removes both the app and its data. On Android, go to Settings, tap "Apps," find the app, tap "Storage," and tap "Clear Cache" and "Clear Storage" to remove all data the app created. Be aware that clearing data will erase login information and settings, so you may need to set up the app again if you reinstall it later.

Apps you cannot delete and what to do instead

Some apps that came with your phone cannot be deleted because they are part of the operating system. On iPhone, apps like Phone, Messages, and Settings cannot be removed. On Android, system apps vary by manufacturer and carrier, but common ones that cannot be deleted include Phone, Contacts, and Messages.

If you do not use a system app, you can hide it instead. On iPhone, press and hold the app icon and choose "Remove from Home Screen" — it will stay on your phone but disappear from your home screen and can only be found through search or the App Library. On Android, press and hold the app icon, tap "App info," and look for a "Disable" button. Disabling hides the app and stops it from running in the background, though it remains on your phone and takes up storage space.

How to free up storage space beyond deleting apps

If you are running low on storage space, deleting apps is one solution, but you can also remove photos, videos, and old messages. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap "General," then "iPhone Storage" to see which apps and file types are using the most space. On Android, go to Settings, tap "Storage," and you will see a breakdown of what is taking up room.

Photos and videos often use the most space. You can move them to cloud storage like Google Photos or iCloud, then delete them from your phone. You can also delete old text message conversations, clear your browser cache, and remove downloaded files you no longer need. These steps often free up more space than deleting apps alone.

Reinstalling apps you deleted

If you delete an app and later decide you want it back, you can reinstall it from the App Store on iPhone or Google Play Store on Android. Search for the app by name, tap it, and tap the download or install button. Most free apps can be reinstalled without paying again — your phone will remember that you previously had the app.

Paid apps work the same way: if you paid for an app once, you can reinstall it without paying again. However, your app data will not automatically return unless you backed it up before deleting the app. If the app offers cloud backup or syncing, you may be able to restore your data after reinstalling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting an app free up storage space?

Yes, deleting an app removes the app files from your phone and frees up storage space. However, the app's data may remain unless you clear it separately. On both iPhone and Android, go to your phone's storage settings to see how much space each app uses before deciding which ones to delete.

Can I delete apps that came with my phone?

Most system apps that came with your phone cannot be deleted, but you can hide them. On iPhone, remove them from your home screen. On Android, you can disable them through Settings. This prevents them from appearing on your home screen and stops them from running in the background.

What if I accidentally delete an app I need?

You can reinstall it from the App Store or Google Play Store at any time. Search for the app by name and tap install. If it was a free app, you will not be charged again. Your app data may not return unless the app offers cloud backup, so you may need to set it up again.

Does deleting an app remove my login information?

Deleting the app alone does not always remove saved passwords or login data. To erase everything the app stored, you need to clear its data separately in your phone's Settings. On iPhone, delete the app through iPhone Storage. On Android, go to Apps, find the app, and tap "Clear Storage."

Can I delete multiple apps at once?

On iPhone, you can select multiple apps by pressing and holding one, then tapping others while still holding. Tap "Remove App" and confirm. On Android, most phones require you to delete apps one at a time, though some manufacturers offer a bulk delete option in their app management settings.