You cannot delete the App Store on iPhone, but you can on Android — and the consequences are very different
On an iPhone, the App Store is built into iOS and cannot be removed. Apple does not allow deletion of system apps, so the App Store icon will stay on your home screen no matter what you do. On Android, the Google Play Store can be deleted, but doing so means you lose the easiest way to download and update apps — and you cannot undo the deletion without manually reinstalling it or resetting your phone.
The real question is usually not whether you can delete it, but whether you should. The answer depends on what you are trying to accomplish: whether you want to stop seeing app notifications, prevent accidental purchases, limit what apps can access on your device, or something else entirely. Each of those has a different solution that does not require deletion.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone users cannot delete the App Store because it is a system app, but you can hide it in a folder or disable notifications from it.
- Android users can delete Google Play Store, but doing so removes your main way to download and update apps securely.
- If you want to prevent accidental purchases, you can require a password or fingerprint for every download instead of deleting the app.
- If you want to stop app notifications, you can turn off notifications for the App Store or Google Play Store without removing the app itself.
- Reinstalling the App Store on Android requires either a factory reset or manually downloading the installer file from Google, both of which are time-consuming.
Why iPhone users cannot delete the App Store
Apple classifies the App Store as a system app, the same category as Settings, Messages, and Phone. System apps are part of iOS itself and cannot be removed through the normal delete process. If you press and hold the App Store icon on an iPhone, you will see options to remove it from your home screen or add it to a folder, but not to delete it entirely.
This design choice is intentional. Apple wants the App Store to remain available because it is the only official way to download apps on iPhone. Removing it would make it harder for users to get new apps or update existing ones, which could leave security vulnerabilities unfixed. Even if you hide the App Store icon, the app itself remains on your device and continues to receive updates.
What happens if you delete Google Play Store on Android
Android phones do allow deletion of Google Play Store, unlike iPhone. When you delete it, the app is removed from your device and no longer appears in your app drawer. However, this creates a practical problem: Google Play Store is the main way most Android users download and update apps.
Without Google Play Store, you cannot download new apps through the normal process. You would have to find APK files (the Android equivalent of installers) from other sources and install them manually, which is slower and carries higher security risk because you are not getting apps from Google's verified store. Apps you already have installed will continue to work, but they will not receive updates through Google Play Store anymore.
If you delete Google Play Store by accident or change your mind, you have two options: perform a factory reset of your phone (which erases everything), or manually download and install the Google Play Store APK file from a trusted source like APKMirror or directly from Google. Both are inconvenient, which is why most people do not actually delete it.
Preventing accidental purchases without deleting the app
If your concern is accidental in-app purchases or unwanted app downloads, deletion is not necessary. Both iPhone and Android let you require authentication before any purchase happens.
On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > Require Password, then choose "Always Require" or "Require After 15 Minutes". This means every app download and in-app purchase needs your password or Face ID, even if you have already authenticated once today. On Android, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, go to Settings > Authentication, and toggle on "Require authentication for purchases".
This approach keeps the App Store or Google Play Store on your device where it belongs, but makes it much harder to accidentally spend money. You can also set up parental controls if you are concerned about a child using your device.
Hiding the App Store icon without deleting it
On iPhone, you can remove the App Store from your home screen by pressing and holding the icon, then selecting "Remove App" and choosing "Remove from Home Screen". The app stays on your device and in iCloud, but the icon disappears from view. You can still access it by searching for "App Store" in Spotlight or by going to the App Library.
This is useful if you want the App Store available for updates but do not want to see it every day. It does not prevent you from downloading apps — you can still do that through Spotlight search — but it removes the visual reminder.
On Android, you can hide Google Play Store by disabling it (if your phone allows it) or by moving it into a folder you rarely open. The exact steps depend on your phone manufacturer, but generally you press and hold the icon and look for options like "Disable" or "Hide".
Turning off App Store notifications
If the problem is constant notifications from the App Store or Google Play Store, you do not need to delete the app. You can simply turn off notifications from it.
On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, scroll down to App Store, and toggle off "Allow Notifications". On Android, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, go to Settings > Notifications, and turn off the notifications you do not want.
This stops update reminders and promotional messages without affecting your ability to download or update apps when you choose to. You can still manually check for updates by opening the app whenever you want.
When you might actually want to uninstall or disable
There are legitimate reasons to remove the App Store from your daily workflow, though actual deletion is rarely the answer. If you use a work phone and your employer has locked down the App Store, you may not be able to delete it anyway — it will be managed by your company's device management system. If you are concerned about data collection, disabling notifications and hiding the icon reduces how often the app runs in the background, though the app itself still receives updates from Apple or Google.
If you are trying to prevent someone else from downloading apps on your device, the password requirement is more effective than deletion because it stops the action at the point of purchase rather than trying to hide the tool. If you are trying to reduce screen time or app distractions, hiding the icon and turning off notifications accomplishes that without the hassle of reinstalling later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download apps without the App Store on Android?
Yes, but it is more complicated. You can download APK files from third-party sites and install them manually, or use alternative app stores like Samsung Galaxy Store or Amazon Appstore. However, Google Play Store is the most secure option because Google scans apps for malware before they appear in the store.
Will my apps stop working if I delete the App Store?
No. Apps you have already downloaded will continue to work. You just will not be able to download new apps or receive updates through the official store. On iPhone, you cannot delete the App Store anyway, so this is not a concern.
What is the difference between deleting and disabling the App Store?
Deleting removes the app entirely from your device. Disabling (on Android) keeps the app on your phone but turns it off so it does not run or send notifications. Disabling takes up less storage and is easier to reverse than deletion.
If I delete Google Play Store, can I get it back without resetting my phone?
Yes. You can download the Google Play Store APK file from Google's official website or from APKMirror, then install it manually. This is faster than a factory reset, but requires you to find and install the file yourself rather than using the normal app download process.
Does hiding the App Store icon on iPhone stop it from updating?
No. The App Store continues to receive updates from Apple even if you hide the icon. Hiding only removes it from your home screen view; the app itself remains active on your device.