The two ways to remove an app from your iPhone
You can delete an app from your iPhone in two ways: by pressing and holding the app icon on your home screen, or by going into the Settings app. The press-and-hold method is faster for one or two apps. Settings is better if you want to see all your apps at once and remove several in a row.
Both methods remove the app completely from your phone. The app's data usually goes with it, though some apps store information in iCloud or on their own servers. If you delete an app and later change your mind, you can reinstall it from the App Store for free if it was free originally, or you may need to repurchase it if it cost money.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon on your home screen, then tap "Remove App" and confirm by tapping "Delete App" to remove it immediately.
- You can also go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, find the app you want to remove, tap it, and select "Delete App" to accomplish the same thing.
- Deleting an app removes the app itself and usually its stored data, though some apps keep information in iCloud or their own servers.
- Free apps can be reinstalled from the App Store at no cost, but paid apps may require you to repurchase them if you want them back.
Delete an app by pressing and holding its icon
Open your home screen and find the app you want to remove. Press and hold the app icon with your finger until a menu appears — this usually takes about one second. You will see several options, including "Remove App" near the bottom of the menu.
Tap "Remove App". A second menu will appear asking you to confirm. Tap "Delete App", then tap "Delete" one more time when asked if you are sure. The app will disappear from your home screen immediately.
If you cannot find the app on your home screen, it may be in a folder or on a different page. Swipe left or right to move between pages, or look inside folders by tapping them. You can also search for the app by swiping down from the top of your home screen and typing its name into the search box.
Delete an app through Settings
Open the Settings app and tap "General". Scroll down and tap "iPhone Storage". Your phone will show you a list of all installed apps, sorted by how much space each one uses. Scroll through the list to find the app you want to remove.
Tap the app name. A screen will open showing how much space it uses and when you last opened it. Tap "Delete App" in red text near the bottom. Confirm by tapping "Delete App" again when asked.
This method is useful if you want to see how much storage space each app takes up, or if you want to remove several apps without going back to your home screen each time. The Settings method works the same way as the press-and-hold method — the app is completely removed.
What happens to your data when you delete an app
When you delete an app, your iPhone removes the app itself and the data it stored locally on your phone. This includes saved games, login information, photos you took within the app, and any other files the app created and kept on your device.
However, some apps back up their data to iCloud or to their own company servers. For example, if you delete the Photos app (which you cannot actually do, but the principle applies), your photos would still be in iCloud if you had iCloud Photos turned on. Similarly, if you delete Gmail, your emails remain on Google's servers and you can access them again by signing back in.
Before you delete an app that contains important information — like a banking app, a note-taking app, or a photo editor — check whether it backs up your data somewhere. You can usually find this information in the app's settings or on the company's website.
How to reinstall an app you deleted
Open the App Store and tap the search icon at the bottom. Type the name of the app you want to reinstall. When you find it, tap the cloud icon with a down arrow (not the price or "Get" button). Your phone will download and install the app again.
If the app cost money when you first bought it, you will not be charged again — the App Store remembers your purchase. If you are not sure whether you paid for an app, look at the button next to the app name in the App Store. A cloud icon means you own it and can reinstall it free. A price means you would need to buy it again.
When you reinstall an app, it will not automatically restore the data that was on your phone before you deleted it. If the app backs up to iCloud or its own servers, you may be able to sign back in and recover that information. Otherwise, you will start fresh.
Apps you cannot delete from your iPhone
Apple includes certain apps that cannot be deleted, though the list varies depending on your iPhone model and iOS version. These built-in apps include Phone, Messages, Mail, Safari, Stocks, Compass, Health, and Find My. You can hide them from your home screen by pressing and holding and selecting "Remove App", then choosing "Remove from Home Screen" instead of "Delete App" — but the app itself stays on your phone and takes up storage space.
If you try to press and hold one of these apps, you will see "Remove App" in the menu, but when you tap it, the only option will be "Remove from Home Screen". This is different from deleting an app you downloaded yourself, where you get the choice to delete it completely.
Freeing up storage space by deleting apps
If your iPhone is running low on storage, deleting apps is one of the fastest ways to free up space. The Settings > General > iPhone Storage screen shows you exactly how much space each app uses, so you can target the largest ones first.
Photos and videos inside apps often take up more space than the app itself. For example, a social media app might use 500 MB for the app code but 2 GB for cached photos and videos. When you delete the app, all of that space is freed up. If you want to keep the app but reduce its storage use, you can try offloading it instead: go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, tap the app, and select "Offload App". This removes the app but keeps your data, so you can reinstall it later without losing anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete multiple apps at once?
No, you have to delete apps one at a time. Press and hold each app individually and confirm the deletion, or use Settings > General > iPhone Storage and delete them in sequence. There is no bulk delete option in iOS.
Will deleting an app delete my account with that service?
No. Deleting the app only removes it from your phone. Your account with the service remains active on their servers. When you reinstall the app and sign back in, your account will be there.
What is the difference between "Remove from Home Screen" and "Delete App"?
"Remove from Home Screen" hides the app from your home screen but leaves it on your phone taking up storage space. "Delete App" removes it completely. For built-in Apple apps, only "Remove from Home Screen" is available.
Can I recover an app I deleted by accident?
Yes. Open the App Store, search for the app by name, and tap the cloud icon to reinstall it. If it was a free app, there is no charge. If you paid for it, you will not be charged again.
Does deleting an app speed up my iPhone?
Deleting apps frees up storage space, which can help if your phone is almost full. However, removing an app you do not use regularly will not noticeably speed up your phone's performance. Storage space and processing speed are separate issues.