The fastest way to delete an app
Press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears. Tap Remove App, then tap Remove from Home Screen if you want to keep it in your library, or Delete App if you want to remove it entirely. Confirm by tapping Delete when prompted.
That's the method most people use because it's the quickest. The app disappears immediately, and if you chose to delete it completely, it's gone from your phone. If you chose to remove it from your home screen only, you can still find it later in the App Library or by searching.
You can also delete multiple apps at once by long-pressing one app, then tapping the other apps you want to remove while still holding the first one. A circle appears next to each selected app. When you've chosen them all, tap Remove App and confirm.
Key Takeaways
- Long-press any app icon, tap Remove App, then choose whether to remove it from your home screen or delete it entirely from your iPhone.
- Removing an app from your home screen keeps it in your App Library and searchable, but deletes it completely from your phone if you choose that option.
- You can delete multiple apps at once by selecting them together before tapping Remove App.
- Apps deleted from your iPhone can be reinstalled later from the App Store at no cost if they were free, or you may need to repurchase paid apps.
Deleting apps through Settings
If you prefer not to use the home screen method, you can delete apps from the Settings app instead. Open Settings, tap General, then iPhone Storage. You'll see a list of all your apps sorted by size, with the largest taking up the most space at the top.
Find the app you want to delete and tap it. A screen appears showing how much space it uses and when you last opened it. Tap Delete App, then confirm by tapping Delete. This method removes the app completely from your phone, not just from your home screen.
This route is useful if you're trying to free up storage space and want to see exactly how much room each app takes up. The Settings method shows you the size of every app, which can help you decide which ones to remove if your phone is running low on storage.
The difference between removing and deleting
When you remove an app from your home screen, the app stays on your iPhone but disappears from the screens you see when you swipe through your home pages. You can still find it by opening the App Library (swipe to the rightmost home screen) or by searching for it using Spotlight (swipe down from the top of your home screen and type the app name).
When you delete an app entirely, it's removed from your phone completely. The app no longer takes up storage space, and you won't see it anywhere unless you reinstall it from the App Store. Deleting is the choice to make if you don't plan to use the app again or need to free up space.
Some people remove apps from their home screen but keep them on the phone if they use them rarely. Others delete them completely to clean up storage. There's no wrong choice — it depends on whether you think you'll want to use the app again.
What happens to your data when you delete an app
When you delete an app, any data stored only within that app is usually removed as well. This includes saved games, notes you wrote in the app, login information, and any files the app created. Once the app is deleted, that data is gone unless the app backed it up to iCloud or another cloud service.
Some apps back up their data automatically. For example, if you delete a note-taking app that syncs to iCloud, your notes may still be recoverable through iCloud. Check the app's settings before you delete it if you're unsure whether your data is backed up.
If an app stores files in the Files app or in another app's storage (like photos in the Photos app), those files usually stay on your phone even after you delete the app. Only data stored within the app itself is removed.
Reinstalling an app you deleted
If you delete an app and later want it back, open the App Store and search for the app by name. Tap the cloud icon with a downward arrow (for apps you've downloaded before) or the price button (for paid apps you haven't purchased). The app downloads and installs automatically.
Free apps can be reinstalled at any time without paying again. If you deleted a paid app, you'll need to repurchase it unless you've already bought it on this Apple ID — in that case, the cloud icon appears instead of a price, and you can reinstall it for free.
Reinstalling takes a few minutes depending on the app's size and your internet speed. Your data won't return unless the app syncs to a cloud service you're still logged into, so you may need to set up the app again from scratch.
Deleting built-in Apple apps
Some apps that come with your iPhone, like Stocks, Podcasts, and Reminders, can be deleted just like any other app. Press and hold the icon, tap Remove App, then Delete App. They'll disappear from your phone.
A few apps cannot be deleted, including Phone, Messages, Settings, and Health. If you try to long-press one of these apps, the Remove App option won't appear. You can remove them from your home screen, but you can't delete them entirely.
If you delete a built-in app and want it back, you can reinstall it from the App Store just like any other app. Search for it by name and tap the cloud icon to download it again at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
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. Your data may not return unless the app backed it up to iCloud or another cloud service. If the app syncs to a cloud account you're still logged into, your data should reappear when you open it again.
Will deleting an app free up storage space on my iPhone?
Yes. Deleting an app removes it and the space it takes up from your phone. If you only remove it from your home screen, the app stays on your phone and uses the same amount of storage. Check Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see how much space each app uses before deciding whether to delete it.
What's the difference between removing and deleting on iPhone?
Removing an app from your home screen hides it but keeps it on your phone. You can still find it in the App Library or by searching. Deleting an app removes it completely from your phone and frees up storage space. Only the data stored within the app is removed — files in other apps usually stay.
Do I lose my data if I delete an app?
Data stored only within the app is removed when you delete it. However, if the app syncs to iCloud or another cloud service, that data may be recoverable after you reinstall the app and log back in. Check the app's settings before deleting it if you're unsure whether your data is backed up.