Whether you are trying to free up valuable storage space, remove a distracting social media game, or simply clean up a cluttered Home Screen, deleting apps on your iPhone takes only a few seconds.
Method 1: Delete from the Home Screen
- Find the app you want to delete on your Home Screen.
- Touch and hold your finger on the app icon for a few seconds. Do not tap it quickly; hold it down until a pop-up menu appears.
- Tap the option labeled Remove App (it is usually written in red text at the top or bottom of the menu).
- A secondary confirmation menu will appear. Tap Delete App to permanently remove it and all its data from your iPhone.
- Tap Delete one final time to confirm.
Note: If you tap “Remove from Home Screen” instead of “Delete App,” the app will disappear from your screen but will remain installed on your phone in the App Library.
Method 2: Delete from iPhone Storage Settings
If your phone is giving you a “Storage Full” warning, this method allows you to see exactly which apps are taking up the most space so you can delete the worst offenders.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on General, then tap iPhone Storage.
- Wait a few seconds for the list of apps to load. They will be ordered by size, with the largest apps at the top.
- Tap on the app you wish to remove.
- Tap the red Delete App button.
- Tap Delete App again to confirm.
Troubleshooting: Why Can’t I Delete an App?
If you touch and hold an app but the “Delete App” option is completely missing, it means you have Screen Time restrictions enabled. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases. Tap on “Deleting Apps” and ensure it is set to Allow.