Removing apps from an iPhone is a straightforward process that can be accomplished in a few different ways. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you declutter your device.
Deleting Apps directly from the Home Screen
Press and Hold: Begin by locating the app you wish to delete on your iPhone’s home screen. Once you’ve found it, press and hold the app icon. On iPhone models with 3D Touch, be careful to lightly tap and hold the app instead of pressing down, as this might open a Quick Actions menu instead.
Access the Delete Option: After you’ve pressed and held the app icon, a menu will appear. On iPhones running iOS 13 or later, select “Rearrange Apps.” On iPhones with iOS 14 or later, choose “Remove App.” After doing this, the apps on your home screen will begin to jiggle, and a small ‘X’ will appear in the upper left corner of each app.
Delete the App: Tap the ‘X’ on the app you wish to delete. A confirmation message will appear, asking if you’re sure you want to delete the app. Confirm by tapping “Delete.” The app will be removed from your iPhone, along with any data associated with it.
Exit the Deletion Mode: Once you’ve finished deleting apps, tap “Done” in the upper right corner of the screen (on iPhone X and later) or press the Home button (on iPhone 8 and earlier). Your apps will stop jiggling, and you’ll be out of the deletion mode.
Deleting Apps through the Settings
Alternatively, you can delete apps through the Settings app, which also shows you the amount of storage each app is using.
Open Settings: From your home screen, open the “Settings” app.
Go to General > iPhone Storage: Scroll down and tap “General,” then select “iPhone Storage.” Your iPhone will display a list of all your apps, along with the amount of storage space each one is using.
Select the App to Delete: From the list of apps, tap on the one you wish to delete. This will open a new page with information about the app and two options: “Offload App” and “Delete App.”
Delete the App: Tap “Delete App,” then confirm by tapping “Delete” again in the pop-up window. This will delete the app and all its data.
The “Offload App” option is worth mentioning here. Offloading an app frees up storage used by the app but keeps its documents and data.
Reinstalling the app later will place back your data, if the app is still available in the App Store. This is a handy feature if you’re running low on space but don’t want to lose your app data.
Deleting Apps through the App Store
iOS 13 and later versions also allow you to delete apps from the App Store.
Open the App Store: Tap on the “App Store” icon from your home screen.
Access Your Account: Tap on your profile picture in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
Go to the Updated Recently Section: Scroll down to the “Updated Recently” or “Updated” section.
Swipe Left to Delete: Find the app you wish to delete and swipe left on it, revealing the “Delete” option.
Delete the App: Tap “Delete,” then confirm in the pop-up window by tapping “Delete” again.
Remember, when you delete an app, it also deletes all its data, which may include saved information and settings. If you think you might need to use the app again and want to preserve its data, consider the “Offload App” option instead.
Offloading an App
Offloading an app frees up storage used by the app but keeps its documents and data. This way, if you reinstall the app later, your personal data will be restored (given that the app is still available in the App Store). Here’s how you can offload an app:
Open Settings: From your home screen, tap on the “Settings” app.
Go to General > iPhone Storage: Scroll down and tap “General,” then select “iPhone Storage.” Your iPhone will display a list of all your apps, along with the amount of storage space each one is using.
Select the App to Offload: From the list of apps, tap on the one you wish to offload. This will open a new page with information about the app and two options: “Offload App” and “Delete App.”
Offload the App: Tap “Offload App,” then confirm by tapping “Offload App” again in the pop-up window. This will remove the app but keep its documents and data.
Now you know multiple ways to delete or offload apps on your iPhone. Regularly reviewing and removing unused apps can help to keep your device clutter-free and maintain sufficient storage space for the apps and data that you really need.
Remember that deleting an app doesn’t mean you can’t get it back. If you’ve paid for an app, you won’t have to buy it again — you can download it from the App Store at any time without incurring additional charges. However, the data and settings within the app will only be saved if you’ve chosen to offload it, rather than deleting it. Always choose the option that best suits your needs and remember to back up important data.
