By the DevX mobile testing team. We tested every app removal method in this guide on iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 14, and iPhone SE (3rd gen) running iOS 18 and iOS 17. We verified deleting from the home screen, App Library, Settings, offloading apps, removing built-in Apple apps, and the automatic offload feature. All steps confirmed working as of March 2026.
Deleting apps you no longer use frees up storage and keeps your iPhone organized. There are several ways to remove apps, plus options to offload apps (saving their data) or hide them from your home screen without deleting. Here’s every method.
Method 1: Delete From the Home Screen
- Find the app on your home screen
- Long-press (press and hold) the app icon until a menu appears
- Tap Remove App
- Tap Delete App
- Tap Delete to confirm
This permanently deletes the app and all its data from your iPhone.
Method 2: Delete From the App Library
If an app isn’t on your home screen, it’s still in the App Library:
- Swipe left past all your home screen pages to reach the App Library
- Find the app (use the search bar at the top)
- Long-press the app icon
- Tap Delete App
- Tap Delete to confirm
Method 3: Delete From Settings (See App Sizes)
This method shows you exactly how much storage each app uses, making it easy to target the biggest ones:
- Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage
- Wait for the list to load (it calculates sizes for every app)
- Apps are sorted by size — the largest appear first
- Tap the app you want to remove
- Tap Delete App
- Tap Delete App again to confirm
How To Offload Apps (Keep Data, Free Space)
Offloading removes the app but keeps its documents and data. When you reinstall later, everything picks up where you left off:
- Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage
- Tap the app
- Tap Offload App
The app icon stays on your home screen with a small cloud icon. Tap it to reinstall instantly with all your data intact.
Enable Automatic Offloading
Let your iPhone automatically offload apps you haven’t used in a while:
- Go to Settings → App Store
- Toggle Offload Unused Apps to ON
How To Delete Built-In Apple Apps
You can delete most Apple apps that come pre-installed — including Stocks, Tips, Compass, Books, Calculator, Calendar, and more:
- Long-press the Apple app icon
- Tap Remove App → Delete App
To reinstall a deleted Apple app, search for it in the App Store and tap the cloud download icon.
Apps you can’t delete: Phone, Messages, Safari, Camera, Photos, App Store, Settings, Find My, Health, and Wallet cannot be removed from your iPhone.
How To Hide Apps (Without Deleting)
If you want to keep an app but remove it from your home screen:
- Long-press the app icon
- Tap Remove App
- Tap Remove from Home Screen (not Delete App)
The app moves to the App Library only. It’s still installed and accessible — swipe left to the App Library to find it anytime.
On iOS 18, you can also lock and hide apps behind Face ID: long-press an app → Require Face ID → Hide and Require Face ID. The app moves to a hidden folder in the App Library.
How To Delete Multiple Apps Quickly
- Long-press any app icon until all icons start jiggling
- Tap the minus (–) icon on each app you want to remove
- Select Delete App for each one
- When finished, tap Done in the top right (or press the Home/Side button)
More iPhone Guides From DevX
- How To Clear Cache on iPhone (2026)
- How To Update Apps on iPhone (2026)
- How To Factory Reset iPhone (2026)
- How To Uninstall Apps on Android (2026)
- How To Free Up Space on Your Phone (2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a deleted app’s data?
If you deleted the app (not offloaded), all data stored locally in the app is gone permanently. However, many apps store data in the cloud — reinstalling the app and signing back in often restores your data (e.g., WhatsApp with iCloud backup, Instagram, Spotify).
What’s the difference between Delete and Offload?
Delete removes the app AND all its data. Offload removes only the app code but keeps your documents and data. Offloading is best when you want to free space temporarily but plan to use the app again later.
Will deleting apps make my iPhone faster?
Deleting apps frees up storage, which can help performance if your iPhone was nearly full. Apps that run background processes (like social media apps) can also use battery and data even when you’re not using them, so removing them can improve both speed and battery life.
Can I delete apps my child downloaded?
Yes, you can delete any app. To prevent future unauthorized downloads, set up Screen Time restrictions: Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → iTunes & App Store Purchases → Installing Apps → Don’t Allow.
