This guide provides detailed instructions for removing applications from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. These instructions apply to all recent versions of iOS and iPadOS.

Method 1: Uninstall From Home Screen

  1. Find the app you want to uninstall on your home screen
  2. Press and hold (long press) the app icon until a menu appears
  3. Tap “Remove App” from the menu
  4. Select “Delete App” to completely remove it from your device
  5. Confirm by tapping “Delete” in the popup dialog

Method 2: Through Settings

  1. Open the “Settings” app on your device
  2. Scroll down and tap “General”
  3. Select “iPhone Storage” (or “iPad Storage” on iPads)
  4. Find and tap the app you want to remove
  5. Tap “Delete App”
  6. Confirm your choice by tapping “Delete App” again

Method 3: Using App Library (iOS 14 and later)

  1. Swipe left on your home screen until you reach the App Library
  2. Find the app you want to remove
  3. Press and hold the app icon
  4. Select “Delete App”
  5. Confirm by tapping “Delete” in the popup dialog

Important Notes:

  • Pre-installed Apple apps can be removed from the home screen but may not be completely uninstalled
  • Deleting an app will remove all of its data from your device
  • If you’ve purchased the app, you can reinstall it later without paying again using the same Apple ID
  • Some apps may store data in iCloud; check your iCloud settings if you want to remove this data as well
  • If you use Family Sharing and want to prevent accidental deletions, you can set up Screen Time restrictions

Offloading Apps:

iOS offers an alternative to completely uninstalling apps called “Offload Unused Apps”:

  1. Go to Settings > App Store
  2. Enable “Offload Unused Apps”

This will automatically remove apps you rarely use while preserving their documents and data. When you reinstall the app, your data will be restored.

For any issues with uninstalling apps from your iOS device, please visit Apple’s support website or contact Apple Support.

Last updated: January 2025