In today’s digital world, iPhones come packed with powerful apps right out of the box. Over time, though, you may find your phone cluttered with apps you rarely use. Whether you’re freeing up storage, decluttering your home screen, or just trying to improve performance, removing unused or unwanted apps is a great way to keep your iPhone running smoothly. In this comprehensive 2000-word guide, we’ll walk you through every method to remove apps from an iPhone, including pre-installed apps, third-party apps, and those hiding in your App Library. We’ll also discuss important tips about deleting vs. offloading apps and how to restore them if you change your mind.
📱 Why Remove Apps From Your iPhone?
Before diving into how to remove apps, let’s quickly understand why you might want to do this:
- Free up storage: Many apps can take up gigabytes of space.
- Declutter the interface: A tidy home screen makes your phone easier to navigate.
- Improve performance: Fewer apps running in the background can lead to faster response times.
- Reduce distractions: Removing social media or game apps can help improve focus.
🔧 Method 1: Remove Apps Directly from the Home Screen
The simplest way to delete an app is straight from your home screen. Here’s how:
Steps:
- Locate the app you want to delete on your home screen.
- Tap and hold the app icon until a menu pops up.
- Tap “Remove App.”
- Choose “Delete App” when prompted.
- Confirm your choice by tapping “Delete” again.
💡 Note: This method works on all iPhones with iOS 13 and above.
📁 Method 2: Remove Apps From the App Library
If you can’t find an app on the home screen because it’s tucked away in your App Library, here’s how to delete it:
Steps:
- Swipe left until you reach the App Library.
- Use the search bar at the top or scroll through categories.
- Tap and hold the app icon.
- Select “Delete App.”
- Confirm by tapping “Delete.”
⚙️ Method 3: Remove Apps via Settings (Storage Management)
This method is especially useful if you’re trying to free up space or locate large apps that may be hiding.
Steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap “General”.
- Select “iPhone Storage.”
- Wait a few moments for the storage list to load.
- Tap the app you want to delete.
- Tap “Delete App.”
- Confirm by tapping “Delete App” again.
🧠 Bonus Tip: You can sort apps by size here to find the biggest space hogs.
☁️ Offloading vs. Deleting Apps: What’s the Difference?
Apple gives users the ability to “offload” apps as well. But how is that different from deleting?
🔹 Offloading:
- Keeps your data and documents related to the app.
- Removes the app binary to free up storage.
- The app icon stays on the screen with a cloud icon.
🔹 Deleting:
- Removes everything: the app and its data.
- Cannot be reversed unless you reinstall and set up again.
When Should You Offload?
- If you plan to use the app again in the future.
- If you’re low on storage but don’t want to lose settings or progress (e.g., in games or productivity apps).
How To Offload Apps:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Tap the app.
- Tap “Offload App.”
- Confirm.
🚫 How To Remove Pre-Installed Apple Apps
You might be surprised to know that many of Apple’s built-in apps can now be deleted.
Deletable Apple Apps Include:
- Calculator
- Calendar
- Compass
- Contacts
- FaceTime
- Files
- Find My
- Maps
- Music
- Notes
- Podcasts
- Stocks
- Tips
- Voice Memos
- Weather
- Watch
Steps:
- Find the Apple app on your home screen.
- Tap and hold the icon.
- Select “Remove App.”
- Tap “Delete App.”
- Confirm by tapping “Delete.”
⚠️ Caution: Deleting some Apple apps may affect related system functions. For example, removing the Mail app can affect how you send emails using Siri.
🔐 Apps You Cannot Remove
Certain system apps are baked into iOS and cannot be deleted, such as:
- Settings
- App Store
- Safari
- Phone
- Messages
- Camera
While you can’t delete them, you can hide or restrict them using Screen Time settings.
How to Hide Apps with Screen Time:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Enable the toggle for Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Tap Allowed Apps.
- Toggle off the apps you want to hide.
🗂️ How To Remove Apps From Folders
If your apps are tucked into folders, here’s how to delete them:
- Open the folder.
- Tap and hold the app icon.
- Tap “Remove App” > “Delete App.”
- Confirm by tapping “Delete.”
📌 Note: After deleting all apps in a folder, the folder disappears automatically.
📦 How To Remove Apps From App Store Purchase List (Hide Them)
While you can’t permanently delete purchase history, you can hide apps from your App Store list.
Steps:
- Open the App Store.
- Tap your profile picture in the top right.
- Tap “Purchased.”
- Swipe left on the app you want to hide.
- Tap “Hide.”
🔁 How To Restore Deleted Apps
If you ever change your mind, restoring deleted apps is simple.
Steps:
- Open the App Store.
- Tap the search bar and type the app’s name.
- Tap the cloud icon to re-download it.
All your settings and data will be restored only if the app supports cloud backup (like iCloud or its own server).
✅ Best Practices Before Deleting Apps
Before you start deleting apps at random, consider the following:
📍 Check App Usage:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time > See All Activity to see which apps you use the most and which you never open.
🔄 Backup Data:
- If the app stores data locally, back it up via iCloud, Google Drive, or export manually.
🤔 Ask Yourself:
- Is this app essential for my daily routine?
- Can I access this service via Safari instead?
- Does this app offer any unique benefit?
👨👩👧👦 For Parents: Deleting vs. Restricting Apps on a Child’s iPhone
If you’re managing a child’s iPhone, you may not want to delete apps but simply restrict access.
Steps:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time.
- Tap “This is My Child’s iPhone.”
- Set app limits or restrictions by category or age.
You can also use Family Sharing to monitor and control app downloads.
🧽 Bonus Tips for Cleaning Your iPhone
- Sort apps by last used: Use the iPhone Storage view to see when each app was last opened.
- Use Smart Stacks: Combine widgets and free up screen space.
- Organize by folders: Group similar apps to avoid over-deletion.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Removing apps from your iPhone isn’t just about creating more space — it’s about taking control of your digital environment. Whether you’re a power user who installs dozens of apps for testing or a minimalist who wants a clean and efficient interface, regularly reviewing and managing your apps is essential.
The good news? Apple has made it easier than ever to delete, offload, or restrict apps without needing a tech expert. So take a few moments today and start decluttering — your iPhone (and your mind) will thank you.
Would you like a visual infographic or thumbnail image to go along with this article?