Table of Contents

How to Delete Apps on Apple

Are you struggling with too many apps cluttering your device? Whether you’re looking to free up storage space, remove unused applications, or simply organize your digital life, knowing how to properly delete apps is an essential skill for any device owner. In this How to Delete Apps on Apple guide, we’ll walk through the process of deleting apps across all major platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android, MacBook, and even Apple Watch. You’ll learn not just the basic methods but also how to remove hidden apps and permanently delete applications to protect your privacy.

Why Delete Apps?

Before diving into the specific methods for each device, let’s consider why you might want to delete apps:

  • Free up valuable storage space
  • Improve device performance
  • Remove apps you no longer use
  • Protect your privacy by removing apps with access to your data
  • Organize your home screen or launcher

Now, let’s explore how to delete apps on each platform.

How to Delete Apps on iPhone

The iPhone is Apple’s flagship device, and there are several ways to delete apps from it. Here are the most common methods:

Method 1: The Quick Press-and-Hold Method

  1. Find the app you want to delete on your home screen
  2. Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears
  3. Tap “Remove App.”
  4. Choose “Delete App” to completely remove it from your device

Method 2: Using the App Library

If you’re using iOS 14 or later:

  1. Swipe left on your home screen until you reach the App Library
  2. Find the app you want to delete
  3. Press and hold the app icon
  4. Select “Delete App” from the menu

Method 3: Through Settings

  1. Open “Settings” on your iPhone
  2. Tap “General.l”
  3. Select “iPhone Storage.”
  4. Find and tap the app you want to remove
  5. Select “Delete. App”

This method is particularly useful when you want to see how much space an app is taking up before deciding to delete it.

How to Delete Apps on iPhone That Are Hidden

Sometimes apps aren’t visible on your home screen but are still installed on your device. Here’s how to delete apps on iPhone that are hidden:
  1. Go to “Settings”
  2. Tap “General”
  3. Select “iPhone Storage”
  4. Scroll through the list to find hidden apps
  5. Tap on the app you want to delete
  6. Select “Dele. te App”

Alternatively, you can use the App Library to find and delete hidden apps:

  1. Swipe left until you reach the App Library
  2. Use the search bar at the top to find the hidden app
  3. Press and hold the app icon
  4. Select “Del. ete App”

How to Delete Apps on Android

Android devices offer a similar yet slightly different approach to deleting apps:

Method 1: From the Home Screen or App Drawer

  1. Find the app you want to delete
  2. Press and hold the app icon
  3. Drag it to the “Uninstall” option that appears
  4. Confirm by tapping “OK” when prompted

Method 2: Through Settings

  1. Open “Settings” on your Android device
  2. Select “Apps” or “Applications”
  3. Find the app you want to remove
  4. Tap on it and select Uninstalll”
  5. Confirm your choice

Method 3: Using the Google Play Store

  1. Open the Google Play Store
  2. Tap your profile icon in the top right
  3. Select “Managdevices & device”
  4. Go to the “Manage” tab
  5. Find and select the app you want to delete
  6. Tap .”Uninstall”

How to Delete Apps on iPad

Deleting apps on an iPad follows similar methods to the iPhone, with a few interface differences:

Method 1: Direct Deletion

  1. Find the app you want to delete on your home screen
  2. Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears
  3. Tap .”Remove App”
  4. Select “Delete App.”

Method 2: Using the App Library (iPadOS 15 and later)

  1. Swipe left until you reach the App Library
  2. Find the app you want to delete
  3. Press and hold the app icon
  4. Select “Delete App.”

Method 3: Through Settings

  1. Open “Settings” on your iPad
  2. Tap “General”
  3. Select “iPad Storage”
  4. Find and tap the app you want to remove
  5. Select “Delete. App”

How to Delete AAppss on MacBook

Deleting apps on a MacBook is quite different from iOS devices:

Method 1: Using the Finder

  1. Open “Finder” on your MacBook
  2. Click on “Applications” in the sidebar
  3. Find the app you want to delete
  4. Drag the app to the Trash icon in your dock, OR Right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash.”
  5. Empty the Trash by right-clicking on the Trash icon and selecting “Empty Trash”

How to Delete Apps on Apple

Method 2: Using Launchpad

  1. Open “Launchpad” (pinch with thumb and three fingers on othe n trackpad or click the Launchpad icon)
  2. Find the app you want to delete
  3. Click and hold the app icon until it starts jiggling
  4. Click the “X” that appears in the corner of the app
  5. Confirm deletion when prompted

How to Delete Apps from a MacBook That Were Downloaded from the App Store

For apps downloaded from the App Store:

  1. Open “Launchpad”
  2. Find the app you want to delete
  3. Click and hold until the icons start jiggling
  4. Click the “X” that appears on the app icon
  5. Confirm deletion

How to Delete Apps on iPhone Permanently

When you delete an app from your iPhone, it’s important to know that some data might remain. To delete apps on iPhone permanently and remove all associated data:

  1. Go to “Settings”
  2. Tap “General.”
  3. Select “iPhone Storage.”
  4. Find and tap the app you want to permanently delete
  5. Tap “Delete App.”
  6. Additionally, go to “Settings” > “Apple ID” > “iCloud” > “Manage Storage”
  7. Look for any backup data from the deleted app and remove it

For a more thorough removal:

  1. Go to “Settings” > “Privacy” > “Analytics & Improvements”
  2. Disable “Share iPhone Analytics” to prevent sending app data to Apple
  3. If you’ve backed up your device, consider creating a new backup after deleting the app to ensure the app data isn’t restored

How to Delete Apps on Apple Watch

The Apple Watch has limited space, making app management crucial:

Method 1: Using the Apple Watch Directly

  1. Press the Digital Crown to go to the Home screen
  2. If in Grid View, find the app and press and hold the app icon untiitey jjigglesIf in List View, swipe left on the app and tap the trash icon
  3. Tap the “X” that appears on the app (Grid View)
  4. Confirm deletion when prompted

Method 2: Using the iPhone Watch App

  1. Open the “Watch” app on your iPhone
  2. Tap “My Watch” at the bottom
  3. Scroll down to the “Installed on Apple Watch” section
  4. Find the app you want to remove
  5. Tap the app name
  6. Turn off “Show App on Apple Watch.h”

How to Delete Apps from iPhone That Cannot Be Deleted Normally

Some built-in iOS apps cannot be completeldelet eded but can be removed from the home screen:

  1. Find the app you want to remove
  2. Press and hold the app icon
  3. Select “Remove. App”
  4. Choose “Remove from Home Screen” (the app will still be available in the App Library)

For pre-installed apps that can be deleted (since iOS 10):

  1. Press and hold the app icon
  2. Tap “Remove App.”
  3. Select “DeletApp.p”
  4. Confirm deletion

If you later want to restore these built-in apps, you can download them again from the App Store.

How to Delete Appsfroma MacBook Completely

To ensure an app is completely removed from your MacBook:

  1. Delete the app using one of the methods described earlier
  2. Use a third-party uninstaller app to remove leftover files, or manually look for and delete:
    • Preference files in ~/Library/Preferences/
    • Application Support files in ~/Library/Application Support/
    • Caches in ~/Library/Caches/
  3. Empty the Trash

To access the Library folder (which is hidden by default):

  1. Open Finder
  2. Click on “Go” in the menu bar
  3. Hold down the Option key to make “Library” appear
  4. Click on “Library.”

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Apps won’t delete on iPhone

If you can’t delete apps on your iPhone:
  • Check if restrictions are enabled (Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions)
  • Ensure you’re using the correct deletion method for your iOS version
  • Try restarting your device
  • Check if the app is currently being installed or updated

Apps Won’t Delete on Android

If you can’t delete apps on Android:

  • The app might be a system app that cannot be uninstalled
  • Check if the app is set as a device administrator (Settings > Security > Device administrators)
  • Try rebooting your device
  • Verify that you have proper permissions (if you’re using a work profile or restricted account)

Can’t Delete Apps on MacBook

If you can’t delete apps on your MacBook:

  • Check if the app is currently running (quit it first)
  • Make sure you have administrator privileges
  • Some system apps cannot be deleted
  • Try using Terminal commands for stubborn apps

FAQs About Deleting Apps

How do I delete multiple apps at once on iPhone?

You can delete multiple apps by:

  1. Press and hold an empty area of your home screen until apps jiggle
  2. Tap the minus (-) sign on each app you want to delete
  3. Confirm deletion for each app

How do I delete apps that came pre-installed on my Android device?

Most pre-installed apps can only be disabled, not completely deleted, unless your device is rooted. To disable:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps
  2. Find the pre-installed app
  3. Tap “Disable” or “Turn off.”

Will deleting an app delete my account associated with it?

No, deleting an app does not delete your account. You’ll need to cancel or delete your account within the app or through the service’s website before deleting the app.

How do I delete apps from my iCloud storage?

To delete apps from iCloud storage:

  1. Go to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage Storage
  2. Tap on “Backups” and select your device
  3. Find the app data you want to remove
  4. Toggle it off or tap “Delete Dat.a”

Can I recover an app I accidentally deleted?

Yes, you can:

  • On iPhone/iPad: Go to the App Store, tap your profile, select “Purchased,” find the app, and download it again
  • On Android: Visit Google Play Store, go to “My apps & games,” tap on “Library,” find the app, and reinstall it
  • On MacBook: Reinstall from the App Store or download again from the developer’s website

How do I delete hidden apps on Android?

To delete hidden apps on Android:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps
  2. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner
  3. Select “Show system apps” or “Show all apps”.
  4. Find the hidden app and tap “Uninstall” or “Disable.”

How much space will I free up by deleting apps?

The space freed depends on the app size and its data. Check:

  • On iPhone: Settings > General > iPhone Storage
  • On Android: Settings > Storage > Apps
  • On MacBook: Finder > Applications (right-click on app and select “Get Info”)

How do I delete apps from my Apple Watch if I don’t see an X?

If you don’t see an X when trying to delete an app from your Apple Watch:
  1. Use the iPhone Watch app instead
  2. Go to the My Watch tab
  3. Scroll to the app and tap it
  4. Toggle off “Show App on Apple Watch”

How to Delete Apps on Apple

Can I delete apps on iPhone without losing data?

For some apps, you can offload the app instead of deleting it:

  1. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage
  2. Tap on the app
  3. Select “Offload App” (this removes the app but keeps its data)

How do I know if an app is completely deleted from my MacBook?

To verify complete deletion:

  1. Check the Applications folder
  2. Search for the app name in Finder
  3. Look in the Library folders for leftover files
  4. Empty the Trash

Making Smart Decisions About App Deletion

Before deleting apps, consider:

  1. Usage frequency: If you rarely use an app but might need it later, consider whether deleting it is worth the hassle of reinstalling.
  2. Storage impact: Some apps take up minimal space and may not be worth removing if storage isn’t a concern.
  3. Data preservation: Make sure you’ve backed up any important data within the app before deletion.
  4. Subscription status: If you have a paid subscription tied to the app, consider canceling it before deleting.
  5. Alternative options: On iOS, you can offload unused apps instead of deleting them, which preserves data while freeing storage.

Best Practices for Managing Apps

To maintain a clean and efficient device:

  1. Regular audits: Review your apps quarterly and delete those you no longer use.
  2. Organize before deleting: Group similar apps into folders to better visualize what you use.
  3. Start with large apps: When freeing up space, target the largest unused apps first.
  4. Consider alternatives: Sometimes a web app can replace a native app, especially for services you rarely use.
  5. Use cloud services: Where possible, use cloud-based solutions to minimize the need for storage-heavy apps.

Conclusion

Knowing how to delete apps on iPhone, how to delete apps on Android, how to delete apps on iPad, how to delete apps on MacBook, and how to delete apps on Apple Watch is an essential digital hygiene skill. Whether you’re trying to free up space, remove hidden apps, or permanently delete sensitive applications, the methods outlined in this guide should help you maintain a clean, organized, and efficient digital environment. Remember that different platforms have different processes for app deletion, and some pre-installed apps can only be disabled rather than completely removed. By regularly reviewing and managing your apps across all your devices, you’ll ensure optimal performance and storage usage.     Popular Tools:

More To Know:

Tools to Increase Productivity:

hostinger

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply