How To Delete Apps On iPhone 15

Deleting apps on the iPhone 15 is quick and easy. You can remove apps from the Home Screen, from the App Library, or from Settings, and you can also offload apps if you want to keep data but free space. Follow the steps below to pick the method that fits you best, and in a few taps you will free up storage or declutter your phone.

Tutorial – How To Delete Apps On iPhone 15

This short tutorial shows three main ways to remove apps, plus how to offload if you prefer to keep app data. Each step is simple and works on the iPhone 15 running iOS 17 or later.

Step 1: Press and Hold on the App on the Home Screen

Tap and hold the app icon until a quick menu appears, then choose Remove App or Edit Home Screen to start the jiggle mode.
When you press and hold, a menu offers quick actions and the option to remove the app. If you choose Edit Home Screen, icons will jiggle and show a minus icon or delete option. Tap the minus or x and confirm Delete App to remove it permanently.

Step 2: Delete from the App Library

Swipe to your App Library, find the app, press and hold it, and tap Delete App to remove it.
The App Library groups apps automatically, which makes it easy to find apps you no longer use. Press and hold the app icon in the App Library and select Delete App, then confirm to uninstall. This method is useful if you removed the app from the Home Screen earlier and only see it in the library.

Step 3: Remove Apps via Settings and iPhone Storage

Open Settings, go to General, then iPhone Storage, tap the app you want, and choose Delete App.
Settings shows a list of apps with storage use, which helps when you want to reclaim space. Tap an app to see its details, then select Delete App to remove both the app and its data. This is the best place to find large apps or ones you rarely use.

Step 4: Offload an App Instead of Deleting

In iPhone Storage, or via the app icon menu, choose Offload App to remove the app but keep its documents and data.
Offloading frees app space while saving app settings and data so you can reinstall later. The app icon will remain on your Home Screen but with a cloud icon, letting you download it again without losing progress. Use offload when you might return to the app but need immediate storage relief.

Step 5: Delete Multiple Apps Quickly

Tap and hold an empty area on the Home Screen, then use the Edit Home Screen options to remove multiple apps or move them to the App Library.
When icons jiggle, you can drag apps into folders or the App Library, or tap the minus sign to delete them one by one. For bulk cleanup, move less-used apps to the App Library instead of deleting, or use iPhone Storage to remove large items in succession. This saves time compared to removing apps individually from different screens.

After you delete an app, the app is removed from your device and you free up storage. Any user data stored only on the device is also deleted unless you had an offload or a backup. If you want the app back, download it again from the App Store and restore any cloud-synced data.

Apple describes each of these methods in its guide to removing or deleting apps on iPhone.

Remove an App from the Home Screen Without Deleting It

If you only want a cleaner Home Screen, press and hold the app, tap Remove App, then choose Remove from Home Screen. The app stays installed and moves to the App Library, where you can still open it or search for it. This is a good option for apps you use occasionally but don’t want taking up space on your pages.

Hide or Lock Apps Instead

On iOS 18 and later, you can lock an app behind Face ID or hide it in a locked Hidden folder in the App Library. Press and hold the app, tap Require Face ID, and choose Require Face ID or Hide and Require Face ID. This keeps the app and its data but stops other people from opening it.

Delete App Clips

App Clips are tiny parts of apps that open from QR codes or links, for example to pay for parking. They delete themselves after a while, but you can remove them sooner in Settings > Apps > App Clips (or Settings > App Clips on older iOS), where you can swipe left to delete each one.

Troubleshooting

• There’s no Delete App option. Screen Time may block deleting apps. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > App Store, Media, Web & Games (or iTunes & App Store Purchases) and set Deleting Apps to Allow.
• The app came back. Automatic downloads from another device may reinstall it. Turn off App Downloads under Settings > Apps > App Store.
• A work app can’t be removed. Apps installed by your employer’s device management may only be removable by your IT team.
• Storage didn’t go down much. Some apps store files in iCloud or the Files app, and the Recently Deleted photos album may still hold large items. Check Settings > General > iPhone Storage again after a few minutes.
• The app is stuck on Waiting or Installing. Press and hold the icon and choose Cancel Download, then delete it.

How To Delete Apps On iPhone 15 Tips

• Check iPhone Storage first to find the apps using the most space before deleting.
• Use Offload App when you want to keep documents and settings but need storage.
• If the delete option is missing, check Screen Time restrictions and allow app deletion.
• To remove preinstalled apps, many can be deleted, but some system apps remain.
• Backup important app data to iCloud or another service before deleting to avoid data loss.
• Use App Library to declutter quickly without permanently deleting apps you may need later.
• Restart your iPhone if an app icon won’t delete, then try again.
• Update iOS to the latest version to ensure the delete options are functioning correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete built-in Apple apps on iPhone 15?

Yes, many built-in Apple apps can be removed, like Stocks or Weather. Some core system functions cannot be deleted, but removing most default apps is allowed and safe.

What happens to app data when I delete an app?

When you delete an app, data stored only on the device is removed. If the app syncs to iCloud or another cloud service, that data usually remains and can be restored after reinstalling.

How do I recover an app I deleted by mistake?

Open the App Store and search for the app, then tap the download icon to reinstall. Any cloud-synced data should return after you sign in to the app again.

Why is the Delete App option grayed out?

If Delete App is grayed out, Screen Time restrictions might be active. Go to Settings, Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions, and allow deleting apps to restore the option.

Will offloading an app delete its data?

No, offloading removes the app binary but keeps the app’s documents and data. When you reinstall the app, your data is available again as long as you use the same Apple ID.

Can I delete multiple apps at once from Settings?

Settings does not offer multi-select delete, but iPhone Storage shows a list for quick access. You still need to tap into each app to delete, which is faster than hunting the Home Screen.

Does deleting an app cancel subscriptions?

No, deleting an app does not cancel subscriptions tied to your Apple ID. You must cancel subscriptions in Settings under your Apple ID, then Subscriptions.

Related: automatically offload apps on iPhone.