I’m having trouble trying to delete some apps I don’t need anymore on my iPhone. I’ve tried long-pressing the icons but can’t seem to access the delete option. Is there another way to remove them? Would appreciate any advice.
Okay, deleting apps on an iPhone shouldn’t really be this much of a saga, right? If long-pressing isn’t working for you—and that’s the usual route—check this out:
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Long-press method (again): Hold down the app icon until they jiggle. A little “-” or “X” should appear. Tap that to delete. If it’s missing, skip to the next steps because Apple loves making things complicated for no reason.
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Settings > General > iPhone Storage: Go to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage. Scroll down until you see the app causing you grief, tap it, and then select “Delete App.” This method never fails unless, of course, it’s an app Apple doesn’t want you to delete (looking at you, Stocks).
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Restrictions or Screen Time Settings: If the delete option legit isn’t popping up, you might have Restrictions enabled under Screen Time (Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions). Go there, turn it off, or ensure “Deleting Apps” is set to “Allow.”
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System apps you literally can’t delete: Okay, listen, some apps are just immortal. You can’t delete things like Safari, Messages, or Photos because Apple decided you’re stuck with them forever. You can remove them from your Home Screen, though. Search it later if you need it.
And last thing, make sure there’s no pending update or weird system glitch causing this drama. Restart your phone. That fixes like half of Apple’s nonsense. If none of this works, idk, maybe Apple secretly named you their beta tester.
Maybe your iPhone has just decided apps are eternal now, who knows? But seriously, @mike34 covered a lot of ground, although I don’t completely agree with their optimism on the Settings > iPhone Storage trick “never” failing—it fails when stuff randomly scrolls you back to the top (why, Apple?).
Anyway, here’s another angle worth trying:
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Search & Swipe Delete: If you can’t get the Home Screen to cooperate, swipe down on your Home Screen to open Spotlight Search, type the app’s name, and then press-and-hold the app in the results. Sometimes, you’ll get the “Delete App” option there. Voilà? Or not.
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Update your iOS: If your software is outdated, it might glitch during the long-press or delete process. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Not saying new versions are perfect (they’re…not), but it can’t hurt to update.
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iTunes (yes, it still exists): Connect to a computer, open iTunes (assuming you haven’t Marie Kondo’d it from your life), and remove the app from there. It’s clunky, it’s old-school, but it works when the iPhone interface plays dirty.
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Reset Home Screen Layout: WARNING—this is chaotic energy. If apps are being obstinate, try Settings > General > Reset > Reset Home Screen Layout. All your folders and customization? Gone. But hey, worth a shot for stubborn apps, right?
My theory? Apple’s holding your phone hostage until you love the Stocks app like family. But joke’s on them; nobody will.
Alright, so I see @shizuka and @mike34 have both covered some solid methods here, but let me throw in a couple of extra tricks that could work without driving you insane. Plus, I’ve got a bone to pick with the “Settings > iPhone Storage” method—works most of the time, yes, but ever notice how it sometimes freezes or randomly refreshes when you’re mid-scroll? Frustrating.
Here’s what you can still try:
1. Offload Apps Instead of Deleting Them:
If you can’t delete an app outright, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, tap on the app, and use the “Offload App” option instead. It clears up space by removing the app data but retains the app icon in case you need it back. Downside? Doesn’t entirely remove the app, but bonus—you might not lose your saved data.
2. Revive the App’s Context Menu:
Sometimes the long-press won’t trigger the delete option due to bugs in your iOS. Instead, lightly press just enough to activate the app’s context menu (not deep press, Apple users know the pain). Then, try deleting through the options there. Works 7/10 times for me.
3. Check for Managed Device Settings:
Using a work-supplied or school-supervised iPhone? Apps might be locked down due to Mobile Device Management (MDM) restrictions. If this is the case, you’re stuck until those restrictions get lifted—contact your administrator. Cons of this? Zero freedom to customize the phone how you want. Pro? Probably not your phone, so less stress.
4. Third-Party Cleaning Tools? Proceed with Caution.
There are apps like Tenorshare iCareFone or iMazing that claim to manage your iPhone apps more effectively through your PC/Mac. Not exactly Apple-approved, but if you’re desperate, these tools are worth exploring. Pro? Can pull off things iOS sometimes locks down. Con? Might take a while to set up and involves risks if the software isn’t reputable.
5. Try a Hard Reset Sequence:
Total chaos? Force restart your phone and clear possible glitches. For newer models: press Volume Up, press Volume Down, then hold the Side Button till the Apple logo pops up. After the reboot, circle back to the app deletion process. Trust me, this resets minor bugs nearly every time.
Where I Disagree with @shizuka and @mike34:
- @mike34: I respect the optimism around the “Settings > iPhone Storage” method, but not calling out its refresh errors feels like an oversight. It’s infuriating when it jumps back to the top!
- @shizuka: Appreciate the chaos of the “Reset Home Screen Layout” approach, but do people really want to deep-clean their phone for the sake of one app? For me, that’s the last, last resort.
Final Thoughts on Apple and Deleting Apps:
Apple has made this unnecessarily painful. Between restrictions, bugs, and baked-in apps, deleting an app has turned into an Olympic event. Evaluate how much effort that app’s taking vs. how much mental energy you’re willing to spend deleting it. Or just…keep Stocks and pretend it doesn’t exist?
Go forth and delete responsibly!