Why can't I delete apps on my iPhone?

when I try and delete an app I tap and hold it and it only lets me “edit Home Screen” or “remove app from Home Screen” but that just means it’s in App Library and not actually deleting. I checked and deleting apps is allowed.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Jul 30, 2023 11:50 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 1, 2023 5:53 PM

Hi rorrie192,

welcome to the Apple (user-to-user) Community.


Re: "My phone won’t let me delete apps even when content and restrictions say that deleting apps are allowed".


Wondering which iPhone model you are using, and which iOS version is installed, in order to try and help.

Also:

Wondering whether you are trying to delete Apple's built-in apps, or non-Apple (third-party) apps.

____________________

Eg: With iOS 14 or later, Delete built-in Apple apps from your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch - Apple Support

says:

"Delete a built-in app from your device

On your iPhone or iPad:

    1. Touch and hold the app.
    2. Tap Remove App from the shortcut menu.
    3. Tap Delete App from the submenu".

______________________

Or for older iOS versions:

See: Delete built-in Apple apps on your iOS 12, iOS 13, or iPadOS device or Apple Watch - Apple Support

_____________________

For any third-party apps that won't delete, you may want to contact their developers, they may have uninstallers.

How to contact an app developer - Apple Support


If needed:

iPhone support website (info./ support / contact)

iPhone - Official Apple Support


All the best :-)

42 replies

Feb 22, 2024 9:24 AM in response to rorrie192

I’m having this problem as well. My apps will not delete and the only option given when I try to remove is taking it off my Home Screen. I think the reason is because I don’t have the latest update. This is frustrating because I don’t want the new update I actually prefer the old OS. I’m tired of the constant updates and changes in the systems and the possible, if not eventual, bugs that come with.

Apr 13, 2024 9:15 AM in response to rorrie192

So one time when I was trying to delete an app it said remove app from home screen so I press that and it just took me to my app library and so I went to app library and press it so I could delete it said put back on home screen so so when it did that it went back on home screen and now I’m able to delete any single apps that I have and there’s a lot that are sending bugs on my phone and I need to take them off and it won’t let me sometimes when I ask my parents for help and they try to do it on their phone. It won’t work either so I don’t have any way to delete these apps on my phone unless I restart it or buy a new one.

May 29, 2024 7:34 AM in response to rorrie192

Nothing removes this **** ap

It was put on by my firm with Blackberry UEM...

I removed VPM Device management Profile and everything was deleted but this file (I even reinstalled UEM and it added a NEW Ap exact name)

  • made sure profile can delete
  • removed from Iphone storage
  • signed out of APPLE and saw it was back in Iphone storage - deleted again from Storage

Nothing

Aug 24, 2024 6:55 PM in response to rorrie192

I’m also experiencing trouble and having the same problem on my IPad IOS 14, when I attempt to delete apps, it says ‘remove app’ but when I click it it just says remove from Home Screen, with the note of, “removing from Home Screen will take the app and store it in your App Library.” Oddly enough, I couldn’t find any sort of setting for turning off deletion.

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Why can't I delete apps on my iPhone?

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