iPhone 17: 'Delete App' option missing

Please help! I can't delete apps on my iPhone 17 and I have the newest iOS version (26.5.2.). When i hold the app it only asks if i want to "remove it from the home screen" or not, but it doesn't show "delete app" - same thing also happens if I remove it from the home screen.


I already did everything I could find on internet that could help but nothing worked. Here is everything I tried and it didn't work:


  1. Checked Screen Time restrictions on deleting apps - is set on allow but still unable to delete the apps
  2. Checked that my iPhone isn't added to a work or school profile or vpn - it isn't
  3. I also tried to delete it in Settings-General-iPhone Storage but when I clicked on an app there is no "delete app" button that always is there
  4. It is a 3rd party app not an inbuilt app (more specifically Instagram but also other apps I'm unable to delete like Facebook or Spotify)
  5. I tried to restart my phone but nothing changed


Please help if you have any ideas!! My phone is new. I purchased it a month ago from an Apple Store directly.

iPhone 17

Posted on Jul 21, 2026 6:06 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 21, 2026 7:38 AM

  • Are you a member of a Family sharing group? The restrictions are then controlled by the Organizer, despite the settings on your device.
  • Do you have any third party parental control apps such as ScreenZen, Opal, Verizon Family, or Cape. Those can also prevent app deletion.
11 replies

iPhone 17: 'Delete App' option missing

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