How can I remove icons from the desktop on my iPad Mini?

When I press and hold an icon, they all jiggle on the screen and have x's beside each one but when I press the x to delete it, it doesn't work? What am I doing wrong? I used to be able to delete icons this way. I know some can't be deleted but these are ones I've put there myself I no longer have use for.

As has been mentioned, the only thing you can do is stick them in a folder.

In short there's no way to remove an icon form the desktop without uninstaling the App. Since Preloaded Apps cannot be uninstalled, you simply can't remove them from the desktop.

What happens when you press the in the corner then? Do you get an error?

Do they just keep shaking?

To delete apps, hold the apps down for a second or two until you see the "X". Tap "X" to delete apps.

You can drag icon that you cannot delete to the last screen if you hate to see them.

Another strategy for hiding unwanted apps is to drag them into a folder (or drag two of them together to make a folder). Then you can move that folder to the last screen as Diavonex suggested and rename it "Ignore these" or the like.

Remove, but not uninstall from the device? Where would they go if you did that?

Once you delete an App it gets removed form the homescreen, and deleted from the iPad.

There is no "Less used Apps" area or anything like that.

Everything you have, and you can access, is on the home screen. There is no other place to access Apps.

Phil0124 wrote:

There is no "Less used Apps" area or anything like that.

Not when you get the device, but it is easy enough to create one, as outlined above.

MonkeyCapers wrote:

Is there a way, however, of taking the icon off the desktop?

The closest you can come is to put it in a folder on a distant home screen.

Nothing happens...they just keep shaking. Previously when I pressed the x button it would delete but this isn't happening anymore.

Try rebooting the iPad, by holding down the home and sleep/power buttons at the same time for 10 to 15 seconds or until the Apple logo appears. Let the iPad reboot.