How to PERMANENTLY delete apps

Question

How to PERMANENTLY delete apps

Can someone else respond to this as this DOES NOT delete the app when you have an icloud account. I've read the responses and holding it down and clicking the X does not delete this. It deletes it from your phone but when you then sync it up to itunes, the previous back up for that app is still there -- and the apps are still there "waiting" to be installed again. How do you permanently delete it from itunes so that when it is synced - it does not think that you want to UPLOAD the app again from the cloud?

Posted on Sep 23, 2014 5:38 AM

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Answer 1

Drew Reece

Level 6

10,684 points

Sep 23, 2014 3:26 PM in response to Community User

What you describe seems abnormal, lets see if these instructions change anything…

Start by hooking the device up to your iTunes on your Mac/PC.

Sync it so you have the current state backed up. Note any errors. (cmd+shift+4, drag the crosshairs & you will get a screenshot of that part of the screen, attach it here. The screenshot will be on the Desktop).

With it still connected select the device in the iTunes sidebar (or in the 'tabs' across the main window).

Select the 'Apps' view for that device.

Deselect any apps in the list that you want to remove, or use the 'Home screens' list to delete them.

Apply the changes with the button at the bottom.

Check the apps are gone when the device finishes it's sync - please report any error messages you get here.

Now you can go to the Apps that are saved in iTunes, delete any you do not want on the Mac. They should only come back if the device still has copies installed.

Re-sync the device to see if any come back.

NOTE: You may want to disable automatic downloads of purchases in the iTunes prefs, it is also a setting on iOS, check the 'Settings > iTunes & App Store'.

To hide applications from past purchases …

In iTunes on your computer, select the iTunes Store & sign in, purchased on the right – it's under 'quick links' (you may need to authenticate again). You can then click the ✖ to 'hide these items. They will no longer show up in iTunes when you browse your purchases, however you can still 'show all' to see them, or disable the 'hide option' at a later date.

iTunes Store: Hiding and unhiding purchases

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Answer 2

PFJ30

Level 1

29 points

Sep 23, 2014 2:17 PM in response to Community User

Hi

I frequently delete apps from iPhone, iPad mini (and none mores when trying to make room for iOS8 update) but to date they remain off the devices waiting for me to add them back when synching to iTunes. Naybe thats because I select the option to only include things I choose when synching... does that help?

Paul

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Answer 3

kilofox

Level 1

0 points

Sep 23, 2014 2:58 PM in response to Community User

Hey. I think the simple answer to your question is, you can't!

Once you you have purchases an app, you have it forever against your iTunes acoount. I assume because if you delete it or have to reset your phone you can get the apps back you have paid for without paying for them again.

it is possible to hide purchases in itunes, but I cant rem ember how to do that right now.

HOpe this is useful...

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Answer 4

PFJ30

Level 1

29 points

Sep 23, 2014 2:59 PM in response to Community User

Ah yes I see ... hmmm, I'll have another look tomorrow - I don't think the apps i have deleted from a device (iPhone, iPad) try to update, but I could be lying and I guess you know they do.

One wild guess to keep your hope up... a 2nd iCloud ID...

Goodnight, Paul

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Answer 5

Sep 23, 2014 3:24 PM in response to Community User

Once you delete the app from both the iOS devices and iTunes on the computer you sync with, it will not show back up. You can also hide the apps from your devices via iTunes, but a record of having purchased or downloaded will remain.

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Answer 6

petermac87

Level 5

7,453 points

Sep 23, 2014 5:39 AM in response to Community User

What App are you referring to?

Pete

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Answer 7

Sep 23, 2014 1:44 PM in response to Community User

It's any app. I've looked over the answers and although holding down an app until it wiggles and then deleting it works - it really does not delete the app completely. As stated, if t was backed up via icloud, then it gets stored there or in itunes -- as it shows up there but there is no way to delete it.... so then when you back it up -- you have to remove it again by choosing NOT to update the app -- so the question again is how do you permanently delete an app? Sometimes you download to try it out but it never gets removed from itunes and therefore stays in the cloud and then eventually gets back on your phone! Hope that makes sense. Im not sure how else to explain it -- deleting using the X from your phone DOES NOT delete the app as others have stated. help please.

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Answer 8

bobseufert

Level 6

15,916 points

Sep 23, 2014 1:51 PM in response to Community User

The apps are waiting to be reinstalled but they are not in your iCloud backup. Waiting to be reinstalled just means the apps are still availble in the App Store.

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Answer 9

Sep 23, 2014 2:50 PM in response to PFJ30

Thank you for the response. Unfortunately that still doesn't answer how to permanently delete them as I don't want it on itunes, cloud or phone -- I don't want them back as I have a lot of apps that I tried and when the update to the app appears... it still automaticaly thinks I want to update it even though I deleted it from my phone. Hope that makes sense.

So question still is how do you permanently delete it from all areas? Hopefully in one step.

Monitor: This community also needs a reply button at the end of the string... instead of having to go back find your response to respond..

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Answer 10

bobseufert

Level 6

15,916 points

Sep 23, 2014 3:26 PM in response to kilofox

HIding purchases can now be done from your iPad. If you have IOS 8 go to purchased in the App Store, slide the app to the left, then tap delete.

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