app won't delete from manage storage

Question

Level 1

9 points

app won't delete from manage storage

No matter how many times I delete this 'app', it won't go away. I've signed out of my Apple ID and in again, restarted my iPad several times, signed out reset and signed back in, all sorts of stuff. I can't even tell what app it was. I actually have two I can't delete, but this one is apparently over 154MB. I don't have a lot of space to play with, so that's quite a lot. Also it's just plain annoying to have apps that refuse to delete. Because it comes up as a blank icon, I don't even know what it was. Does anyone know how I can make these apps delete?

iPad Mini, iOS 9.3.1, null

Posted on Apr 16, 2016 10:20 AM

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Answer 1

elcpu

Level 7

31,586 points

Apr 16, 2016 12:05 PM in response to floot

From the description it is not clear to me what you have done or not. I would try a Forced Restart first. Hold down the Home and Wake/Sleep buttons at the same time for about 15-20 seconds until the Apple logo appears. Then sign out of the iTunes Store and sign back in.

If that does not help you may have to do a system restore. First backup your device using iTunes. Then import your photos to your computer and copy all important data. Try restoring as new first and testing it. If it is back to normal try restoring the backup however if the backup is corrupted and the issue returns you would have to restore as new again and reconfigure from scratch. For this reason it is important to have your photos and data saved separately from the backup.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201252

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Answer 2

LACAllen

Level 8

43,602 points

Apr 16, 2016 10:56 AM in response to floot

You don't delete apps from this dialog. This is only for the app's data.

To delete an app, long press on the app's icon. Once done, the icons will jiggle. Tap on the black X and the app will delete. It will still be in your purchase history, but will be gone from your phone.

If you don;t what app that came from, I would look at your "not on this iPhone" section of your apps to find out.

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Answer 3

floot Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 16, 2016 11:56 AM in response to LACAllen

You can delete an app from there, that's why it says delete app. I've done it several times on other apps and it works fine. For some things (like safari) it gives an option to delete data, but the red 'delete app' button works just the same as the long press delete on the home page. Also, neither of these apps are actually showing anywhere the long press delete is applicable. Manage storage is the only place they appear.

To be honest, trawling through my 'not on this iPad' apps (of which I have many, see 'I don't have a lot of memory to play with') for a given version number and size is not really a practical option.

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Answer 4

floot Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 16, 2016 12:06 PM in response to elcpu

Yes, I've done a hard reset - couldn't remember what it was called 😊 the most relevant information I could find suggested the sign out/forced reset/restart/sign back in thing, but I've done it twice and no joy 😢 I fear you may be right about having to faff around with a restore 😟 I was really hoping there was an easier way that might work. I don't know if it might be more effective if I do the sign out/in after, as you suggest, rather than sign out and do the forced restart before signing back in - it seems unlikely it'd make a difference, but I may try, just on the slender off chance it gives my iPad the necessary boot up the backside.

I am not even sure it's actually taking up the 154MB it claims to be taking up or if it's some kind of ghost or artifact from an app that has successfully been deleted, but when I have less than a GB of free space, if it is? I want it back! Thanks for the link, I'll have a look.

Okay, apparently I'm only allowed two replies 😮 so in response to SergZak: That sounds like it's worth a try, especially if it might save me the hassle of backup/system restore. Definitely worth a try, thanks for the idea! 🙂

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Answer 5

SergZak

Level 6

10,912 points

Apr 16, 2016 12:05 PM in response to floot

I would connect the device to your syncing PC/Mac and see if you can delete the app using iTunes....and/or perform a sync.

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