This article explains the three ways you can delete apps on iPhone 12 to free up storage space or to get rid of apps you no longer want or use. These instructions apply to the iPhone 12 running iOS 14 and up.
What to Know
- You can delete apps in three different ways on the iPhone 12.The simplest way is to tap and hold an app icon until a menu pops out of it. Then tap Remove App.Deleting apps frees up storage space on your iPhone, though some app data may be saved in iCloud for later use.
How to Delete Apps on iPhone 12
The easiest and most common way to delete apps on iPhone 12 is to do it from the home screen. Here’s how:
- Find the app you want to delete on the iPhone home screen.
- Tap and hold the app icon until a menu pops out of it.
- You can also keep holding after the menu appears. If you do this, the menu disappears and all of your apps start wiggling. In this state, tap the X on app to delete it.
- Tap Remove App.
- A pop-up window will ask whether you want to completely delete the app to free up storage space or just move the app to the App Library to clean up your home screen. Tap your choice.
- If the app you’re deleting stores data in iCloud, a pop-up asks whether you want to delete that data, too, or leave it in iCloud. If you leave the data there, you can access it again if you re-install the app in the future.
- The app disappears and is deleted. You can repeat this for as many apps as you want to delete.
How to Delete Apps on iPhone 12 From the App Store App
The home screen isn’t the only place you can delete apps on iPhone 12. You can also delete some apps (but not all!) from within the App Store app. Here’s what to do:
Find the app you want to delete on the iPhone home screen.
Tap and hold the app icon until a menu pops out of it.
You can also keep holding after the menu appears. If you do this, the menu disappears and all of your apps start wiggling. In this state, tap the X on app to delete it.
Tap Remove App.
A pop-up window will ask whether you want to completely delete the app to free up storage space or just move the app to the App Library to clean up your home screen. Tap your choice.
If the app you’re deleting stores data in iCloud, a pop-up asks whether you want to delete that data, too, or leave it in iCloud. If you leave the data there, you can access it again if you re-install the app in the future.
The app disappears and is deleted. You can repeat this for as many apps as you want to delete.
- From within the App Store app, tap your photo in the top right.
- Scroll down to Available Updates.
- You can delete any app that’s listed here by swiping right to left to reveal the Delete button.
- Tap Delete.
- Tap Delete in the pop-up window to delete the app.
How to Delete Apps on iPhone 12 from the Settings App
This option for deleting apps on iPhone 12 isn’t well known and it’s a bit hidden, but it works just as well. In fact, if the main reason you want to delete apps is to free up storage space, it might be your best option.
From within the App Store app, tap your photo in the top right.
Scroll down to Available Updates.
You can delete any app that’s listed here by swiping right to left to reveal the Delete button.
Tap Delete.
Tap Delete in the pop-up window to delete the app.
- Tap the Settings app.
- Go to General > iPhone Storage. This shows all of the apps on your iPhone and how much storage space they use. If you need to free up space, this will help you identify your best options.
- Tap the app you want to delete. On the next screen, tap Delete App.
- You can also choose Offload App. This feature removes the app from your iPhone to save storage, but it retains any related documents and data. When you reinstall the app, you’ll access the documents and data to pick up where you left off.
- In the pop-up, tap Delete App.
Tap the Settings app.
Go to General > iPhone Storage. This shows all of the apps on your iPhone and how much storage space they use. If you need to free up space, this will help you identify your best options.
Tap the app you want to delete. On the next screen, tap Delete App.
You can also choose Offload App. This feature removes the app from your iPhone to save storage, but it retains any related documents and data. When you reinstall the app, you’ll access the documents and data to pick up where you left off.
In the pop-up, tap Delete App.
Do you also have an iPad that you want to delete apps from? Versions of these tips work on the iPad, too. Learn more in How to Delete Apps on an iPad.
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