How to Delete Apps on iPhone, Android, and Other Devices
Mobile apps can entertain us, keep us organized, and help us stay connected. However, over time, our devices can become cluttered with unused apps that we downloaded from the App Store. These apps take up storage space and slow down our device’s performance. Learn how to delete or disable apps on your iPhone or Android devices to preserve your storage space and device performance.
Why delete unused apps?
Though it may seem like an unnecessary hassle, deleting unused apps can improve your device's performance in more ways than one.
- Frees up storage space. Every time you download an app, you lose valuable storage space, or RAM, on your device. When you delete unused apps, you can return this space for more important things like messages, photos, videos, music, documents, and more. Clearing your cache performs a similar purpose.
- Improved device performance. Too many apps running in the background can slow your device's performance. Deleting unused apps can reduce the work your device has to do to keep them running, resulting in much faster overall performance.
- Improved battery life. The more apps running in the background, the worse your device’s battery life will be. Some apps consume an especially large amount of battery power, even running in the background.
- Fewer security risks. Unused apps can also pose security risks, especially if you haven’t updated them in a long time. It’s safest to delete any applications you’re not using or don’t plan on using, as this can improve your Android or iPhone security.
Furthermore, deleting apps that you don't use simply provides a cleaner desktop. When you go to find an app on your phone or tablet, you won't need to swipe through dozens of outdated or unused apps to find the one you're looking for.
How to delete Android apps
The easiest way to uninstall apps on your Android device is to navigate to the home screen or app drawer, long-press the app icon you want to remove, then drag it to the area of the screen that says Uninstall. The device will then prompt you to confirm your decision. This method is convenient because you can quickly remove multiple apps in succession.
Another way to delete apps on Android is to delete the app from Settings. To remove the app from your phone or tablet's settings, follow these steps:
- Go to the Settings app on your Android device by tapping the gear icon in the device’s drop-down menu, or by navigating to the app via the app screen.
- Scroll down and select Apps or Applications from the Settings menu. Then, select See all apps.
- Search for the app you want to remove from the list of installed apps.
- Tap on the app, then select Uninstall or Remove to delete the app. You may be prompted to confirm your decision. If so, press OK. Doing this permanently removes the app and all related data from your device.
How to delete iPhone apps
The process for removing apps on Apple devices is very similar to Android. Go to the app you want to get rid of and long-press the app icon. Press and hold the icon on your home screen until you see a list of options pop up. Then, tap the Remove App button.
You'll be asked if you want to delete the app entirely or just remove it from your home screen. Select Delete App, which will remove the app and all associated data from your device.
Note that if the device is not on your home screen, you’ll need to navigate to your app library to delete the app. Once there, follow the same steps detailed above.
Like Android, you can also delete apps from your device’s Settings. To do so, follow these steps:
- Go to the Settings app on your Apple device.
- Select the General option.
- Select iPhone Storage, then find the app you want to delete from the list of installed apps.
- Tap on the app, then tap Delete App to delete the app. Once you do so, the app and all associated data will be permanently removed from your device.
Note that the process for deleting iPad apps is the same as deleting iPhone apps.
Disabling apps as an alternative
If you think you might still use the app in the future and don’t want to completely delete it just yet, you can also consider disabling it. Disabling an app removes it from your accessible apps list and prevents it from running in the background, but it doesn't delete the app's data or uninstall it completely.
This provides many of the benefits of deleting apps without having to remove them from your phone completely. It’s also useful for apps that come pre-installed on your phone or apps that take up a ton of storage space.
How to disable Android apps
To disable apps on Android, follow the same steps to navigate to the app’s information in Settings, then select Disable or Force Stop instead of Uninstall. Note that certain apps on Android devices cannot be disabled; they must be force-stopped. A forced stop is only temporary; it only stops the app until your phone is rebooted. At that point, the app will resume its normal function.
How to disable iPhone apps
Disabling apps on Apple devices can be done using the Offload App feature, which removes the app from your device but retains its data. To offload an app, follow the same steps to navigate to the app’s information in Settings, then tap Offload App instead of Delete App.
By following these simple steps, you can clean up your device and enjoy a faster and smoother experience. Whether you choose to delete unused applications or simply disable them, it can make a huge difference in freeing up space to boost your device's speed and performance.
