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How to Delete an App From the App Store in 3 Steps (With Photos)

Hey there! Do you have a crowded home screen full of apps on your iPhone that you just never use? I‘ve totally been there before. With over 2 million apps available on the App Store, it‘s easy to download apps on a whim without thinking about the clutter.

I used to just shove all my old apps into folders and try to ignore them. But eventually, all those unused apps started slowing down my phone and eating up my storage space. I knew it was finally time for an app purge.

In this guide, I‘ll show you the easiest ways to declutter your home screen and delete those unused apps from your iPhone and iPad. Here‘s what we‘ll cover:

  • Method 1: Deleting apps directly on your iPhone
  • Method 2: Deleting apps from the home screen
  • Method 3: Deleting apps via the Mac App Store

Let‘s start with method 1, which is my personal go-to for quickly removing apps.

Method 1: Deleting Apps Directly on Your iPhone

When I just want to quickly get rid of an app from my home screen, deleting it directly from the App Store app is super easy. Here‘s how it works:

Deleting an app this way removes the icon from your home screen and frees up storage space on your iPhone. But it doesn‘t delete the app‘s listing from your App Store purchase history. You can easily redownload the app in the future if you ever decide you need that old Sudoku puzzle game again!

Let me walk you through the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Open up the App Store

Find the App Store app on your home screen and tap to open it. The App Store is the one with the big blue icon with an "A" on it – you can‘t miss it.

App Store app icon

When you open the App Store, you‘ll see featured apps and recommendations on the main screen.

Step 2: Tap on your profile icon

Look in the top right corner of the screen and you‘ll see your profile picture and initials in a little circle. Go ahead and tap right on your profile icon to open up your account page.

Profile icon

Tapping this profile shortcut takes you right into your App Store account settings. Pretty nifty!

Step 3: Find the app you want to delete and swipe left to remove it

Now on your account screen, you‘ll see a list of all the apps you‘ve ever downloaded, with the most recent ones on top.

Scroll through and browse this list to find the app you want to remove. Once you‘ve located it, simply place your finger on the app icon and swipe left. An optional "Delete" button will appear. Go ahead and tap "Delete" to remove the app from your iPhone.

Swiping left to delete an app

And that‘s it! The app is now gone from your home screen and no longer taking up valuable storage space. But don‘t worry – you can always redownload it in the future if you change your mind. This is why I like using this method for apps I may eventually use again.

Pros of Deleting Apps via the App Store:

  • It‘s the quickest and easiest way to remove apps from your iPhone. Just a couple quick taps and you‘re done!

  • You can redownload the app later on if you ever want it back. Your App Store purchase history remains intact.

  • It immediately frees up storage space on your device once the app is removed.

Cons to Note:

  • The app‘s data and settings remain in the cloud even when the app itself is deleted. So it won‘t completely free up space.

  • It doesn‘t fully remove the app from your account or purchase history. The app listing will remain.

Now let‘s move on to method two, which gets rid of that app for good…

Method 2: Deleting Apps from the Home Screen

If you want to permanently delete an app and wipe it clean off your account, you‘ll want to remove it directly from the home screen rather than the App Store.

Deleting an app this way erases all of its data and completely removes it from your purchase history. So the app would have to be paid for again if you ever decided to redownload it.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Locate the app on your home screen

Press the circular home button to go to your home screen (the screen with all your apps). Locate the app you want to permanently delete.

iPhone home screen

Take note of where the app is located. You‘ll need to find it again in the next step.

Step 2: Long press the app icon

Now press and hold your finger down on the app icon for a couple seconds. Don‘t lift your finger yet! The icons will start to wiggle after a moment, with little "x" marks appearing in the corner of each app.

Apps wiggling on home screen

This means deletion mode has been activated!

Step 3: Tap the "X" to delete the app

While still in wiggle mode, tap the "X" in the corner of the app you want to delete. A confirmation message will appear – tap "Delete" to remove the app permanently from your device and account.

Tapping the x to delete an app

Once you press "Delete", the app disappears from your home screen right away. And don‘t worry – all the data, settings, and personal information associated with that app gets erased at the same time.

So if you delete an app this way, the only way to get it back is to repurchase it from the App Store and start fresh. Keep that in mind before deleting an app you can‘t redownload!

Pros of Deleting via Home Screen:

  • Permanently deletes all app data from your device and account

  • Frees up the maximum amount of storage space

Cons to Note:

  • You‘ll have to completely repurchase the app if you ever want it back

  • It takes a few more steps than deleting via the App Store

So in summary, if you want an app gone for good, use the home screen method. But if you may want the app again later, stick to deleting via the App Store.

Now let‘s move on to method three, which removes the app fully from your account…

Method 3: Deleting Apps via the Mac App Store

What if you want to delete an app fully from your account, without even having the option to redownload it? For example, maybe you want to remove an old app you paid for so your kids can‘t install it anymore.

In this case, you‘ll need to delete the app directly from the Mac App Store:

Step 1: Open the App Store on your Mac

On your Mac laptop or desktop, click the App Store icon in your dock or applications folder.

Mac App Store icon

You can also search for "App Store" using Spotlight Search.

Once opened, the Mac App Store interface looks similar to its iPhone counterpart, with featured apps, recommendations, and search bars.

Step 2: View your account and purchased apps

In the lower left corner, click on your profile icon, then select "View My Account" from the menu.

View My Account menu

This will bring up a page with all the apps you‘ve ever downloaded, both on iPhone and Mac.

Step 3: Find the app and delete it

Scan the list of purchased apps and click on the one you want to remove. On the app page, click the dropdown next to the price and select "Delete App".

Delete app option

After confirming, the app will be completely removed from your account. The only way to get it again is to repurchase it at full price.

Pros of Deleting via Mac App Store:

  • Removes the app fully and permanently from your Apple account

  • Great for restricting access so others can‘t redownload an unwanted app

Cons to Consider:

  • You need access to a Mac computer to delete apps this way

  • Apps have to be repurchased if you change your mind later

Declutter Your Home Screen

With over 2 million apps on the App Store, no wonder our home screens get cluttered with apps we never use! Take the time to periodically prune unused apps so you can:

  • Speed up your iPhone‘s performance

  • Free up storage space

  • Organize your home screen

  • Remove unused, unwanted apps from your account

Start by deleting apps directly on your iPhone to quickly free up space. For permanent removal, erase apps via the home screen or Mac App Store.

Whatever your decluttering goals may be, I hope this guide gave you clarity on how to delete apps from the App Store properly. Happy app purging!