How do I delete an app?

 

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How do I delete an app?

A message from an app asking for confirmation that you wish to delete it

What's coming up?

Is there an app on your phone you don’t use? Are you running out of storage on your device?

In this activity, you will learn how to delete apps, and why there are some apps you can’t delete.

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Why delete an app?

There are many good reasons to delete an app. You might want to get rid of apps you don’t use, tidy up your Home screens or simply make more storage space on your phone for music and photos.

An icon of a rubbish bin
An icon of a padlock

eSafety tip

Deleting an app can also erase all the information it contains. So be sure to consider this before deleting apps that store calendars and contacts, or social media and billing details.

Delete an app on an iPhone or iPad

Deleting an app on an iPhone or iPad is easy. On the next slide is a video that will show you how to delete an app on an Apple device such as an iPad or iPhone.

Click the play button on the video to watch it. You can also click anywhere on the video to pause or restart it.

Deleting apps on an iPhone or iPad

This demonstration video is approximately 1 minute and 55 seconds in duration. It demonstrates how to delete an app using an Apple device. There is text and animation on stage throughout the video.

Once the video starts, the intro panel fades and we see the screen is split into two parts. On the left-hand side is an animation of a typical iPhone. On the right-hand side, there is text displayed, which is the script for the voiceover track.

Voiceover: "Deleting an app from an Apple device is easy. Remember, all the data downloaded by the app may also be deleted, so be careful. On your device, find the app you want to delete."

The left-hand panel shows the Home screen swiped to the left to show a second page of app icons. We zoom in and a Spider Solitaire app is highlighted with a green circle.

Voiceover: "Touch and hold the app lightly. After a moment, a menu will appear with some options."

The left-hand panel shows the Spider Solitaire app being pressed for a moment until a menu appears showing three options: Edit Home Screen, Share App and Remove App. The pressure is then released on the Spider Solitaire app, and the menu is highlighted with a pink circle. The pink circle then reduces its focus to just the 'Remove App' option.

Voiceover: "At the bottom of the list, tap Remove App."

The left-hand panel shows 'Remove App' being tapped and aa pop-up message appears with three options: Delete App, Remove from Home Screen and Cancel. A circle highlights the first option: Delete App.

Voiceover: "A message will ask if you want to delete the app or remove it from the home screen. Deleting the app will remove it, and any data it contains, from your phone."

The left-hand panel shows the highlight circle slide down to focus on the second option: Remove from Home Screen.

Voiceover: "Removing the app from the home screen means the app will still be installed on your phone, but not visible."

The left-hand panel shows the highlight circle slide back up to focus on the first option: Delete App.

Voiceover: "Tap Delete App."

The left-hand panel shows the Delete App option being tapped and a new pop-up message appears, asking for confirmation.

Voiceover: "A message will ask you to confirm that you want to delete the app and its data."

The left-hand panel shows a green circle highlighting the 'Delete' button on the pop-up message.

Voiceover: "Tap Delete, and the app disappears."

The left-hand panel shows the 'Delete' option being tapped and the pop-up message and the app disappear from the screen.

Voiceover: "If you accidentally delete an app at any time, don't panic! You can download it again from the App Store at no cost."

Video ends.

Delete an app on an Android phone or tablet

The steps for deleting Android apps vary slightly, depending on the model you have. On the next slide is a video that will show you how to delete an app on one type of Android phone. Other Android devices may be a little different, but close enough for you to follow along. Be sure to read the options carefully as you step through deleting an app.

On the next slide, click the play button on the video to watch it. You can also click anywhere on the video to pause or restart it.

Deleting apps on an Android smartphone or tablet

This demonstration video is approximately 1 minute and 46 seconds in duration. It demonstrates how to delete an app using an Android device. There is text and animation on stage throughout the video.

Once the video starts, the intro panel fades and we see the screen is split into two parts. On the left-hand side is an animation of a typical Android smartphone, such as a Samsung. On the right-hand side, there is text displayed, which is the script for the voiceover track.

Voiceover: "Deleting an app from an Android smartphone is easy, although the steps are slightly different between models. Remember, all the data contained in the app may be deleted too, so be careful. Only delete an app if you never plan to use it again."

The left-hand panel shows the Home screen being swiped across to reveal a second page of app icons. We zoom in and highlight the location of a Spider Solitaire app icon.

Voiceover: "On your Android smartphone, find the app you want to delete. Press and hold the app."

The left-hand panel shows the Spider Solitaire app icon being pressed and held until some options appear in a special panel next to the icon. The app icon is then released.

Voiceover: "After a moment, a delete or uninstall option will appear."

The left-hand panel highlights the Uninstall option - which has a small rubbish bin icon next to it - with a green circle.

Voiceover: "The delete or uninstall option might be a menu near the app icon, or a rubbish bin icon at the top of the screen or elsewhere. On some phones, you can tap the Uninstall item on the menu. On other phones, you can drag the app icon to the bin to delete it."

The left-hand panel shows the Spider Solitaire app icon being dragged over to the Uninstall / rubbish bin option.

Voiceover: "You will need to press and hold the icon in order to drag it."

The left-hand panel shows the app icon being dragged over to the bin and it disappears. The bin turns red momentarily while this happens. A new pop-up confirmation message appears on screen.

Voiceover: "You will be asked to confirm that the app should be uninstalled or deleted. If this is correct, tap OK."

The left-hand panel shows the OK button being highlighted on the pop-up message and then tapped. The message and app icon disappear and we are returned to the page of apps, which is now minus the Spider Solitaire app icon.

Voiceover: "The app disappears. It has been deleted along with any data it contained. If you accidentally delete an app at any time, don't panic! You can re-download it from Google pLay at no cost."

Video ends.

An icon of a padlock

eSafety tip

The App Store and Google Play remember the apps you’ve purchased, so that if you delete a purchased app and change your mind, you will be able to download it again later without having to pay twice.

Why can’t I delete some apps?

There are some apps that you just can’t delete because the device won’t allow it. Those types of apps might be an important part of the operating system, such as the Settings app or the Wallet app.

Other apps might be those the phone maker considers so important it won’t let you delete them… although you might not agree.

Three apps on a smartphone screen, two with an 'x' indicating they can be deleted, and the third without an 'x' indicating it is essential to the phone so cannot be deleted
A smartphone screen with apps showing they can be deleted

Well done

You’ve completed the How do I delete an app? activity. You've learned how to delete apps and why you might want to do so.

Next up, we'll learn how to ensure your apps are in tip top condition in the Do I need to update my apps? activity.