As an avid smartphone user, you likely have dozens if not hundreds of apps installed from the App Store on your iPhone or iPad. While they provide useful functionality, many of these apps sit unused wasting valuable storage space.
I‘ll walk you step-by-step through 3 surefire methods to remove unwanted apps from your device and free up storage capacity. With expert tips along the way to become a master at managing your App Store apps!
Understanding the App Store Landscape
First, some necessary background. The App Store is Apple‘s proprietary marketplace hosting almost 2 million iOS, iPadOS and Mac apps as of 2022 according to Statista.
Apple reviews every app submitted to ensure they meet security, privacy and quality standards before approval. This gives users confidence in downloading apps safely.
| Platform | # of Apps (estimate) |
|---|---|
| iOS iPhone | 1.96 million |
| iPadOS | 1.96 million |
| Mac | 364,000 |
The category breakdown of the most popular App Store apps worldwide in 2022 so far, according to analytics firm Data.ai is:
| Category | Downloads |
|---|---|
| Games | 10 billion+ |
| Business | 6 billion+ |
| Health & Fitness | 2 billion+ |
| Education | 1 billion+ |
Now that gives you an idea of the App Store landscape. With millions of options, users tend to download and try out many apps. The majority go unused after some time.
Average smartphone users have over 100 apps installed, with dozens unused according to AppBrain‘s research. As a tech specialist, I have over 400 apps myself!
Impacts of Too Many Apps
Allowing unused apps to remain just takes up precious storage capacity. For example, if you have 100 leftover apps at 100MB each, that totals 10GB of phone space wasted!
Too many unused apps also slow down your phone‘s performance over time, clutter your home screen, and make it harder to find the apps you actually need.
So routinely deleting unused apps improves:
- Available storage space
- Overall device speed and fluidity
- Home screen organization
- Ability to pin favorite used apps
Based on these optimizations, it is smart practice to monitor your apps and remove any bloat or unused ones regularly.
Next I‘ll explain the quick, easy ways to delete apps from your iPhone or iPad properly.
Method #1: Delete Apps Within the iOS App Store
The most direct route is using the App Store itself on your iPhone or iPad.
Here‘s how to delete apps from your iOS device right in the App Store app:
Step 1 – Launch App Store & Tap Profile
First open the App Store. Tap on your Apple ID profile icon in the top right corner:
Step 2 – Find & Swipe Left on Unused App
Scroll down through your full list of downloaded apps. Swipe left on any you want gone:
Step 3 – Tap Delete to Confirm Removal
A red Delete button pops up. Tap it to fully remove the unused app from your iPhone/iPad:
This "Swipe Left to Delete" process works the same as deleting emails or text messages on iPhone. Straightforward with minimal taps!
💡 Pro User Tip: For even faster bulk removing of apps, use iOS 16‘s latest App Library feature. Swipe down to reveal a searchable, auto-organized grid of all your apps. Hold down to select multiple then tap to mass delete!
App Store Deletion Method Pros:
- Quickest way with direct access
- Removes app + all stored user data
- Can instantly redownload if desired
Method #2: Delete Apps from iPhone/iPad Home Screen
Alternatively, apps can be removed directly from your home screen as well:
Step 1 – Long Press the Unused App‘s Icon
Press and hold on the app icon until all icons shake and wiggle:
Step 2 – Tap the X Icon to Delete
A small "X" delete icon appears on wiggling app tiles. Tap the X on any apps you wish to remove:
Step 3 – Confirm Deletion
A confirmation pop up double checks you want it removed. Tap Delete to confirm and finalize the app removal:
Much like deleting computer files or folders, this home screen method is quick and intuitive.
💡 Pro User Pro Tip: You can multi-select then mass delete multiple apps at once from the home screen too! After Step 1 just tap each unwanted app icon while holding one continuously.
Home Screen Deletion Pros:
- Visual process right from your main iPhone/iPad view
- Can easily see size of each app before deleting
- Same confirmation process as deleting photos or videos
Now let‘s move onto removing iPhone and iPad apps remotely from your desktop…
Method #3: Utilize the Mac App Store to Delete iOS Apps
With the Apple ecosystem, your Mac and iPhone/iPad integrate through the cloud. This means you can manage your iPhone apps stored in the App Store right from your Mac computer.
Follow these expert steps:
Step 1 – Open the Mac App Store
On your Mac, launch the App Store application. Use Spotlight Search or the Launchpad to access it quickly:
Step 2 – Search for the App to Delete
Type the app name in the top search bar then select it when displayed:
Step 3 – Click the Three Dot Menu
On the app‘s Mac App Store page, click the vertical … button beside the Open button:
Step 4 – Select Delete App
This opens a drop down menu. Choose Delete App to schedule removal from any linked iPhone, iPad, or other Apple devices:
Similar to the iPhone App Store method, with the added benefit of a large Mac screen and keyboard.
💡 Pro Expert Tip: You can view all your purchased iOS apps under the Account > Purchased section of Mac App Store. Mass select apps then click Delete to easily batch remove dozens in seconds!
Mac Deletion Method Pros:
- Leverages a desktop screen, keyboard and precision tracking
- Option to mass bulk remove many iOS apps rapidly
- Seamlessly syncs across iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices
So whether you prefer managing your apps from iPhone directly or through the comfort of a Mac, deleting them is straightforward.
Key Takeaways: Expert App Deletion Strategies
To summarize the key learnings:
- Regularly removing unused apps saves storage and speeds up devices
- All 3 presented methods completely erase apps + stored data
- The App Store lets you easily reinstall any app later on
- Mac App Store integration makes remote bulk deletion a breeze
Additional expert pointers:
- Sort apps by size to mass delete space wasting offenders
- Offload larger apps instead to preserve data/settings temporarily
- Disable Background App Refresh on apps rarely utilized
- Leverage iOS 16‘s App Library and Filters for organization
Feel empowered to take control and optimize your App Store apps! Install, delete and redownload as your needs change.
Have any other questions on expertly managing your App Store applications? Ask me below!