How to Delete Apps?

By Techywalls On Feb 11, 2024

We often question How to Delete Apps, and the reason behind this is that deleting apps on smart devices is a great way to clean up your digital space. There is a possibility to remove apps from Google Chrome by visiting “chrome://apps” in the browser. Uninstalling serves as a better and safer option as it helps you to save storage space.

Loading a smart device with unnecessary apps that occupy your storage space affects the battery life of your device. Methods of deleting apps vary according to the device, so there is a need to follow a quick step-by-step guide to deleting apps, regardless of whether you are using an iPhone, Mac, iPad, iCloud, Android, Windows, Chromebook, or Apple TV. Let’s dive in!

Deleting Apps on Mobile Devices

Smartphones and tablets have limited memory space than PCs, so there’s a need to uninstall apps more frequently. One needs to follow separate processes for Android and iOS devices for deleting apps.

How to Delete Apps on Mac?

There is a possibility to remove apps that you downloaded and installed from the Internet or from a disc. On Mac, click the Finder icon in the Dock >>> click Applications in the Finder sidebar.

Do one of the following:

If an app is in a folder, open the app’s folder to check for an Uninstaller. When you see Uninstall [App] or [App] Uninstaller, double-click it, then follow the onscreen instructions.
If an app isn’t in a folder or it doesn’t come with an Uninstaller, Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (at the end of the Dock).

To uninstall apps you downloaded from the App Store, use Launchpad.

Deleting or uninstalling an app, removing it from your Mac, and making the storage space available for other items. Do this from Launchpad or the Finder.

Use Launchpad to delete apps downloaded from the App Store as it offers a convenient way to delete apps that you downloaded from the App Store.

To open Launchpad, click it in the Dock/ open it from your Applications folder. Pinch closed with thumb and three fingers on the trackpad.
In case you can’t see the app in Launchpad, type its name in the search field. When there is more than one page of apps, switch pages by clicking the dots at the bottom of the screen or by swiping right or left with two fingers on the trackpad.
Press and hold the Option key. The alternative method is to click and hold any app until the apps start jiggling.
Click the Delete button, then click Delete to confirm.

Use the Finder to delete apps

Switch to the Finder by clicking your desktop or the Finder icon in the Dock.
Select the app to delete. Most apps in the Applications folder can be opened by clicking Applications in the sidebar of any Finder window. The alternative is to choose Go > Applications from the menu bar in the Finder.
Use one of these ways to move the app to the Bin:
Drag the app to the Bin.
Select the app >>> choose File > Move to Bin.
Select the app >>> press Command-Delete on the keyboard.
When asked for a username and password, enter the username and password for an administrator account. The username and password are used to log in to your Mac.
To delete the app after moving it to the Bin, choose Finder >>> Empty Bin.

How to Delete Apps on Android?

Touch and hold

Locate the app you want to delete in the app menu.
Touch and hold the app icon.
The Uninstall button appears at the top of the screen. Drag the app icon towards the button.
Drag the app to uninstall the button
Drag the app icon towards the Uninstall button.
In the pop-up box, press OK to confirm deletion.
Confirm deleting app

Delete through Settings

Go to your Settings app, found in the app menu.
Tap on Apps to go to App Manager.
Tap on See All Apps.
Click on All Apps
Find the app to delete and tap on it to go to App Info.
Select the App to delete in Android
Tap Uninstall to delete the app.
From the pop-up box, select OK.

Delete through the Play Store

Jiggle mode ensures it will be easy for you to rearrange and reorganize the apps on your home screen and also allows one to delete multiple apps at the same time on an iOS device.

Open the Google Play Store on an Android device. Navigate to the Play Store in the app menu.
In the top right-hand corner, tap on your profile icon.
Tap on the Manage Apps & Devices option.
Locate the Manage tab to access the list of apps on the device.
Select apps to delete from here, and tap on the Trash icon.
From the pop-up box, select Uninstall to confirm deletion.

How to Delete Apps On iPads and iPhones?

Touch and hold

Locate the app to delete on your home screen.
Touch the app icon and hold for a few seconds.
From the menu, select Remove App.
Another menu pops up, and from there, select Delete App.

Use the App Library

From the home screen, swipe left to access the App Library.
Using the search tool, find the app to delete.
Touch and hold the app icon and select Delete App from the menu that appears.
A box pops up, and you need to tap Delete again to confirm to delete the app.

Jiggle Mode

Jiggle mode ensures you can effortlessly rearrange and reorganize the apps on the home screen. Also, use this method to delete multiple apps at the same time on an iOS device.

To enter jiggle mode, touch and hold any app. Select Edit Home Screen from the menu. This method is applicable to iOS 13 and above. For older iOS versions, touch and hold any app until the icons begin to jiggle.
Tap the minus sign on top of the icons of apps to delete.
A box pops up and asks you to confirm your choice and Tap Delete to finish deleting apps from your Apple device.

How to Delete Apps on Apple TV?

Visit the Settings app.
Navigate to the “Applications and Features” page.
Select the desired app you want to delete
Click “Uninstall”.

How to Delete Apps on Desktop

We’ve covered how to delete apps on smartphones and tablets; now, we need to have a look at the methods of deleting apps for different desktop devices.

Steps to delete apps on Windows 10

Visit the Settings app
Navigate to the “Applications and Features” page.
Select the desired app you want to delete
Click “Uninstall”.

The steps you need to follow for deleting apps in Windows 8, 10, and 11 are separate as follows.

Windows 8

Access the Start screen by pressing the Windows key on the keyboard. OR Bring the cursor to the bottom left corner and click on a small image of the Start screen.
Locate the app to delete on the Start screen with the Search tool.
Right-click on the app, and you will get a small check mark to show that the app has been selected.
From the toolbar at the bottom, select Uninstall.
You will arrive at the Programs and Features window. Ensure that you spot the right app highlighted and then press Uninstall.
A dialog box will pop up, and at that point, you need to confirm the choice to uninstall the app from Windows 8. Follow the steps in the uninstall wizard.

Windows 10 and 11

Click on the Start button. Use the search tool to locate the app to delete in the Start menu.
Right-click on the app.
Select Uninstall.
The Programs and Features window opens. So, after ensuring that the right app is highlighted, click Uninstall.
A dialog box pops up. You need to confirm your choice to uninstall the app.
Follow the instructions in the uninstall wizard.

Steps to delete apps on MacOS (Macbooks & Apple Devices)

How to Delete Apps on Macbook?

The following method works for MacOS Mojave 10.14 and up and applies to devices like the iMac, Macbook Pro, and Macbook Air.

Locate and click on the Finder icon on the toolbar
Click on the Go menu and select Applications.
If the app is in a folder, check for an Uninstaller. If there is one, double-click on it.
Follow the instructions to uninstall the app.
But if the app is not in a folder or there is no uninstaller, right-click on the app and select Move to Trash.
Right-click on the Application to Delete
Right click
Select Move to Trash.
Locate Trash on the toolbar
Right-click on it.
Click Empty.

Chromebooks

Select the Launcher by clicking on the bottom corner.
Locate the app to remove.
Right-click on it.
Click on Uninstall or Remove.
Right-click on the application to delete
Confirm your choice.
Click on Remove.

How to Delete Apps on Apple Watch?

Press the Digital Crown to see apps on the Home Screen.
Touch and hold the display until you see the View Options screen.
Tap Edit Apps.
Tap the delete button on the app to remove, and tap the Delete App to confirm.
Press the Digital Crown to finish.

Delete Apps from Apple Watch using the iPhone

Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
Move to the “My Watch” tab.
Navigate to the “Installed on Apple Watch“section.
Tap on the app to remove it.
Turn off the slider on the Apple Watch for Show App, and it will hide the app on your Apple Watch. You can get it back, and for that, check the Available Apps section.
Find the app >>> hit the install option.

Steps to delete default apps on the Apple Watch are as follows:

Press the Digital Crown to see installed apps.
Touch and hold an app icon to see View Options.
Tap Edit Apps.
Press the X icon on the app to delete.
Select Delete App.

How to Delete Apps on iPhone permanently?

The home screen

Find the application on the home screen or App Library to uninstall.
Press and hold on to the app icon until you notice a menu showing up.
Delete apps from the home screen
Select ‘Delete App’ or ‘Remove App’ option.
Confirm the subsequent prompt. Once done, the app gets deleted from your iPhone.

Settings

Launch ‘Settings’ app
Delete apps on iPhone from Settings
Scroll down a bit. Tap on ‘General’
Select ‘iPhone Storage’
Hit the ‘Delete App’ option.

iTunes

Open iTunes on the computer
Go to the ‘Library’ section.
Navigate to the ‘Apps’ menu. Right-click on the app to uninstall it from your iPhone, and with that, you will notice that the app will move to the trash.
Navigate to the Trash section.
Clear it from there as well.

Delete apps on the App Store

Launch the App Store on iPhone
Tap on the ‘Account’ icon
Scroll down to find the app to delete
Swipe to the left to see the ‘Delete’ text
Tap on it, and you will notice that the app gets removed from your iPhone

Remove apps from iCloud

On iPhone, open ‘Settings’
Tap on account/name at the top
Select ‘iCloud’ >>>‘Manage Storage’
Select the ‘Backups’ option to browse through all the backed-up data from the apps
Turn off the toggle. Select ‘Turn Off & Delete’

Delete unused apps on the iPhone

Assign the system to identify unused apps and delete them from iPhones.

Go to the Settings app
Scroll down >>> select ‘General’
Choose iPhone Storage
Tap the Enable option, and you will spot it beside ‘Offload Unused Apps.’

Delete hidden apps on iPhone

App Library:

Swipe to the rightmost screen on the home screen.
Search the app through the Search bar.
Tap and hold on to the app to delete.

Settings:

Go to the ‘iPhone Storage’ section within Settings to delete the apps.

App Store:

Go to the ‘Updates’ section.
Swipe left on the app to delete.

Final Words

Your device will be performing at its best when you choose to get rid of the apps that won’t be finding use. Uncluttering phones or computers by getting rid of apps will serve as a great way to improve performance. With that, it will be easy for you to make space for new tools to try.