Why Can't I Delete Apps on My iPhone? [6 Easy Fixes to Do]

You're probably asking yourself, "Why can't I delete apps on my iPhone?" with a bit of frustration because you just want to remove the ones you no longer need, free up space, or tidy up your Home Screen, but for some reason, it's not working. If you're looking for an answer and ways to fix it, continue reading this post. Here, you get to explore reasons and answers to can't uninstall apps on iPhone! Dive in now.

Why Can't I Delete Apps on My iPhone?

So, the answer to your question, "Why can't I delete apps on my iPhone?" is that it usually comes down to a few common reasons. One possibility is that you're trying to remove non-removable apps. While you can delete most third-party apps, certain built-in iOS apps, like Phone, Messages, Settings, Photos, Wallet, Safari, and others, can't be deleted.

Another reason that you can't delete apps on iPhone could be that app deletion is restricted through Screen Time or Mobile Device Management (MDM) settings. Lastly, if an app is incompletely downloaded or stuck due to an installation error, you won't be able to delete it until the issue is resolved.

Now that you know the answer to your question, "Why can't I delete apps on my iPhone?", it's time to solve the problem! You can proceed to the next section below.

Solution 1: 100% Successful Way to Delete Apps on iPhone

The first solution you can use to fix the "can't delete selected apps on iPhone" issue is to use the professional 4Easysoft iPhone Cleaner. This desktop-based tool allows you to completely and easily uninstall any application on your iPhone. It can detect all the apps on your device, including hidden ones, and display their last used time and storage size. This tool also enables you to uninstall unused applications on your iPhone in batches and completely remove their cache files, freeing up the storage space they occupy. That way, you can save space and declutter your Home Screen.

Step 1Install the 4Easysoft iPhone Cleaner on your computer. Then, launch it and link your iPhone to the computer using a USB-C cable. Next, tap "Trust" on your iPhone.

Step 2Click "Uninstall Applications" on the left side of the tool's interface. Then, wait until the scanning process is done. You will see all the apps you have on your iPhone after a while.

Step 3Once done, a list of apps will show up. You can select all the applications you wish to delete from the list and click "Uninstall" next to them. Then, click "Confirm" to finally delete them.

Solution 2: Restart iPhone to Fix Can't Delete Apps on iPhone

Another method to fix unable to delete apps is iPhone restarting. Sometimes, a simple restart can help you fix bugs or software glitches affecting your device. Here's how you can restart your iPhone to fix the issue:

• For those who utilize iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and later (Face ID models):

Step 1You need to press and hold either the "Volume button and the Side button" together until the slider appears on your screen.

Step 2After that, drag the "slide to power off" slider on the screen and wait for at least 30 seconds until it turns off.

Step 3Hold down the Side button to switch it on, and release it once the Apple logo shows up.

• For those who use iPhone 6, 7, 8, or SE (2nd or 3rd generation):

Step 1Press and hold the "Side" button, and wait until the "power off slider" appears on the screen.

Step 2Once the slider shows up, drag it and wait for at least 30 seconds for your iPhone to turn off.

Step 3Once the phone has shut down, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo shows to turn it back on.

• For iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 5s, and earlier models:

Step 1Press and hold the "Top" button until the slider appears on the screen.

Step 2Once the slider shows up on the screen, drag it, and wait for 30 seconds for your iPhone to turn off.

Step 3When it powers off, hold down the "Top" button to turn it on again and wait until the Apple logo appears.

Once you are done performing the steps, you can check if you still can't delete apps on your iPhone.

Solution 3: Check Screen Time Restrictions

If you still can't remove apps on iPhone after rebooting, there's a chance that you've set a restriction in Screen Time that prevents you from deleting apps on your iPhone. To check whether you've set this restriction and turn it off just in case, follow these steps:

Step 1Launch your iPhone's "Settings" app, head to the "Screen Time" section, and tap the "Content & Privacy Restrictions" button.

Step 2Next, select "iTunes & Apps Store Purchases" from the list of options.

Step 3After that, tap the "Deleting Apps" button and select the "All" option on the next screen. Then, head to the home screen of your iPhone and check whether you can now delete an app.

Solution 4: Try to Delete iPhone Apps from Settings App

Aside from deleting an app from your iPhone's Home Screen, you can also remove it through the Settings app. This solution doesn't just delete a specific app; it also removes the app's associated files and data, which is perfect if you aim to save space and declutter your device. So, how do you uninstall apps in iPhone from Settings? Here are the steps you need to follow:

Step 1Open your iPhone's Settings app, head to the "General" section, and tap the "iPhone Storage" button.

Step 2Next, look for the app you wish to delete and tap on it from the list. You can scroll through the list.

Step 3Once you have found the app you wish to delete, tap the "Delete App" button and confirm the deletion operation.

Solution 5: Update iOS to the Latest Version

Apart from checking for restrictions that might have caused you to ask, "Why can't I delete apps on my iPhone?", you should also check if your iPhone is running the latest iOS version. Keeping your iPhone updated is crucial because it helps your device perform better and eliminates existing bugs, including the issue you're trying to solve. Now, to check if there's an available iOS version update for your phone, here are the steps for you:

Step 1Head to your iPhone's Settings app and tap the "General" button in the list of options.

Step 2After that, head to the "Software Update" and check whether there's an available iOS version upgrade for your device.

Step 3If there's an available update, tap the "Download/Update Now" button and select "Install". After updating your iPhone's iOS version, check whether it solves the issue.

Solution 6: Sign Out of Apple ID and Sign Back In

The last solution you can do to fix the iPhone app deletion is to sign out of your Apple ID and sign back in. Sometimes, problems with deleting apps happen because of your Apple ID. For instance, if an app was downloaded using a different Apple ID, your iPhone won't let you update or remove it under your current account. So you can't transfer apps from one iPhone to another iPhone with different Apple ID accounts. To fix this, sign out of your current Apple ID and sign back in using the one that was initially used to install the app. Here's how:

Step 1Run the Settings application on your iPhone and tap your name at the top.

Step 2Next, scroll down to the bottom, tap "Sign Out", and enter your Apple ID password.

Step 3Once signed out, sign in again using the Apple ID that you use to download the app that you wish to eradicate. Then, try to delete the app and see if it works.

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