From time to time, you run into strange problems that are not only difficult to explain, but also difficult to believe. Not being able to remove apps on iOS 15 is one such issue that has plagued many iPhone users at some point. Believe me, I’ve also been on the receiving side of this issue several times. So I can relate to the frustration you may be experiencing. Fortunately, there are some viable tips to fix the “Unable to remove app on iPhone and iPad” issue. With that in mind, let’s talk about how and how to solve the problem!
Contents
- 1 10 tips to fix the “Unable to delete app on iPhone or iPad” issue
- 1.1 What apps can / cannot be deleted on iPhone and iPad?
- 1.2 Disable app deletion restrictions
- 1.3 Remove apps from the home screen and app library
- 1.4 Remove apps faster on iPhone and iPad
- 1.5 Force restart iPhone or iPad
- 1.6 Adjust the sensitivity of 3D Touch / Haptic Touch
- 1.7 Are you trying to remove an app that is still downloading?Cancel download instead
- 1.8 Remove the app from the settings app
- 1.9 Software update
- 1.10 Sign out of your Apple ID and sign in again
- 1.11 Reset all settings
- 2 Fixed “Unable to delete apps on iPhone” issue
10 tips to fix the “Unable to delete app on iPhone or iPad” issue
A good understanding of apps that can / cannot be deleted on iOS devices can help. Therefore, it’s a good idea to first take a quick look at the history of bloatware on iOS.
What apps can / cannot be deleted on iPhone and iPad?
All tech companies want to control their software as much as possible. And Apple is no exception to this ancient tradition. Therefore, you will see a lot of bloatware (embedded apps) whether you need it or not. So if you come across embedded apps that you rarely / never use on your iPhone and wonder why they exist on your device, you’re not the only one to ask this long-standing question. After all, you need the absolute right to decide which apps exist and which don’t exist on your iPhone.
Starting with iOS 12, Apple has provided a little more freedom to remove embedded apps. If you’re not a fan of bloatwear, you’ll be happy with this move.
List of first-party apps that can be deleted on iPhone and iPad
- map
- measurement
- music
- Book
- calculator
- calendar
- Compass
- Contacts (Note: If you remove the Contacts app, please note that your contact information will still be available in other apps such as Messages, Phones, Messages, FaceTime, Email, etc.)
- FaceTime
- File
- House
- iTunes Store
- Post
- news
- Note
- translation
- TV set
- Voice memo
- clock
- weather
- Podcast
- reminder
- Shortcut
- stock
- Fitness
- Tip
List of embedded apps that cannot be deleted on iPhone or iPad
- camera
- clock
- Setting
- App Store
- Find me
- health
- message
- phone
- Photo
If you’re still running an older version of iOS, such as iOS 10 or 11, you have no choice but to use unwanted apps. To prevent these apps from appearing over and over again, you can create an apps folder and dump all useless first-party apps into it.
Disable app deletion restrictions
The first thing to do to fix the “Unable to delete apps on iPhone or iPad” issue is to make sure there are no restrictions on removing apps. You may have previously restricted the removal of apps on your device using Screen Time and forgot to disable it later. So make sure it doesn’t block your path.
- Go to Settings app On iOS or iPad OS devices -> Hours of use-> Content and privacy restrictions..


- Now tap Delete app Choose to approve..

Then go to the home screen and remove the app to see if the issue is resolved. Perhaps the problem should be resolved.
Remove apps from the home screen and app library
The process of deleting an app on the home screen and the app library is a little different. The first time you use the Apple ecosystem, it can be a bit confusing.
Delete the app on the home screen
- Press and hold the app icon What you want to delete -> Delete app-> Remove the app.Finally, tap erase Check the pop-up menu.

Delete an app in the app library
- Go to the app you want to remove-> App icon->[アプリの削除]->[削除]Press and hold.

Remove apps faster on iPhone and iPad
There is a very good way to remove multiple apps faster on iOS and iPad OS devices. Save this nifty hack in case you want to remove some apps without wasting a lot of time.

- Press and hold the app icon Then select Home screen editing In the context menu.Now all the apps on your device will start shaking and appear “-” Delete button..
- Simply a hit “-” Button-> Delete app That’s it.
Force restart iPhone or iPad
Try hard reset tricks when dealing with strange or unexpected issues. Fortunately, it saved me many times. So it’s a good idea to remind yourself of the effectiveness of this hack and give it a try.

- For iPhone 8 and above and iPad without home button: Press the volume up button and release it quickly. Then press the volume down button and release it quickly. Then press and hold the side / top button until you see the Apple logo on your screen.
- For iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold the volume down button and the side button at the same time until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
- For iPhone 6s or earlier or iPad with home button: Press and hold the Home button and Side / Top button until you see the Apple logo on your screen.
Adjust the sensitivity of 3D Touch / Haptic Touch
A little embedded in the accessibility settings is the option to adjust the sensitivity of 3D Touch / Haptic Touch. If you can’t see the context menu that pops up when you press and hold the app icon, adjusting the sensitivity of your 3D or haptic touch may solve the problem.

- Go to iPhone Settings App-> Accessibility-> Touch-> 3D / Haptic Touch (Depending on your iPhone model).Select now Fast or slow option.
- Then press and hold the image on the screen to test the touch time.
Are you trying to remove an app that is still downloading?Cancel download instead
If you are trying to remove the app that is currently being downloaded, please cancel the download instead.You will see “Loading” / “Waiting” If the download is still in progress, it’s under the app. Also, if you press and hold the app icon of the app, the option to delete will disappear. If you don’t want to download the app “Cancel Download” In the context menu to get rid of it.

Remove the app from the settings app
Many may not be aware of the fact that iOS also provides a very easy way to remove an app directly from the Settings app. You can scroll through all the apps installed on your device to see how much storage each app has consumed and choose to remove apps you no longer need.
Perhaps the best thing about this method is that you can remove the app along with the relevant documents and data. This is very useful when you want to organize your device.

- Open Settings app-> General-> iPhone / iPad storage -> Here, find the app you want to remove and tap it.Then hit Delete app Check the action.
Software update
If removing the app still doesn’t work, try updating the software. You may not need to come this far under normal circumstances, but the unexplained issues aren’t new to iOS.

- Jump into iPhone or iPad Settings App-> General-> Software Update.. Next, let’s check for updates available to iOS. If there are any updates available, get them now.
Sign out of your Apple ID and sign in again
Is there a solution yet? please do not worry. Sign out of your Apple ID and sign in again. This is a secure method, so you don’t have to worry about losing media or data.
- Open Settings app On your device-> Apple ID banner Located in the center of the top.Then scroll down[サインアウト]Tap. IOS now has the option to keep a copy of important data such as calendars and contacts.
- For added security, please toggle each option before signing out of your Apple ID. Then sign in again with your Apple ID and password.

Reset all settings
Factory reset is like a nuclear solution that helps you fix complex iOS issues. So if you still can’t remove the app on your iOS device, be sure to give it a try. Please note that the entire existing settings will be erased and everything from Wi-Fi to VPN will be returned to a clean state. However, it does not harm the media or data.
- For iOS 15 or later: Go to iPhone / iPad Settings app-> General-> iPhone / iPad Transfer or Reset-> Reset-> Reset All Settings.

- For iOS 14 and earlier: Go to the device settings app-> General-> Reset-> Reset all settings.
Fixed “Unable to delete apps on iPhone” issue
That’s all. With so many reliable solutions, I don’t think the problem still exists on the device. As mentioned above, it is more likely that you can solve the problem by paying attention to the deletion setting of the app. If that doesn’t work, the ability to hard reset and remove the app from the Settings app is a reliable tip to fix the problem. Anyway, which of these hacks helped fix the app removal issue on iOS devices? Please give us your feedback.