Apple devices come with a suite of built-in apps, many of which you may find unnecessary. These apps take up minimal storage space but can clutter your home screen. Thankfully, iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS allow users to remove many of these pre-installed apps, freeing up space and making room for the apps you prefer. This guide will walk you through the process of removing and restoring built-in apps on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
Which Apps Can Be Deleted?
On iOS and iPadOS, you can remove the following apps:
- Activity
- Apple Books
- Apple TV
- Calculator
- Calendar
- Clock
- Compass
- Contacts
- FaceTime
- Files
- Find My
- Freeform
- Health
- Home
- iTunes Store
- Maps
- Measure
- Music
- News (where available)
- Notes
- Podcasts
- Reminders
- Shortcuts
- Stocks
- Tips
- Translate
- TV (where available)
- Voice Memos
- Wallet
- Watch app
- Weather
On watchOS, removable apps include:
- Activity
- Alarms
- Blood Oxygen
- Camera Remote
- Contacts
- Cycle Tracking
- Depth
- ECG
- Find Devices
- Find Items
- Find People
- Heart Rate
- Medications
- Memoji
- Mindfulness
- Noise
- Now Playing
- Siren
- Sleep
- Stopwatch
- Timers
- Tips
- Voice Memos
- Wallet
- Walkie-Talkie (where available)
- Workout
- World Clock
Some apps, such as the App Store, Camera, Messages, Phone, Photos, Safari, and Settings, cannot be removed. Deleting certain apps may impact the functionality of others; for instance, removing Music affects CarPlay and other audio playback features.
How to Remove Built-In Apps
On iPhone or iPad
Long-Press Method:
- Long-press the app icon you wish to remove.
- Select “Remove App.”
Jiggle Mode:
- Long-press any app icon until all icons start jiggling.
- Tap the minus button on the app you want to delete.
You will be prompted to either “Delete App” or “Remove from Home Screen.” Deleting the app removes it completely while removing it from the Home Screen keeps it in the App Library.
On Apple Watch
- Press the Digital Crown to access the Home Screen.
- Touch and hold the display until the apps jiggle.
- Tap the X button on the app you want to remove.
- Confirm by selecting “Delete App.”
How to Restore Built-In Apps
On iPhone or iPad
From App Library:
- Swipe left until you reach the App Library.
- Long-press the app and select “Add to Home Screen” or drag it to the Home Screen.
From App Store:
- Open the App Store.
- Search for the app.
- Tap the cloud icon to re-download it.
On Apple Watch
- Open the App Store app on your watch.
- Search for the app you wish to restore.
- Tap the cloud icon to re-download it.
By following these steps, you can manage your Apple device’s built-in apps effectively, keeping your home screens organized and tailored to your needs.
