Uninstall iOS App Not on Home Screen: A Simple Guide
Lost Apps on Your iPhone or iPad? A Guide to Uninstalling
Do you have an application you wish to remove, but its icon is nowhere to be found on your Home screen? If the app's icon seems to have vanished, how can you proceed with its uninstallation? Remain calm; an alternative method exists.
Are you seeking assistance with removing an application from your Apple smartphone or tablet? Consult our revised instructions on deleting apps from iPhone and iPad.
Related: How to Delete Apps on iPhone and iPad
It’s a common assumption that the sole way to uninstall an iOS application is to press and hold its icon until it begins to shake, allowing you to tap the "X" symbol. This was my initial understanding.
However, following an update to the iOS 10 Beta, I encountered an issue with an app that refused to update. The App Store consistently displayed a badge indicating an update was available, yet the update would not install. All other applications were updating without issue. I decided to uninstall and reinstall the problematic app, hoping to resolve the situation.
I thoroughly searched my Home screen, including every folder and all additional screens and folders. The app was nowhere to be located. Consequently, the question became: how do you uninstall an app that you cannot find?
I contacted Apple Support regarding this problem, as the persistent badge was becoming increasingly frustrating. They initially guided me through several troubleshooting steps to attempt to initiate the app's update. If you are experiencing a similar issue, you might consider these solutions:
- Force quit the App Store application by double-pressing the Home button and then swiping up on the App Store app. Subsequently, I reopened the App Store, but the update issue persisted.
- Utilize Spotlight Search to locate the app on your main Home screen and other Home screen pages. In my case, Spotlight Search failed to find the application.
- Perform a hard reset of your phone using Power+Home. This is not a factory reset; it’s a reboot, similar to restarting your computer. This method also proved ineffective.
- Uninstall the app through iTunes. To do this, connect your iOS device and select the device icon below the menu bar. Then, click "Apps" under Settings and locate the app you wish to uninstall in the Apps list on the right. Click "Remove" to delete the app. Confirm the deletion in the dialog box, and then click "Apply" at the bottom of the window to apply the changes to your device. Your device will synchronize with iTunes, and the app will be removed.
Related: How to Prevent iOS Apps from Reinstalling When You Sync With iTunes
Unfortunately, iTunes was unable to recognize my iPhone after the iOS 10 Beta update, rendering that option unavailable.
I feared I would have to resort to a factory reset of my phone, which I wanted to avoid. Fortunately, the Apple Support specialist then guided me through a straightforward procedure within the Settings app to delete the application.
This method is beneficial even if you aren't experiencing update issues. If you have a large number of apps installed, as I do, it can be challenging to remember the location of each app on your Home screen. The Settings app provides a comprehensive list of all your installed applications, allowing for individual uninstallation.
To start, tap "Settings" on your Home screen.
On the Settings screen, select "General".
Tap "Storage & iCloud Usage" on the General screen.
On the Storage & iCloud Usage screen, tap "Manage Storage" within the Storage section.
All applications installed on your device are listed in order of their size. If the list is extensive, locating the desired app may take some time. Scroll through the list and tap on the app when you find it.
On the app's Info screen, tap "Delete App".
Tap "Delete App" on the confirmation dialog box.
This method is also helpful if you are experiencing storage limitations on your device. You can access this list to identify which applications are consuming the most space and uninstall them directly from the list.