How to Delete Unused Apps & Clean Up Your Phone

Do you feel like your smartphone or tablet is cluttered with apps you’ll never use? Extra apps, often called bloatware, can take up space, drain battery life, and clutter your interface. Whether you’re using an Android phone or an iPhone, this guide will help you clean up your device and delete unused apps for a clutter-free experience. Plus, you’ll find tips and answers to common questions to make the process easy and effective.

Once you’ve deleted unused apps, your phone should feel cleaner and more organized. But why stop there? The next step is making your home screen more efficient. Try organizing your remaining apps for easy access with this guide on alphabetizing apps, and then take it a step further by adding the best free widgets for iPhone & Android to streamline your phone’s functionality!

What You’ll Need

Your device (Android or iOS)
Access to Settings or System Preferences
15–30 minutes of uninterrupted time, especially if you’re cleaning up your device for the first time

What to Do Before You Delete Unused Apps

Take a few simple steps before uninstalling apps to ensure that you save important data.

Back Up Important Data: If the app stores data locally (e.g., notes, offline files, or saved game progress), back it up to the cloud or export it to another location. Use services like Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox to store backups. For detailed instructions, check out this guide for Android or this guide for iOS.
Review App Permissions: Check what data the app has access to. This can help you decide whether to save certain data before you remove the app.

How to Check App Data Access

If you’re unsure how to review app permissions, follow these steps for Android and iOS:

Android:

Open Settings and go to Apps or Applications.
Select the app you’re planning to remove.
Tap Permissions to view the data the app can access (e.g., Contacts, Camera, Storage).
Review what’s listed and decide if you need to back up any data before uninstalling.

iOS:

Open Settings and scroll down to find the app in the list or go to Privacy & Security > App Privacy Report.
Tap the app name to see the permissions it has (e.g., Location, Photos, Microphone).
If necessary, save or back up any related data before deleting the app.

How to Delete Unused Apps

Cleaning up your device of unwanted apps involves identifying and removing apps you no longer need. These could be preinstalled apps, old apps you’ve forgotten about, or apps you haven’t used in a long time.

How to Delete Unused Apps on Android

Open Settings and navigate to Apps or Applications.
Review the full list of installed apps. Use the menu icon (often three dots in the upper-right corner) and select Show System Apps to include preinstalled apps.
Tap on an app to view its details, then select Uninstall to remove it, or Disable if uninstalling isn’t available.
To identify apps you haven’t used recently, sort by Last Used (if available) or check usage details in the Google Play Store > Manage Apps & Device under the Manage tab.

For more details, visit the official Android support page.

How to Delete Unused Apps on iOS Devices

Open Settings and navigate to General > iPhone Storage.
Scroll through the list of installed apps to review each one, including preinstalled apps you may not need.
Tap an app to view its details, including its size and last used date. Select Delete App to remove it.
For apps removed from the Home Screen but still installed, use the App Library to locate and manage them.

For additional guidance, see the official Apple support page.

Clean Up After You Delete Unused Apps

Once you’ve removed apps, a little cleanup can help ensure your device stays optimized and clutter-free.

On Android Devices

Clear Cache and Residual Files: Go to Settings > Storage and look for leftover files or cache associated with removed apps. Some devices allow you to clear cache directly from the app manager.
Reorganize Your Home Screen: You can fill in blank spaces left behind by removed apps or tidy up your layout for easier navigation.
Check Storage Usage: Navigate to Settings > Storage to ensure the app’s data has been fully cleared and your storage is optimized.

On iOS Devices

Review iPhone Storage: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to ensure that app data has been removed. This section also shows recommendations for optimizing storage.
Reorganize Your Home Screen: Drag apps around to tidy up your layout after removing unwanted ones.

How to Stop Unused Apps from Running in the Background

If you can’t or don’t want to remove an app, preventing it from running in the background can save battery life and reduce system resource usage.

On Android Devices

Open Settings and navigate to Apps or Applications.
Tap the app you want to manage and select Battery or Battery Usage (this option may vary by device).
Toggle off Allow Background Activity or use Restrict App Usage to limit background processes.
Use Settings > Developer Options to disable background processes for specific apps (advanced option for experienced users).

On iOS Devices

Open Settings and go to General > Background App Refresh.
Find the app you want to manage and toggle off Background App Refresh.
Alternatively, disable Background App Refresh entirely to prevent all apps from running in the background.

How to Reset Default App Settings

Sometimes, apps are set as defaults for certain actions (e.g., opening links or files), and you may want to reset these settings.

On Android Devices

Open Settings and navigate to Apps or Applications.
Select the app that is currently set as default.
Scroll down and tap Clear Defaults or Reset Defaults.

This allows you to choose a different app the next time you perform that action.

On iOS Devices

On iOS, default apps are more limited and managed at the system level (e.g., Safari for browsing, Mail for emails). To change these:

Open Settings and find the app category (e.g., Browser or Mail).
Select the app you want to set as the default.

For apps that don’t allow changes, you can remove the app’s permissions or disable it to stop it from being used.

Delete Unused Apps That Are Hidden

Hidden apps can take up space and resources. Here’s how you can find them and decide whether to keep them.

Delete Hidden Unused Apps on Android Devices

Open Settings and navigate to Apps or Applications.
Tap the menu icon (often three dots in the upper-right corner).
Select Show System Apps or Show Hidden Apps, depending on your device.
Review the list of hidden or system apps, then disable or uninstall apps as needed.

Delete Hidden Unused Apps on iOS Devices

Open the App Library by swiping left past all Home Screen pages.
Use the search bar at the top to find the app.
Tap and hold the app icon, then select Add to Home Screen to make it visible again.

Additionally, check Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions in Settings to see if any apps have been hidden through restrictions.

For detailed instructions, refer to the official Apple support page (look for Set content restrictions and prevent in-app purchases).

Find & Delete Unused Apps Automatically

If you’re unsure which apps you use the least, both iPhones and Android devices offer built-in features to help you identify and remove unused apps automatically.

On iPhone: Enable Offload Unused Apps

iPhones can automatically remove unused apps while keeping your data intact.

Go to Settings > App Store.
Toggle on Offload Unused Apps.
Your iPhone will free up space by removing apps you don’t use often, but their icons remain on your home screen. When you reinstall them, all data is restored.

On Android: Check Your App Usage

While Android doesn’t have an identical offload feature, you can manually find rarely used apps:

Open Settings > Apps > Manage Apps.
Sort apps by Last Used or Size to find unused ones.
Uninstall apps you no longer need to free up space.

💡 Tip: If you’re unsure whether to delete an app, you can disable it instead. This prevents it from running in the background while keeping it available if needed.

FAQ

For Android

Why can’t I uninstall certain apps? Some apps are system-level and require advanced tools to remove.
What is bloatware? Preinstalled apps added by manufacturers or carriers, often unnecessary.

For iOS

Can I delete system apps? Only a few preinstalled apps can be deleted; others can be hidden.
How do I clear app data without deleting the app? Use Settings > General > iPhone Storage to offload or clear data.

Tips for Success

Use Folders: Group unused apps into folders for a clutter-free experience.
Back Up Before Deleting Apps: Ensure no essential data is lost.

Final Thoughts

Choosing to delete or disable unused apps—whether preinstalled apps, forgotten apps, or ones you no longer use—is the first step toward a cleaner, more organized device. Whether it’s an Android phone or iPhone, reclaiming storage and decluttering your screens has never been easier.

We’d love to hear from you! If you’ve found this guide helpful, leave a comment with your favorite tips, questions, or suggestions for additional guides or topics you’d like to see. Your feedback helps us create content that’s most helpful to you.

How to Delete Unused Apps & Clean Up Your Phone

What You’ll Need