This post will walk you through uninstalling apps that are not visible on the iPhone Home screen but still present in the system. Here’s a quick guide to delete hidden apps on iPhone in iOS 15.5.
iPhone Hidden Apps
The introduction of the App Library in iOS 14 has allowed iPhone users to hide apps from the Home screen without completely removing the apps and relevant information from the system.
That said, there’s a chance that the app icons you see on someone else’s iPhone may not actually just be the only apps installed on the device.
When you hide an app on your iPhone, the app won’t appear in your list of purchases in the App Store as well as in the Home screen pages.
Hidden apps also won’t show up in your family members’ purchases. Your family members will also not be able to redownload the app.
But one thing is for sure, hidden apps stay in the iPhone system and they aren’t removed from your family members’ device or any other devices that are signed in with your Apple ID.
This therefore denotes that you still can access and use hidden apps on your iPhone.
In terms of deletion, deleting hidden apps would require more effort than the regular app deletion as you won’t be seeing the apps from where they used to be. Nonetheless, it’s a doable procedure.
If you’re new to the iOS platform and need some input on how to delete hidden apps on your new special edition iPhone (3rd generation) or any other iPhone running on iOS 15 and later OS version, feel free to refer to these subsequent instructions.
Different Ways to Delete Hidden Apps on iPhone in iOS 15.5
There are different ways to delete hidden apps from an iPhone. You can do that through the App Library, using Spotlight Search, iPhone Storage menu, and straight from the App Store.
1st Method: From the App Library
App Library is one of the latest features of iOS 14 and later devices. The main use of this feature is for app organization. Hidden apps can also be accessed through the App Library on your iPhone and so you can delete them from there.
Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to your iPhone’s Home screen and then swipe left several times until you see the App Library.
Step 2: While in the App Library, tap on the search field or simply locate the app from different categories.
Step 3: Next, touch and hold on the app icon that you’d like to delete then tap Delete App from the quick menu.
Step 4: Read the warning prompt and then tap Delete to confirm.
The app will then be uninstalled permanently from your iPhone.
2nd Method: Using Spotlight Search
Spotlight Search is an iPhone feature that’s designed to help you find almost anything on the iPhone system. It serves as a quick way to locate contacts, important notes, hidden apps and other information from your iPhone.
To delete apps using Spotlight Search, just follow these steps:
Step 1: To begin, swipe down on any Home screen on your iPhone and then type the name of the app that you’d like to delete or uninstall.
Step 2: When the app appears, long-press on the app icon and then tap Delete App from the quick menu options.
Step 3: Read the warning prompt and then tap Delete to confirm.
3rd Method: From the iPhone Storage Menu
All preloaded and downloaded applications and services are listed on the iPhone Storage menu. This menu can be accessed through the iPhone settings. From there, you can locate and delete a hidden app from the system.
Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Settings app by tapping on the Settings (Gear) icon from Home.
Step 2: Find and then tap General from the settings menu.
Step 3: On the next screen, tap iPhone storage. Doing so will load up all of your apps.
Step 4: Locate the app that you’d like to delete and then tap on it.
Step 5: In the next screen, tap Delete App.
Step 6: If prompted, read the warning prompt and then tap Delete App again to confirm.
The app and all related data will then be deleted permanently.
4th Method: From the App Store
All your downloaded apps and purchase history are recorded in your App Store accounts. Thus, you can access and delete a hidden app from there as well.
Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the App Store app on your iPhone.
Step 2: In the App Store main screen, tap on your profile icon.
Step 3: Tap Purchases on the following screen to proceed.
A quicker way to access your App Store purchases is to long press the App Store icon from the Home screen and then tap Purchased from the quick menu. On the next screen, tap My Purchases and then search the hidden app that you’d like to delete.
Step 4: Scroll to find the app that you’d like to delete and then swipe left on its name. Doing so will display the Delete button next to the name of the selected app.
Step 5: Finally, tap the Delete button.
Step 6: Read the warning prompt then tap Delete to confirm.
Once the app is deleted, it is completely uninstalled from the system along with its relevant data.
And that’s how to permanently delete or uninstall hidden applications from an iPhone running on iOS 15 and later version.
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