iOS 10 is amongst the largest updates in iOS history, but one surprising change is the ability to delete stock apps. This feature, which had been requested by users for years, allows you to remove most of the pre-installed apps on your iOS device.
Here’s how it works:
For starters, it’s important to know the limitations of this feature. Every app on the iPhone is now removable except Phone, Photos, Camera, Safari, Clock, Wallet, Health, Find iPhone, App Store, and Activity. Everything else is now fair game.
For this example, we’ll be using the calculator app. Deleting a stock app is the same process as deleting a regular one. Simply hold down on the app until it starts jiggling, and push the ‘x’.
After pushing the x, you’ll notice a different message then deleting third-party apps, with ‘deleting from your phone’ replaced with ‘deleting from your home screen’. Deleting these stock apps does not actually remove them from your device, it just makes them invisible.
Retrieving your app is also relatively simple. Simply go to the App Store, and search for the app you’ve deleted. The app will show up in the regular search results, however, pushing download will instantly make it reappear, as it was never actually deleted.
The ability to delete stock apps will launch alongside iOS 10 this fall, but you can try it out now with the iOS 10 Beta.
This is just one of the many features that are useful in the new iOS 10. Learn about all the new, useful and exciting features of iOS 10 in our comprehensive iOS 10 features guide and tutorial.
Binyamin has been writing about Apple and the tech sector as a whole for over five years.
His work has been featured on Forbes, MacWorld, Giga, MacLife, and more.
Additionally, Goldman is the Founder of BZG, a software development company focusing on Apple devices.
Currently a Senior Writer at AppleToolbox, Goldman has written for Updato and Inside Pulse and was a founding member of WatchAware and Mulling Apple.
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On my IPad, “Pages” has been contaminated. There are several problems but what upsets me most is when trying to type my return address on an envelope the box has “Jews” already typed in. A computer jerk in Florida said he could do anything on computers. I believe him now.
Can you please explain how I can delete the Pages app (completely, by X-ing it out and reinstalling it I get the same “Jews” block and other problems) from my I pad?
I hope you can help. Thank you.
Hi Paul,
That’s really disconcerting. So we’re sorry this issue is happening to you.
First, let’s check your Contact Card to make sure there isn’t anything going on with that. Open the Contacts App and at the top tap My Card (listed with your name. Check all the information and if anything is not correct tap Edit and make those changes. When complete, press Done.
Now let’s try removing the app another way.
First, disconnect the Pages App from iCloud by going to Settings > Apple ID Profile > iCloud > scroll down and toggle off Pages.
Then, go to Settings App > General > iPad Storage.
Wait for it to populate with a list of apps. Once done, scroll down the list and tap on Pages. Then choose Delete App (Not offload)
After deleting the app, restart your iPad by powering completely off, wait a few minutes, and powering back up.
Once restarted, open the App Store and search for Pages. Download and install it. Then see if the problem you mention persists.