4 Quick Steps to Delete Apps from iCloud on iPhone

iPhone App Store icon
$title$

Decluttering your digital life has never been easier. If you’re an avid iPhone user who’s looking to free up storage space or simply streamline your home screen, deleting unused apps from iCloud is a breeze. This comprehensive guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to effortlessly remove apps from iCloud without affecting your iPhone.

Before embarking on our app-removal journey, let’s delve into the concept of iCloud. iCloud is a cloud storage and computing service provided by Apple that allows users to store data, such as apps, photos, videos, and contacts, online. When you download an app from the App Store, it’s automatically stored in your iCloud account. Consequently, if you delete an app from your iPhone, it will remain intact in iCloud unless you explicitly remove it from there as well.

Now that we’ve established the basics, let’s dive right into the practical steps involved in deleting apps from iCloud on your iPhone. First, ensure that your iPhone is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. Launch the Settings app, scroll down, and tap on your Apple ID. On the Apple ID page, select iCloud, followed by Manage Storage. This will present you with a list of categories, including Apps. Tap on Apps to view a comprehensive inventory of all the apps stored in your iCloud account.

Uninstalling Apps from iCloud Using the App Store

If you want to remove apps from iCloud without deleting them from your iPhone, you can use the App Store. Here’s how:

  1. Open the App Store.

    Locate and tap on the App Store icon on your iPhone’s home screen to launch it.

  2. Navigate to the Updates tab.

    Once the App Store opens, tap on the “Updates” tab located at the bottom of the screen. This will display a list of all available app updates.

  3. Find the app you want to uninstall.

    Scroll down the list of updates until you find the app you want to remove from iCloud. If the app is not listed under the “Updates” tab, you can use the search bar at the top of the screen to locate it.

  4. Tap on the “Offload App” button.

    Once you have found the app you want to uninstall, tap on the “Offload App” button located next to it. This will remove the app from your iPhone but keep its data and documents in iCloud. You can reinstall the app at any time by tapping on the “Install” button next to it in the App Store.

Removing Apps Directly from the iCloud Drive App

1. Open the iCloud Drive app on your iPhone.
2. Locate the app you want to delete. (You might need to scroll or tap “See All” to find it.)
3. Tap the app to view its details, and then tap the “Delete” button. It will ask you to confirm the deletion. Tap “Delete” again, and the app will be removed from your iCloud Drive and all devices linked to your account.

Step Action
1 Open the iCloud Drive app on your iPhone.
2 Locate the app you want to delete, you might need to scroll or tap “See All” to find it.
3 Tap on the app to view it’s details, then tap on the Delete button, it will ask you to confirm the deletion, tap Delete again and the app will be removed from your iCloud Drive.

Deleting Apps from iCloud via the Settings Menu

1. Access the iCloud Menu

Begin by launching the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap on your Apple ID profile, which is displayed at the top of the screen. From the menu that appears, select iCloud.

2. Manage iCloud Storage

On the iCloud page, locate and tap on “Manage Storage.” This will open a list of all the apps that are using iCloud storage.

3. Select and Delete Apps

The list of apps will be sorted by the amount of storage space they occupy. Scroll through the list and identify the apps you want to delete from iCloud. Tap on an app to view its details. On the app’s details page, toggle off the “iCloud Drive” option. This will prevent the app from storing data in iCloud and free up storage space. Repeat this process for any other apps you wish to delete from iCloud.

Step Action
1 Launch Settings and access your Apple ID profile.
2 Select iCloud and tap on Manage Storage.
3 Scroll through the list of apps and tap on an app to view its details. Toggle off the “iCloud Drive” option to prevent the app from storing data in iCloud.

Restoring Device and Choosing Not to Restore Apps

1. Connect Device to Computer

Connect your iPhone to your computer using the supplied USB cable. iTunes will automatically open on your computer. If it doesn’t, open iTunes manually.

2. Create a Backup

To ensure your data is safe, create a backup of your device before restoring. In iTunes, click the “Back Up Now” button.

3. Restore Device

Once the backup is complete, click the “Restore iPhone” button in iTunes. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restoration process.

4. Choose Not to Restore Apps

When prompted to restore your previous apps and data, select “Don’t Restore.” This will prevent your previously installed apps from being restored on your device.

Alternatively, if you wish to restore certain apps but not others, follow these steps:

In iTunes, click on the “Apps” tab.

Uncheck the boxes next to the apps you wish to remove.

Click the “Apply” button to confirm your changes.

Click the “Restore” button to proceed with the restoration process.

Using a Third-Party Application

If you prefer a third-party solution to delete iCloud apps, there are several reputable options available on the App Store. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide for using one such application:

Step 1: Download and Install a Third-Party App

Go to the App Store and search for “iCloud app cleaner” or “iCloud app remover.” Choose a highly-rated and trusted app and download it to your iPhone.

Step 2: Launch the App and Sign In

Open the app and sign in using your iCloud account credentials. The app will request authorization to access your iCloud data. Grant the necessary permissions.

Step 3: Scan for iCloud Apps

The app will automatically scan your iCloud account for all installed apps. This process may take a few minutes, depending on the number of apps you have.

Step 4: Select Apps to Delete

Once the scan is complete, a list of all iCloud apps will be displayed. Browse through the list and select the apps you want to delete. You can use filters or search options to narrow down the list.

Step 5: Delete Apps in Bulk or Individually

Most third-party apps offer two options for deleting apps: bulk deletion and individual deletion. Bulk deletion allows you to select multiple apps and delete them simultaneously, while individual deletion lets you remove apps one by one.

Bulk Deletion Individual Deletion

Select the “Select All” checkbox to mark all apps for deletion.

Tap on the “-” icon next to each app you want to delete.

Tap on the “Delete” button to confirm the deletion process.

Tap on the “Delete” button that appears after tapping the “-” icon.

Disabling iCloud Sync for Specific Apps

You may only wish to disable iCloud sync for certain apps rather than all of them. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on your Apple ID.
  3. Tap on iCloud.
  4. Scroll down and tap on Apps Using iCloud.
  5. Toggle off the switch next to any app you wish to disable iCloud sync for.

Here is a table summarizing the steps:

Step Action
1 Open the Settings app.
2 Tap on your Apple ID.
3 Tap on iCloud.
4 Scroll down and tap on Apps Using iCloud.
5 Toggle off the switch next to any app you wish to disable iCloud sync for.

Deleting Apps Remotely via Find My iPhone

If you can’t access your iPhone directly, you can remotely delete apps using the Find My iPhone service. This requires you to have Find My iPhone enabled on your device.

    1. Open a web browser and go to icloud.com/find.

    2. Sign in with your Apple ID and password.

    3. Click the “All Devices” tab at the top of the page.

    4. Select the iPhone you want to delete apps from.

    5. Click the “Actions” button and select “Remove Apps.”

    6. A list of apps installed on your iPhone will appear. Select the apps you want to delete and click “Remove.”

    7. Confirm that you want to delete the apps. The apps will be deleted from your iPhone remotely. Note that this process may take up to a few minutes to complete.

Device Steps
iPhone 6

Purging Apps from iCloud Storage

If you’re running low on iCloud storage space, purging unused apps from your account can free up a significant amount of space. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
  2. Tap on Manage Storage.
  3. Under Storage Used, tap on Apps.
  4. A list of all the apps that are storing data in your iCloud account will be displayed.
  5. Tap on the Edit button in the top-right corner.
  6. Tap on the red minus button next to any app that you want to delete.
  7. Tap on the Delete App & Data button to confirm.
  8. Repeat steps 4-7 for any other apps that you want to delete.

Additional Tips for Purging Apps


  1. Consider using a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox to store large files, instead of storing them in iCloud Drive.
  2. Disable iCloud backups for any apps that you don’t need to back up.
  3. Delete any unnecessary photos and videos from your iCloud Photo Library.
  4. Use the Optimize iPhone Storage feature to automatically move infrequently used apps and files to iCloud.

Managing iCloud Storage

iCloud storage is a great way to keep your photos, videos, and other files safe and accessible from your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. However, if you’re not careful, your iCloud storage can quickly fill up. To avoid running out of space, it’s important to manage your iCloud storage regularly.

One way to manage your iCloud storage is to delete unused apps. Apps that you don’t use can take up a lot of space, so deleting them can help you free up some much-needed storage.

Deleting Unused Apps

To delete an unused app from iCloud, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on your Apple ID at the top of the screen.
  3. Tap on iCloud.
  4. Tap on Manage Storage.
  5. Tap on Apps.
  6. Tap on the app that you want to delete.
  7. Tap on the Delete App button.
  8. Tap on the Delete button to confirm.

Once you have deleted an app, it will be removed from your iCloud account. You can still download the app again from the App Store, but it will no longer be stored in your iCloud backup.

App Size
WhatsApp 128 MB
Facebook 100 MB
Instagram 75 MB

Troubleshooting Common Errors When Deleting Apps from iCloud

If you encounter any errors while deleting apps from iCloud, here are some common troubleshooting tips:

1. Ensure a Stable Internet Connection:

A reliable internet connection is crucial for seamless app deletion. Make sure your device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi or cellular network.

2. Check Apple System Status:

Occasionally, Apple services may experience outages. Visit the Apple System Status page to confirm that all iCloud services are operational.

3. Restart Your Device:

Restarting your iPhone can resolve temporary glitches and refresh the iCloud connection. Simply power off and back on your device.

4. Check iCloud Storage:

If your iCloud storage is full or nearly full, deleting apps may trigger an error. Check your iCloud storage by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > iCloud.

5. Verify iCloud Sign-in:

Confirm that you are signed in to the same iCloud account on your iPhone as the one used to download the apps you wish to delete.

6. Refresh App Library:

Sometimes, the App Library can become unresponsive. Swipe left on your home screen, pull down to refresh the App Library, and try deleting the apps again.

7. Disable and Re-enable App Syncing:

Toggle off iCloud App Syncing in Settings > Your Name > iCloud, wait a few minutes, and then re-enable it to refresh the connection.

8. Check for App Updates:

Updating the app you wish to delete can sometimes resolve compatibility issues. Check the App Store for any available updates.

9. Contact Apple Support:

If the above troubleshooting steps fail to resolve the issue, contact Apple Support for further assistance.

10. Try the Following Additional Steps:

  • Check if the apps are downloaded from the App Store or third-party sources.
  • Ensure that you have sufficient storage space on your iPhone.
  • Try deleting the apps one by one instead of selecting multiple apps simultaneously.
  • Check if the apps are linked to any subscriptions or in-app purchases.
  • If all else fails, you may consider resetting your iPhone to factory settings (note that this will erase all data on your device).

How To Delete Apps From Icloud On Iphone

If you’re running out of storage space on your iPhone, deleting apps from iCloud can be a great way to free up some room. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on your Apple ID at the top of the screen.
  3. Tap on iCloud.
  4. Tap on Manage Storage.
  5. Tap on Apps.
  6. Find the app that you want to delete and tap on it.
  7. Tap on the Delete App button.

The app will be deleted from your iPhone and iCloud. If you want to redownload the app later, you can do so from the App Store.

People Also Ask

How do I delete apps from iCloud without deleting them from my iPhone?

You can’t delete apps from iCloud without deleting them from your iPhone. However, you can offload apps from your iPhone, which will remove the app from your device but keep its data and settings. To offload an app, tap and hold on the app icon until the menu pops up, then tap on Offload App.

How do I delete all apps from iCloud?

To delete all apps from iCloud, follow the steps above and then tap on the Delete All button at the top of the screen.

How do I free up space on my iPhone?

In addition to deleting apps, there are a number of other ways to free up space on your iPhone. You can delete photos and videos, clear your browser cache, and delete old messages. You can also use a third-party app to help you manage your storage.