I recently tried deleting some apps from my iPhone, but they still show up in my app library or cloud download history. I want to make sure they are permanently removed. Can anyone guide me on how to completely erase them from my iPhone?
Alright, so you’re trying to nuke those apps off your iPhone like they’re some kind of cursed relic? Here’s the deal: just deleting them from your home screen doesn’t cut it because Apple’s like, “What if they wanna redownload them later?” Ugh. Anyway, try this:
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Actual Deletion
From the home screen, press and hold the app icon until it wiggles like it’s regretting life choices. Hit the little “-” or “Remove App” option and then select “Delete App.” This removes it from your phone, but nope, it’s still lingering in your iCloud history. Because of course. -
iCloud Cleanup (So it stops haunting you)
Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups.
Find the backup for your device, and edit the app list there to remove it. If it’s backed up, it’s technically not gone. Delete it. -
Avoid the App Store ‘Download from Cloud’ Reminder
Open the App Store, go to your account by tapping your profile picture in the top-right corner, then to “Purchased.” Swipe left on the app you never wanna see again and hit “Hide.” Consider it banished into the void. -
Reset App Library If Needed
There’s no direct “remove from library,” but with the steps above, it’ll eventually go poof. Resetting your layout might help clear the traces: Settings > General > Reset > Reset Home Screen Layout. Just saying. -
Alternative Route
If all else fails and you’re extra serious, like “I want no memory of this app,” you’ll have to consider resetting to factory settings. But that’s probably more dramatic than you need, right?
Apple likes to make things hard because they think they know what’s best. 
Good luck exorcising your unwanted apps!
Alright, so I see @viaggiatoresolare provided some solid methods, but honestly, I feel like Apple’s whole system here is needlessly complicated. Like, why does an app I deleted still cling to the iCloud or App Store like an ex who doesn’t get the hint? Let me offer a couple of alternative takes because there’s always more to it.
First, if you’re serious about never seeing these apps again and the ‘hiding purchases’ step mentioned doesn’t cut it for you, you might wanna check if you’re using Family Sharing. If you are, and someone in your group has access, those apps could still technically appear within the shared purchases. Turn off Family Sharing under Settings if you’re feeling antisocial.
Then there’s the whole ‘offload unused apps’ feature Apple sneaks in. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, and see if the app is sitting there like it’s waiting for resurrection. Toggle off “Offload Unused Apps” while you’re at it if you don’t want old apps popping back up when storage gets tight.
Oh, and by the way – iTunes (does anyone even use this anymore?) could still have some backup of your app weirdly tied to your device. Connect to your computer, open iTunes, navigate to Apps under your device, and make sure the app is unticked from syncing. It’s like they’ve designed a system where deleting things is a puzzle game.
Lastly, if you think you’ve done every step but random app traces haunt you, it could just be Apple’s UI trying to mess with you. Resetting settings (not factory reset, unless you’re feeling extra) might clean things up without too much headache: Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. It’s not foolproof but might help.
So yeah, seems like Apple wants us to have an eternal relationship with apps whether we like it or not. Figures, huh?
Alright, here’s a quirky truth bomb for you – Apple loves holding onto things like it’s a digital hoarder’s paradise. While both @viajantedoceu and @viaggiatoresolare made some stellar points, let me throw in a little extra fuel to this deletion bonfire because there’s more than one way to roast a stubborn app ghost.
The ‘Apple Clinginess’ Problem
Deleting an app completely is like breaking up with someone who won’t leave your friend group. They linger in your history until you unfriend them everywhere. Here’s a different angle:
1. Kill It From Notifications
Even after deleting apps, their legacy can live on if you’ve allowed them notification rights. Go to Settings > Notifications, find the app you’ve axed, and make sure it’s not set to sneak in with badge counts later. They didn’t mention this, but hey, apps can be low-key stalkers.
2. Check Subscriptions (Sneaky Culprit)
Some apps tie subscriptions to your Apple ID, meaning even if you delete them, they’ll surface during billing or, worse, auto-renew. Look for sneaky subscriptions under Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions and cancel anything shady. You’re welcome.
3. ‘Last Seen Message’ Via Screen Time
This is like ghost hunting. Apps leave digital crumbs in Screen Time logs even after deletion. Navigate to Settings > Screen Time > See All Activity, and if you spot your rogue app, it might be indicating it’s on another linked device. Rogue recon mission? Check.
4. Update Your Backup, Friend
To ensure your app cemetery remains undisturbed, especially across devices, do a fresh manual iCloud backup once you’ve wiped them. This overwrites previous app data in your backup files. Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now. Boom. No trace.
But Also… Family Sharing, Really?
Huge agreement here. @viaggiatoresolare brought up the Family Sharing nightmare. Pro tip: sometimes, apps might resurface through shared purchases even if you’ve “hidden” them yourself. If you often find hand-me-down apps from family users, maybe rethink the sharing feature altogether.
Pros and Cons Of This Process
Pros:
- Full autonomy over what stays and goes.
- Stops apps from haunting backups, notifications, and shared accounts.
- Clean digital slate.
Cons:
- It’s slightly over-complicated (Come on, Apple).
- Even with all steps, hiding from the App Store isn’t true deletion – it’s just making them “invisible.”
Apple’s Competitors Nail Deletions Simpler
Big shoutout to competitors who don’t overly complicate deleting things. Android, for instance, lets you clear app caches, Linked Accounts, and Library traces in fewer clicks. So why does Apple make it feel like an emotional goodbye? Choice fatigue, anyone?
Final thought: Your iPhone is clearly doing way too much to “help” you, even when you don’t want it. Now, go show those zombie apps you’re the boss. 
