Finding too many useless apps hogging plenty of space on the iPhone, I thought of going for a cleanup drive. However, when I tried to enter the edit mode, the apps would wiggle, but the remove button (X) was missing. Seeing this weird thing, I started wondering why am I unable to delete apps on my iPhone.
After a bit of digging, I discovered the real reason why the iPhone apps won’t wiggle or delete. It’s actually a “Parental Control” feature that lets you stop anyone from removing apps on your iOS device. But the real villain behind the mess that had almost sent me on a crazy drive was my two-year-old boy who had accidentally disallowed the option to delete apps on my iPhone!
Can’t Delete Apps on iPhone and iPad Running iOS 12? Here is the Fix
If you have also found yourself on the same pitch, bringing back the normalcy won’t be a big deal. Let me show you how it works!
Step #1. Open Settings app on your iOS device → Screen Time.
Step #2. Now, tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions. And then enter your Screen Time Passcode.
Step #3. Next, tap on iTunes & App Store Purchases.
Step #4. Next up, tap on Deleting Apps.
Step #5. Up next, select Allow.
Now, head over to the Home screen and try to delete the apps on your device. Simply touch and hold any app, you will now see the “X” remove button. Hit it and confirm to delete the app. Then, you are ready to go!
Side Note: At any time you want to prevent anyone from deleting apps on your iOS device, follow the same steps and then select Don’t Allow in the end.
Unable to Delete Apps in iOS 11 or Earlier? Here is the How to
With iOS 12 or later, Restrictions has become the part of Screen Time. However, the process of stopping anyone from removing apps on the iPhone remains almost the same in iOS 11 or earlier.
Step #1. Open Settings → General → Tap on Restrictions.
Step #2. Enter your Restrictions passcode.
Step #3. Now, turn on the switch next to Deleting Apps under Allow section.
That’s it! You can now get rid of unwanted apps on your iPhone without any issue. Later, if you happen to change your mind and restrict others from deleting apps on your iOS device, follow the same steps and then turn off the switch in the end.
Wrapping up:
iOS 12 comes with an advanced parental control feature called Screen Time. It offers you several handy means and ways to get rid of the smartphone addiction. Features like the option to set the time limit for the individual app and keep track of the device usage make it highly-user-friendly. You can take full advantage of it to not just secure your content but also prevent your kid from going overboard.
You may also like:
- How to Hide Apps in iOS 12
- How to Fix iPhone Xs/Xs Max Not Charging Issue
- How to Use Accessibility Shortcut on iPhone X, Xs, Xs Max, and XR
- How to Fix Wi-Fi issues in iOS 12
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