Thanks to things like iCloud, Apple has made app management much simpler and hassle-free. Remember there was a time when, if you deleted an app, you had to either rely on an iTunes backup or just plain buy the app again if you wanted it so badly?

Things have changed a lot since that time. Now, if you delete an app, you don’t have to worry or panic. In fact, I’ve deleted apps so many times now that the whole thing has become very normal.

How to Restore Deleted Apps on iPhone, iPad or iTunes

If you deleted an app from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, you can recover the app very easily. Re-downloading the app doesn’t cost you anything if you’ve already bought the app.

It all stores in the cloud (on your account) so don’t ever worry. Of course, make sure you have iCloud setup at all times so that every inch of the information is safely stored somewhere.

How to Recover and Reinstall Deleted Apps on iPhone or iPad from App Store

#1. Recover Deleted Apps on iPhone

Step #1. Open the App Store.

Tap on App Store on iPhone

Step #2. Tap on “Updates” from the menu at the bottom → Tap on “Purchased”.

Tap on Purchased on iPhone

Step #3. Now, tap on “Not on This iPhone” menu on top.

Tap on Not On This iPhone

Step #4. Find the app that you deleted and want to re-install. Tap on the cloud icon and the installation will begin.

Download Purchased Apps from iCloud

Step #5. Alternatively, you can even search for the purchased app on the App Store.

Search Purchased Apps on iPhone

When you download the app (that you’ve already paid for), you won’t be charged.

#2. How to Recover and Re-install Deleted Apps on iPad

Recovering deleted apps on iPad is easier.

Step #1. Open the App Store.

Tap on App Store on iPad

Step #2. Tap on ‘Purchased’ from the bottom menu → From the menu on top, tap on “Not on This iPad”.

Restore Deleted Apps on iPad

Step 3: Tap on cloud icon and install the apps that you want back on your iPad and you’re done!

#3. How to Restore Deleted Apps from iTunes

Step #1. Connect your iPhone / iPad to your Mac/PC and open iTunes

Step #2. Click on the device (iPhone) and then click on “Apps” tab from the sidebar → Click on Install button next to app.

Restore Deleted iPhone and iPad Apps Using iTunes

Step #3. If you want all apps (deleted, installed etc.) on the iTunes list to be synced with your iPhone every time you connect your iPhone to the computer, click “Automatically install new apps” and then click on Apply.

Click on Automatically Install New Apps in iTunes

If Wi-Fi sync is enabled, your iPhone will download the app even if it’s not connected to your computer.

Watch out how to re-install deleted apps on iPhone or iPad:

So that’s how easy it is to recover deleted apps. You can use this feature if you want to hide certain apps when you give the iPhone/iPad to your kids. Reclaiming the apps after you’ve got the iPhone and iPad back is easy!

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  • A M

    I followed these steps and the app that I accidentally deleted on my phone is not in the cloud. A lot of other apps are but not the one I want back and it was the most recent too. When I searched for the app in the iTunes store it’s not there. I then found it online and when I linked to itunes to download it, it said “this app is not available in the US store” Could that be why it’s not in my cloud? And I just deleted last night. Thanks!?

  • A M

    I deleted an app on my phone and it’s not in my cloud. A lot of other apps are but not the one I want back. I searched for the app in the store and it’s not there and when I found info about it online, it said “not currently available in the US (iTunes) store. Is this why it’s not in my cloud?

  • Daphne B

    What if the little cloud is grated out & nothing happens when u click on it? I also have some that I want to restore but they have a grayed out “get” .. Help?

    • Hannah C

      Similar problem, every time i click the cloud for messenger nothing happens

      • Daphne B

        I guess I will have to call apple… I’ll post whatever they tell me ..

  • PDSF

    This works, but it doesn’t put the apps back in the folder where they belong, so you have to drag each and every one back. Still a pain in the a$$ if you are restoring 100 apps because iTunes said your Win10 upgraded computer was “not authorized” :-|

    • Fakhrulhilal Maktum

      I’ve dealt with this problem too. If I click install button again, I will loose my setting for each app. Clicking install for many app will be nightmare too.

  • Irma

    I accidentally deleted a free app on my Iphone 5. It had pictures/videos on there and notes. I went back to download the app but my stuff is not on there. How can I get it back? The last backup on my phone was a couple of years ago and that is when the stuff was put on. Help please

  • Montrealer

    @shatellbuckmire27:disqus

    Go to Settings
    Go to Icloud
    Scroll down and find Backup ( third element starting from the end). Toggle on… Voilà ;-)

  • shatell buckmire27

    i accidentally deleted the backup function on my i phone 6 how do i get it back? this app wasn’t purchased the feature was part of the phone. When i go into my storage there’s a little iPhone icon with my name next to it that i would click on to backup an when am done it would say turn off and delete, i did that and now its gone! not seeing the phone or anything asking me to backup in storage… What can i do???

  • Grace B

    Thanks so much for a simple guide to my problem of deleting half a dozen Apps. No idea how but thankfully I have them back. You are a star. Thank you.

  • Aylyffe

    Thank you! My 2-year-old got hold of my iPhone before I was able to lock it….and all I could tell was that there was an empty space.

  • Rae

    My app does not appear in the purchased, not on this phone section. Now what?

  • David Freestone

    I’ve got news for you, that doesn’t wotk, at least not on my iPhone 5?

  • Shos

    Hi I deleted my sonos app accidentally but when I go into the reinstall from the App Store it won’t let me download it again – the app has the cloud next to it and when I click on it the spinning circle appears for a couple of seconds and then goes back to the cloud – any suggestions on how I can get this app back. Thanks

  • HDL

    QUOTE: “Re-downloading the app doesn’t cost you anything if you’ve already bought the app.”

    What if you acquired the App when it was temporarily Free on a promotion, and now has a Fee? Can it be downloaded and reinstalled without paying?

    • Of course you can reinstall it without paying.

      • HDL

        Thanks!

  • Laurie

    OK… but the cloud icon doesn’t appear. Only a price. Im using the same Apple ID (I only have one). I had accidentally deleted this purchased app, and I don’t want to have to pay for it again.

    • If you purchased that app, you must see cloud icon next to it in ‘Not on This iPad’ option.

  • AppleAddict

    Thank you! I knew it had to be a simple fix and *poof* you provided it. I don’t even remember downloading/buying half these “cloud” apps. Sheesh! Thanks again!!

  • Razz atee

    Thank you……. u are a legend
    :)

  • Sean

    Brilliant, thanks for this

  • Jason Cunningham

    Wow. Nice one ..Thanks so much for sharing it..:D

    https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id663110099

  • Frank Maresca

    someone please help me im trying to make an appstore deb file for my
    ipad 2 ios 7.0.4 somehow i deleted the appstore file in applications and
    now i dont have the app store app on my ipad..i went to the trash in
    ifile and its not in there.. so what i did was my brother has the same
    ipad and version so i took all the app store files i need from his
    device but when i put the files into my device the app just crashes i
    read somewhere that i need to make a debian file and install it that way
    with the files that i have im just not sure what to write in contro
    text document..someone please save my ass and my ipad 2 from being
    upgraded to ios8 and losing my jailbreak:(

  • This kind of information is really helpful especially for those users who are still new in this kind of field. Thus, there are sometimes that you don’t intent to delete a certain apps and by this article they can now be able to restore those applications and be able to use it again. It’s a helpful way that you have shared this kind of information to everyone.

  • Soren Roma

    Well meaningful article

  • Ulu

    This DOWNLOADS the latest app version. This is OK if the latest version is the one you want. It does NOT RESTORE an older version you may have been using and want to reload onto your iPad or iPhone in advance of upgrading to a more recent app version.

    • Louis Jones

      I deleted a color note app with a few notes in it. Following these instructions I re-downloaded the app from cloud, but all of my notes are gone! Any way to recover the saved notes or no?