Introduction
Mobile applications or apps have revolutionized our daily lives. Today, there is virtually an app for everything – from organizing tasks, streaming music and videos, handling banking transactions, and much more. With the surge in their usage and functionality, however, comes the responsibility of app management.
The necessity for maintaining app hygiene revolves around keeping your device’s storage clean, organized, and efficient. A crucial part of this is knowing how to delete apps not on the home screen. This article seeks to comprehensively guide you through the process of doing just that.
Understanding the Various Places Apps Can be Stored
To master the art of deleting apps not visible on the home screen, a basic understanding of the common places where apps can be stored is pivotal.
App Drawer
The app drawer is akin to an archive for all your apps. It’s essentially a dedicated space where every application you’ve installed resides. This is distinctly visible in Android devices and offers a clean, clutter-free home screen.
Apps in Folders
Another place where apps may often reside is inside the folders. Users often create these folders to categorize their apps or simply to clear off some space from the home screen.
Hidden Apps
Then, there are hidden apps. These could be system apps that the operating system doesn’t expose to the user or user-installed software that has been intentionally hidden away.
How to Find the Apps Not Appearing on the Home Screen
Once you know where apps could be stored, you can easily navigate your way to finding these apps for deletion.
Accessing the App Drawer
In Android devices, accessing the app drawer is as simple as swiping up from the bottom of your home screen. You can scroll or search here to find any installed app.
Searching Apps in Device Settings
The device settings are another surefire way to locate your apps. Under ‘Application Settings’ or ‘Manage Applications,’ you’ll find a comprehensive list of all apps on your device.
Revealing Hidden Apps
Unmasking hidden apps varies widely across devices. For instance, on Android devices, you can use the default launcher’s settings to view hidden apps. On the other hand, in iOS, hidden apps are usually located within the ‘Screen Time’ settings.
How to Delete Apps Not on the Home Screen On iOS Devices
Deleting apps not on the home screen in iOS involves various strategies.
Deleting Apps from Settings
Under iPhone Storage settings, you’ll find a list of all your apps. Clicking on any of these apps reveals a ‘Delete App’ option.
Removing Apps via App Store
In the App Store, under ‘Purchased,’ if you swipe left on any app, you can reveal a ‘Hide’ button to remove the app from your home screen.
Deleting Apps Using iTunes
Deleting apps using iTunes is also an effective strategy, especially for bulk de-installations.
How to Delete Apps Not on the Home Screen On Android Devices
Android also offers multiple ways to remove apps not on your home screen.
Deleting Apps from Settings
Under ‘Apps & notifications’, you can tap on any app followed by tapping on ‘uninstall.’
Uninstalling Apps through Google Play Store
In Google Play Store, under your account’s ‘My apps & games,’ you can choose any installed app and click ‘Uninstall.’
Using Third-party App Managers
Several third-party app managers offer speedy batch uninstallations of apps not located on the home screen.
Hidden Features on Phones to Manage Apps
Android and iOS come with hidden features that make app management easy.
App Library on iOS
The App Library, introduced in iOS 14, automatically arranges apps into categories, making it easier to locate them for deletion.
App Drawer Features on Android
The Android app drawer lets you sort apps alphabetically, by size, or by installation date, making it simpler to find and remove them.
Using Widgets to Manage Apps
Widgets can provide quick access to certain functions of an app from the home screen, limiting the number of apps you may need to have directly on your home screen.
The Effects of Deleting Apps Not on the Home Screen
Deleting apps that don’t reside on the home screen results in a number of benefits.
Freeing Up Storage Space
Unused apps consume valuable storage space. Deleting these apps can free up this space and offer more room for essential files and apps.
Enhance Device Performance
The fewer the apps running in the background, the smoother and faster your device becomes.
Data and Settings Reversion
Deleting apps will typically erase all app-related data and undo settings specific to the app.
Warnings and Recommendations
It’s essential to also consider certain warnings and recommendations when proceeding with app deletion.
Risks of Uninstalling Certain Apps
Some system apps are instrumental to your device’s proper functioning. Uninstalling such apps could lead to stability issues with your device.
Importance of Data Backup
Before you delete any app, ensure you backup any crucial data connected to those apps.
Regular App Clear-out
It’s advisable to regularly audit your apps and get rid of unneeded ones to maintain a lean, efficient device.
Conclusion
Managing and deleting apps, even ones not on the home screen, is essential to maintaining a performant device. While the process may seem complex, utilizing the outlined strategies can make it simple and sustainable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover deleted apps not on the home screen?
Yes, you can recover deleted apps by reinstalling them from the App Store or Google Play Store. However, you will lose all data associated with the app unless backed up.
How can I hide apps from my home screen?
On iOS, you can use the App Library to hide apps, while on Android, you can remove the app’s shortcut from the home screen.
What happens to the app data when I delete an app?
In most cases, all app-specific data is deleted, unless it has been backed up externally or the app uses cloud-based storage.
Can I delete pre-installed apps not on the home screen?
Some pre-installed apps can be uninstalled, while others can only be disabled or hidden, depending on the device and the app in question.
Are there any apps I shouldn’t delete from my phone?
System apps are integral for your device to function correctly and should not be deleted.