[Solved] Can't Delete Apps on iPad Pro/Mini/Air in iOS 11

Updated on Jun 14, 2024 | by Woodward

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Quick solutions to fix can't delete apps on iPad in iOS 11
Tip 1Lightly touch and press the app instead of holding hard
Tip 2Restart your iPad
Tip 3Enable Restrictions for Deleting Apps on iPad
Tip 4Delete apps from iPad Settings
Tip 5Delete apps on iPad by using iTunes on PC or Mac

Q: "I can't delete downloaded apps on the iPad. When I hold the apps to start the wiggle they do wiggle. But the X does not appear. I have restarted and reset the iPad. The X does not appear. This used to work. The problem started when I downloaded some magazines and then wanted to delete them. I am not able to access my Mac now to delete from iTunes by syncing. How can I fix this problem and delete the unwanted apps by using the X feature?" - A user from Apple Discussions

After updating to iOS 11, many users have been stuck on the same issue, that is can't delete apps on iPad. When you tap and hold the screen, the "X" doesn't appear in the upper-left corner of the icon as expected. And the problem has occurred on iPad Pro, iPad Mini, and iPad Air. How to fix this matter and make your iPad normal as usual? Please check solutions below one by one.

Quick solutions to fix can't delete apps on iPad in iOS 11

Tip 1Lightly touch and press the app instead of holding hard

In iOS 11, if you press the app hard, you may invoke app sharing instead of deletion. Therefore, be sure that you lightly touch and hold the app icon you want to delete for about 2 to 3 seconds, then the "X" should appear. When you finished, press the Home button to return to the normal Home screen.

Tip 2Restart your iPad

One situation with can't delete apps on iPad in iOS 11 is that you've got two same icons on your home screen for one application. After you have removed one of them, but the other remained, neither you can get the X appear on the second icon. At this time, a simple restart can work for you.

Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on your iPad until you see "slide to power off" appears.
Slide right to power down your iPad.
Next, after about 15 seconds, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button to turn on again. If this won't solve the issue, move on to the following method.

Tip 3Enable Restrictions for Deleting Apps on iPad

Another common reason for can't delete apps on iPad in iOS 11 with no "X" is a restriction setting for deleting apps. If you have disabled the feature, you can't remove any app from your iPad.

Go to "Settings" > tap "General" > Choose "Restrictions".
Enter the password set for restrictions as required.
Find "Deleting Apps" and slide it to "On" so that it is enabled. Then, go back to your home screen and have a try.

enable-restrictions-deleting-apps

Tip 4Delete apps from iPad Settings

One thing has to the mentioned here is that some apps are built into Apple iOS, such as Notes, Newsstand, and Calendar, and you can't remove these apps in any case. If you can't delete apps on iPad by tapping with X, you can still have a try via Settings.

Go to "Settings" > "General" > "iPhone Storage".
Select the App you don't need anymore, tap it and tap "Delete App" to remove it from your iPad.

Tip 5Delete apps on iPad by using iTunes on PC or Mac

If none of the tips above can fix the issue of can't delete apps on iPad, the final way you can try is to remove apps on iPad with iTunes on PC or Mac.

Note: As Apple has changed iTunes with version 12.7 and got rid of any app management for your iPhone or iPad. So, if you still have iTunes running 12.6 or earlier, you can use iTunes to delete apps on your computer.

Plug your iPad into the computer via a compatible USB cable.
Open iTunes, click the iPad device button. Learn how to fix iPad/iPhone cannot connect to iTunes if you need. Then, click "Apps" under "Summary".
Select the apps you want to delete, and press the "Delete" key on your keyboard. When prompted, click the "Move to Trash button" to delete the apps.

delete-apps-from-itunes

See More: Deleting apps on iPad is one way to free up iPad storage space, and you can remove many other files from iPad to make room for new files. To avoid losing some important data mistakenly, you'd better use Qiling MobiMover Free to back up iPad to the computer in a readable and manageable way without any cost. Whatever the data type is, contact, message, note, calendar, voice mail, book, Safari bookmark & history, photo, video, or audio, MobiMover Free can meet your demands with ease.