The fastest way to remove an app from your Apple TV

To delete an app from Apple TV, highlight it on the home screen, press and hold the select button on your remote until a menu appears, then choose "Remove" or "Delete App". The app disappears from your home screen when ready. If you change your mind later, you can reinstall it from the App Store at no cost.

The process works the same way on all Apple TV models that run tvOS 11 or later. You do not need to go into settings or use a computer — everything happens on your TV screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold the select button on your remote while an app is highlighted to bring up the delete menu.
  • Deleting an app removes it from your home screen but does not erase any saved data or login information permanently.
  • You can reinstall any app you delete by going to the App Store and downloading it again.
  • Built-in Apple apps like TV, Music, and Podcasts cannot be deleted, though you can hide them from view.
  • If the menu does not appear, make sure you are pressing the select button (the center of the clickpad) and holding it for two to three seconds.

Step-by-step deletion on your Apple TV remote

Start by looking at your home screen. Use the clickpad on your remote to move left, right, up, or down until the app you want to delete is highlighted with a box or border around it.

Once the app is highlighted, press and hold the select button — this is the center of the clickpad where you normally click to open an app. Do not press it quickly; hold it down for two to three seconds. A small menu will pop up on the screen with options including "Remove App" or "Delete App" depending on your tvOS version.

Use the remote to highlight "Remove" or "Delete", then press select to confirm. The app vanishes from your home screen. That is all there is to it.

What happens to your data when you delete an app

When you delete an app, it leaves your Apple TV, but your login information and saved data often stay behind. If you reinstall the same app later, you may find your account is still logged in and your settings are still there.

This is useful if you delete an app temporarily to free up space and plan to use it again. However, if you want to completely remove all traces of an app — including saved passwords and preferences — you will need to go into Settings, select Apps, find the app, and choose "Offload App" or "Delete App and Offload Data". This option is not available for all apps, and some apps do not store data locally anyway.

Apps you cannot delete from Apple TV

Apple's built-in apps — TV, Music, Podcasts, Fitness, and a few others — cannot be deleted. If you try to press and hold on one of these apps, the delete menu will not appear, or it will show "Remove from Home Screen" instead of "Delete".

If you do not use these apps, you can hide them instead. Choose "Remove from Home Screen" and the app will no longer show on your main view. You can still find it by going to the App Store and searching for it by name, or by going to Settings and looking in the Apps section. Hiding is not the same as deleting, but it keeps your home screen clean.

Reinstalling an app you deleted

To get an app back after you delete it, open the App Store on your Apple TV. Use the search function to find the app by name, or browse categories to locate it. Select the app and choose "Get" or the read button. The app will read and install automatically, usually within a minute or two depending on file size and your internet speed.

You will not be charged again for apps you previously downloaded, even if they normally cost money. Your Apple ID remembers your purchase history. Once the app finishes installing, it will appear on your home screen or in your Apps section, ready to use.

Freeing up storage space on your Apple TV

Deleting apps is one way to free up storage if your Apple TV is running slowly or you are getting low-space warnings. Most Apple TV models come with either 32 GB or 64 GB of storage, and the operating system itself takes up several gigabytes.

Before you delete apps, check how much space you actually have left. Go to Settings, select AirPlay and HomeKit, then look at Storage. This shows you how much is used and how much is free. If you have less than 2 GB free, deleting unused apps can help. Start with apps you have not opened in months — games and video apps tend to take up the most room.

If deleting apps does not free up enough space, you can also clear the cache for individual apps by going to Settings, Apps, selecting an app, and choosing "Offload App". This removes the app but keeps your login information, so you can reinstall it later without signing in again.

Troubleshooting: the delete menu will not appear

If you press and hold the select button and nothing happens, the most common reason is that you are pressing the wrong button or not holding it long enough. The select button is the center of the clickpad — the flat, circular part of the remote. Press it and hold for a full two to three seconds, not just a quick tap.

If you are using an older Siri Remote (the thin aluminum one from 2015 to 2021), make sure you are pressing the center of the touchpad, not the edges. If you have a newer Siri Remote with a physical clickpad (2021 and later), press the center button and hold.

If the menu still does not appear, restart your Apple TV. Go to Settings, select System, then Restart. Wait for it to boot back up and try again. If a particular app still will not delete, try restarting once more, or check the App Store to see if an update is available for that app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete multiple apps at once?

No, you have to delete apps one at a time. There is no multi-select option on Apple TV. If you want to clean up your home screen quickly, delete the apps you use least first, then work through the rest one by one.

Will deleting an app cancel my subscription to that service?

Deleting the app does not cancel any subscription. If you pay for a service like Netflix or Apple TV+, your subscription continues even after you remove the app. You can reinstall the app and log back in whenever you want. To actually cancel a subscription, you have to do that through your Apple ID settings or the service's website.

What if I delete an app by accident?

You can reinstall it when ready from the App Store. There is no confirmation step or waiting period — just search for the app, select it, and choose "Get" to read it again. Your login information and saved data will likely still be there when you reinstall.

Does deleting an app free up iCloud storage?

No. Deleting an app from your Apple TV only frees up storage on the Apple TV device itself. It does not affect your iCloud storage, which is separate. If you want to free up iCloud space, you have to manage that through Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Can I hide apps instead of deleting them?

Yes, for most apps. Press and hold to bring up the menu and choose "Remove from Home Screen". The app stays on your Apple TV but disappears from your home screen. You can find it again by searching in the App Store or by going to Settings and looking in the Apps section. Built-in Apple apps can only be hidden, not deleted.