I am trying to permanently remove an app from the App Store, but I can’t figure out how to do it. The app is no longer needed and I don’t want it to show up anymore. Does anyone know how to fully delete apps from the App Store history? Any help would be appreciated.
You actually can’t permanently delete apps from the App Store, sorry to break it to you. Once an app is connected to your Apple ID, it’s there forever under your purchase history. Apple doesn’t let you fully remove apps from your account for reasons, I guess. The best you can do is hide the app from your purchase history.
Here’s how you do it:
- Open the App Store on your device.
- Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Go to ‘Purchased.’
- Find the app you don’t want to see again, swipe left on it, and tap “Hide.”
It won’t show up in your purchase history anymore (unless you go digging through hidden purchases in your account settings). But yeah, the app kind of just haunts your Apple ID in the background like a bad movie you’ve blocked but never forgot. Annoying? Yep. But that’s all you can do unless you create a whole new Apple ID—which, I mean, isn’t exactly practical for one app. So, hide it and pretend it’s gone. That’s the Apple way.
Permanently deleting apps from your purchase history in the App Store? Yeah, dream on. Apple doesn’t let that happen for… reasons nobody truly understands. It’s like they’re determined to remind you of every regrettable app download forever. But okay, let’s be real here: even hiding purchases isn’t the perfect solution. Sure, you won’t see it in the regular list, but it’s not gone—just tucked away. A bit like shoving your junk under the bed.
@sternenwanderer mentioned the hiding trick, and yeah, that’s practically all you can do within Apple’s restrictive ecosystem. But—side note—has anyone stopped to think about why Apple refuses to let us delete purchases outright? What’s the harm in letting someone nuke a bad app choice for good? Are they worried we’ll forget about that weird flashlight app we downloaded in 2012?
Here’s another angle—maybe you just manage the frustration differently. What I do sometimes (and this is so extra, but hey, it works) is create a new App Store family account where I put apps I actually care about. That way, my main ID just becomes this chaotic pit of “who cares?” apps I hide. Yes, it’s messy. No, I shouldn’t have to do this. But since Apple won’t give us the delete button, you gotta get creative.
It’s annoying AF, but hiding apps and turning a blind eye is, sadly, the Apple-approved solution. Maybe one day they’ll hear our pleas. Until then, enjoy your haunted app cemetery.