As a small business owner, the storage space on your iPhone is valuable real estate. Between critical business apps, photos and videos for social media, and other files, your phone memory can quickly fill up. This results in sluggish performance and prevents you from downloading useful new apps.
If you feel like you have hidden apps lurking on your iPhone that are unnecessarily eating up storage, this guide is for you. As a consultant who has helped many entrepreneurs optimize their mobile productivity, I‘ll share tips to locate and delete those pesky hidden apps.
Let‘s free up storage space and keep your iPhone running smoothly!
The Growing App Ecosystem for Small Businesses
With over 2 million apps available on the App Store, there‘s no shortage of mobile applications for small businesses nowadays. From project management tools to accounting software, apps help entrepreneurs stay productive and streamline workflows.
According to a survey, 78% of small businesses say that apps help them save time and money. It‘s no wonder the average iPhone user has over 100 apps installed!
However, most only actively use around 30 apps per month. The rest sit there taking up precious storage space and slowing down your iPhone experience.
How to Find Hidden Apps on Your iPhone
The first step is identifying those forgotten apps buried deep within your iPhone. Here are three go-to techniques I recommend to pinpoint hidden apps:
Browse the App Library
- Swipe left on the last home screen to access the App Library.
- Scroll vertically to browse apps alphabetically.
- Tap the search bar to quickly find the app name.
Use Spotlight Search
- Swipe down or tap the search icon on any home screen.
- Type the app name in the search bar.
- App icons will show up in results, even if hidden.
Check Home Screen Folders
- Manually open each folder on your home screen.
- Scroll through apps inside to uncover hidden ones.
Tips for Deleting Hidden Apps to Free Up Space
Once you‘ve uncovered hidden apps, it‘s time to delete them. Here are the most effective methods I recommend to clients:
Delete Directly from the Home Screen
- Enter jiggle mode by pressing and holding any app icon.
- Tap the "X" on hidden apps you want to delete.
- Confirm by pressing "Delete App" to remove them.
Remove from the App Library
- Open the App Library, search for the hidden app.
- Press and hold the app icon, then press "Delete App".
Delete Using iPhone Storage Settings
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Find the app in the list, tap it, and select "Delete App".
Based on my experience, routinely following these steps can free up 1-2 GBs of space for the average iPhone user.
Keeping Your iPhone Organized
In addition to deleting apps, keeping your home screen tidy also alleviates clutter:
Use Folders to Group Apps
- Enter jiggle mode, then drag one app onto another to create a folder.
- Name folders based on categories like "Social Media" or "Productivity."
- Add relevant apps to keep them organized.
Hide Apps from Home Screen
- Enter jiggle mode, then tap the "-" icon on apps to hide them.
- The apps will still be in the App Library but invisible on the home screen.
Optimizing Storage and Updates
Managing your iPhone storage and keeping apps updated is also beneficial:
- Check usage under Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Offload unused apps to free up space temporarily.
- Update apps automatically or manually in the App Store.
Final Thoughts
As a business consultant who actively uses my iPhone for work, I understand the importance of freeing up storage space. By regularly deleting hidden and unused apps using the steps in this guide, you can reclaim gigabytes of space. Combined with organizing your home screen and managing updates, you‘ll keep your iPhone running optimally for your business needs.
