Prevent Kids From Accidentally Deleting Apps

If children use your iPhone or iPad, a few built-in settings can make it harder for them to remove apps by mistake. You can block app deletion with Screen Time, and, when needed, use Guided Access to keep a child inside one app during a session. You’ll need the device passcode and, if Screen Time is already set up, its Screen Time passcode.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone or iPad running a recent version of iOS or iPadOS. Menu wording may vary slightly by version.
• The device passcode, and the Screen Time passcode if one has been set.
• For a child’s device managed through Family Sharing, access to the family organizer’s device and account.

Step-by-Step

1. Choose where to change the setting. If your child uses your device, make the change on that device. If the child has their own device and you manage it through Family Sharing, use the parent or guardian’s device to manage the child’s Screen Time settings. Keeping the child’s device separate is generally easier to manage, but the deletion restriction works either way.
2. Open Screen Time. On the iPhone or iPad, open Settings and tap Screen Time. On a parent’s device, look for the child’s name in the Family section, then open the child’s Screen Time settings. If Screen Time has not been configured, follow the prompts to turn it on.
3. Set a Screen Time passcode. In Screen Time, tap Lock Screen Time Settings or Use Screen Time Passcode, depending on the wording shown. Choose a passcode your child does not know and that is different from the device unlock passcode. If prompted, add an Apple Account recovery option you can access. Do not share the Screen Time passcode with the child; anyone who knows it may be able to change the restriction.
4. Open the content and privacy controls. In Screen Time, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and turn the setting on. If asked, enter the Screen Time passcode. These controls include restrictions on changing device settings and using certain features.
5. Find the app deletion permission. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases or, on some versions, App Installations & Purchases. Tap Deleting Apps, then select Don’t Allow. If you want to prevent children from installing apps or making in-app purchases too, set those options separately; blocking deletion does not automatically block either action.
6. Test the restriction. Return to the Home Screen or App Library and press and hold an app icon. Depending on the iOS or iPadOS version, try Remove App or the available edit options. The option to delete should be unavailable or restricted. Do not confirm any deletion during the test. If the menu still allows deletion, revisit Screen Time and confirm that Content & Privacy Restrictions are on and Deleting Apps is set to Don’t Allow.
7. Use Guided Access for one-app sessions, if appropriate. To prevent a child from leaving a particular app while using your device, go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access, turn on Guided Access, and set a passcode. Open the app, then triple-click the side button or Home button, as applicable, and start the session. To end it, use the same button shortcut and enter the Guided Access passcode. Guided Access limits access to other parts of the device while active; it is not a replacement for the Screen Time deletion restriction.

Common Mistakes

• Turning on Screen Time without setting a passcode. A child who can access the settings may be able to change them. Lock Screen Time settings with a passcode the child does not know.
• Restricting installation instead of deletion. The relevant control is Deleting Apps. The install and purchase controls are separate settings.
• Looking only for a Home Screen setting. The deletion control is under Screen Time’s content and privacy restrictions, not just Home Screen layout options.
• Assuming a removed icon means an app was deleted. Choosing Remove from Home Screen hides the icon but keeps the app in the App Library. Deleting an app removes it from the device.
• Forgetting that restrictions apply to the device. A Screen Time setting on one iPhone or iPad does not automatically protect every other device your child can use. Check each device or manage the child’s devices through Family Sharing.

Tips

• Keep a list of apps your family relies on and check that they remain installed after children use the device.
• Use a Screen Time passcode that is not an easy guess, and store it somewhere an adult can retrieve it. If you forget it, recovery options depend on how Screen Time was set up.
• Explain which apps children may use and how to return to the Home Screen. Restrictions work best alongside clear instructions.
• If a child needs to use only one app, Guided Access can reduce accidental taps elsewhere. Check its options before starting a session, since some controls can be limited during it.
• Keep iOS or iPadOS updated when practical, and recheck the setting after device changes or when menus look different.

Troubleshooting

The Deleting Apps option is missing. First check that Content & Privacy Restrictions is enabled. Look under Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions for iTunes & App Store Purchases or App Installations & Purchases. Menu labels can change. If the device is managed by a school or workplace, a management profile may control some settings; contact the administrator rather than trying to remove management.

The child can still delete apps. Confirm you changed settings on the device the child is using, not just another device. Reopen the deletion control and verify it says Don’t Allow. Also check whether the child can access Screen Time and change the restriction; set or update the Screen Time passcode if needed.

An app disappeared, but you are unsure whether it was deleted. Search for it using Spotlight or find it in the App Library. If it appears there, it may only have been removed from the Home Screen. If it is no longer installed, you may be able to download it again from the App Store, subject to availability and the account’s settings. App data may not be recoverable unless it was synced or backed up.

You forgot the Screen Time passcode. On the device where the passcode was set, go to Settings > Screen Time and use the passcode reset option if it appears. Follow the prompts for the Apple Account used during setup. For a child’s Family Sharing settings, reset or change the passcode from the family organizer’s device. If recovery is unavailable, consult Apple’s current support instructions before changing or erasing the device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does blocking app deletion stop children from opening apps?
No. It prevents deleting apps through the restricted controls; it does not block access to apps. Use Screen Time app limits or other appropriate content settings if you also want to manage use.

Can my child still remove an app from the Home Screen?
They may be able to hide an icon without deleting the app, depending on the available options. Check the App Library or search for the app before assuming it has been removed from the device.

Does this setting also prevent app installation?
No. Installation and deletion are separate permissions. Set Installing Apps to Don’t Allow separately if you want to restrict new downloads.

Will the restriction apply to every Apple device my child uses?
Do not assume so. Check Screen Time for each device or manage the child’s settings through Family Sharing, then verify the restriction on the device they use.

Can I use Guided Access instead of Screen Time?
Guided Access is useful for keeping a child in one app during a session, but it is temporary. Use the Screen Time deletion restriction to reduce the chance of apps being deleted outside those sessions.

Can I recover an app that was deleted accidentally?
You may be able to download it again from the App Store. Whether its documents or progress return depends on the app and whether its data was synced or included in a backup.

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