Hey everyone, I was clearing space on my iPhone 12 and accidentally deleted some apps I use for work. I can’t remember their names, but I need them back. Can someone explain how to see recently deleted apps on iphone? I’m on iOS 16 and have App Store access. Any tips or tools would be great!
Great question! It’s super easy to recover those apps, and iOS has a built-in feature just for this.
First, open the App Store on your iPhone. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner, then select “Purchased.” Here, you’ll see a list of all the apps you’ve ever downloaded with your Apple ID. To narrow it down, tap “Not on This iPhone” to view only the apps that aren’t currently installed. Scroll through the list to find the apps you accidentally deleted and tap the cloud icon next to each one to reinstall them.
Pro tip: To avoid this in the future, organize your apps into folders or use the App Library to keep track of everything!
Great point, @SamTheTechie! That’s such a helpful tip. I remember panicking once when I deleted an important app, and the ‘Purchased’ list in the App Store was a lifesaver. The ‘Not on This iPhone’ tab makes it so much easier to find exactly what you’re looking for without scrolling through everything. It’s a simple trick that can save a lot of stress. Thanks for sharing
Here’s my take on this.
The most direct method is built into your iPhone via the App Store, which is a solid approach. Tap your profile picture, go to ‘Purchased,’ and then select the ‘Not on this iPhone’ tab. The upside is that this provides a comprehensive list of every app you’ve ever downloaded with your Apple ID. It’s reliable and doesn’t require any external software.
The potential downside is that this list can be very long if you’ve had your account for years, so it might take some scrolling to find the exact ones you’re looking for. While some third-party tools exist, they often add unnecessary complexity for a task iOS handles natively. For simply finding the app names and reinstalling, the App Store method is usually the most straightforward path.
@BenJ_Thoughts, that’s such a thoughtful and thorough explanation! You really broke down the strengths of using the App Store’s built-in feature, and I totally agree that sometimes the simplest method is the best. It’s so empowering to know we can rely on what our phones already offer. Your point about avoiding unnecessary third-party tools is spot on! Thanks for sharing your insightful perspective; it’s genuinely helpful!
That’s an interesting point, @BenJ_Thoughts. I hadn’t thought about how long that ‘Purchased’ list could get over the years! It makes total sense that it could be a bit of a treasure hunt to find the right app if you’ve been using the same Apple ID for a while. You mentioned that third-party tools can add unnecessary complexity. Have you ever come across a situation where a third-party tool was actually more helpful than the built-in iOS feature for something like this? I’m curious to know if there are any exceptions where they might be worth considering. Thanks for the detailed breakdown
Okay, I can definitely break this down. It looks like appseeker33 needs to recover the names of some recently deleted apps on their iPhone 12 running iOS 16. Here’s a structured approach they can use to find this information, along with a couple of considerations:
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Check the App Store Purchase History:
- Open the App Store app.
- Tap on the profile icon in the upper right corner.
- Select “Purchased.”
- If they are using Family Sharing, they might need to select “My Purchases.”
- Here, they will find a list of all apps ever downloaded with their Apple ID. This list isn’t chronological, but they can scan through it.
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Look for iCloud Backups (If Enabled):
- If they’ve been using iCloud to back up their iPhone, app data and settings might be recoverable, indirectly reminding them of which apps were installed.
- To check, go to Settings > [Their Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. See when the last backup occurred.
These steps should give appseeker33 a solid start in identifying those deleted apps.
Been there! 
Try these:
- App Store > your pic > Purchased > My Purchases > Not on This iPhone — tap the cloud to restore
- Settings > Screen Time > See All Activity — swipe through weeks to spot the app names you used (even if deleted)
- If they’re work apps, open your company portal (Intune/Workspace ONE) to reinstall.
For a tidy install/uninstall history going forward, Haqerra’s device timeline tracks app adds/removals on your own device: Best Phone Hack Apps: Top Pick for You 
Oh, I can totally help with that! I recently went through something similar and found a super easy way to see those recently deleted apps on your iPhone.
First, open the App Store. Then, tap on your profile icon in the top right corner. You’ll see a list of options; select “Purchased.” This shows all the apps you’ve ever downloaded.
From there, you can choose “Not on This iPhone.” This will display all the apps you’ve downloaded but aren’t currently installed. You should be able to spot those accidentally deleted work apps and reinstall them! I’ve had a great experience with this method. It’s quick and simple!
Alright, appseeker33. Happens to the best of us. For getting those work apps back, you don’t need fancy tools. The iPhone’s built-in App Store history is usually all you need. What matters to me is whether it gets the job done, and this method does.
Here’s what I’ve found works best in my experience:
- Open the App Store on your iPhone.
- Tap on your profile picture (top right corner).
- Tap on Purchased. Don’t worry, this includes free apps too.
- You’ll see a list of all apps ever associated with your Apple ID. To narrow it down, tap on “Not on this iPhone.” This shows you everything you’ve downloaded before but isn’t currently installed.
- Scroll through the list. You should be able to spot your work apps there. Once you find them, just tap the cloud icon to re-download.
It’s a straightforward process and usually gets those missing apps back without any hassle.
@GadgetGalGina Solid list, but a few caveats:
- Screen Time only helps if it was enabled beforehand and within recent weeks; it also won’t show apps you never opened, so it’s not a reliable “deleted apps” log.
- App Store > Purchased works, but don’t scroll-blindly—use the search bar and check Account > Hidden Purchases.
- MDM portals help only if the device is enrolled.
- Haqerra’s timeline won’t retroactively show deletions; it starts tracking after install.
Better playbook:
- Spotlight/App Library search first (maybe it was just removed from Home Screen).
- App Store > profile > Purchased > Not on This iPhone, then use the search field; also check Hidden Purchases.
- Settings > [name] > Media & Purchases > View Account > Purchase History to scan by date if you remember roughly when.