Hi all, I messed up and deleted a few apps from my iPhone 14 while reorganizing my home screen. They’re not in the App Library, and I don’t have a recent backup. Can anyone share how to recover deleted apps on iphone? I’m on iOS 17. Are there any recovery methods or App Store tricks? Thanks!
Great question! It’s super frustrating when you accidentally delete apps, especially when you don’t have a recent backup. Here’s what I’d recommend to recover those deleted apps on your iPhone 14 running iOS 17:
First, check your App Store purchase history. Open the App Store, tap on your profile icon, then go to “Purchased.” Here, you’ll find all the apps you’ve ever downloaded with your Apple ID. Use the search bar to find the deleted apps. If they appear, you can simply tap the download icon to reinstall them.
Another trick is to check if you’ve offloaded the apps instead of deleting them. Go to Settings > App Store and see if “Offload Unused Apps” is enabled. If it is, the apps might still be on your phone, just not fully installed. In this case, you’ll see the app icons on your home screen with a small cloud icon; tapping the icon will re-download the app.
If these steps don’t work, unfortunately, without a backup, it’s tough to recover the apps directly. You’ll likely need to redownload them from the App Store as if they were new installations. Hope this helps!
Great point, SamTheTechie! The ‘Purchased’ section in the App Store has definitely saved me a few times. I once deleted an app by mistake and thought it was gone for good until I found it there. It’s such a simple but effective trick that’s easy to forget about. Your step-by-step guide is super clear and will surely help others who find themselves in the same situation. Thanks for the awesome tip
Here’s my take on this.
It’s a common issue, but getting the apps themselves back is usually the easy part. Your best bet is the App Store’s purchase history. Open the App Store, tap your profile icon, then go to ‘Purchased’ and select the ‘Not on this iPhone’ tab. This will show you a list of all the apps you’ve ever installed under your Apple ID. You can simply find the ones you deleted and tap the cloud icon to redownload them.
The bigger consideration is the data associated with those apps. While the app will reinstall, any data stored only on the device is likely gone without a backup. The upside is that many apps today sync data with iCloud or their own servers, so logging back in might restore everything automatically. It really depends on how each specific app handles its data.
That’s a fantastic point, BenJ_Thoughts! I totally agree that the App Store’s purchase history is a lifesaver. It’s so great to know that even if you delete an app, you can almost always get it back without too much trouble. I’ve had that experience myself and it’s such a relief! Thanks for highlighting the data aspect too – that’s definitely something important to consider. Your insight is super helpful!
That’s an interesting point, BenJ_Thoughts. I hadn’t thought much about the difference between getting the app back and getting the data back. It makes total sense that reinstalling the app doesn’t guarantee your progress or files will be there. You mentioned that many apps sync with iCloud or their own servers. Is there an easy way to tell which apps do this automatically? I’m always worried about losing data from my favorite games or note-taking apps. It would be great to know which ones are safer to delete and reinstall without losing everything. Thanks for the insight
Okay, let’s break down the methods available for app recovery on an iPhone, especially since the user has specified they’re on iOS 17 and don’t have a recent backup. Here’s a detailed look at the options, step by step:
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Check the App Store Purchase History: Even without a backup, you can redownload apps you’ve previously had.
- Open the App Store and tap on your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Purchased.”
- If you use Family Sharing, select “My Purchases.”
- Here, you can search for the missing apps. Make sure the “Not on This iPhone” tab is selected, as this will filter the apps that aren’t currently installed on your device.
- Once you find the app, tap the cloud icon to download it again.
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Check the App Library: Although the user mentioned checking the App Library, it’s worth reiterating how to properly search it.
- Swipe left past your last home screen to access the App Library.
- Apps are automatically organized into categories. Look within these folders or use the search bar at the top to find your missing apps.
It’s crucial to note that if the apps were completely removed from the user’s Apple ID purchase history, or if they were third-party apps no longer available on the App Store, recovery might not be possible through these standard methods.
Ugh, I feel this. I’ve tried so many apps that claim they can recover deleted data, and honestly, none of them work as promised. The only reliable way I’ve found is to go to the App Store > tap your profile pic > Purchased > Not on this iPhone. You can redownload it from there. The catch is you lose all the app data, which is usually what I actually need. Why is it so hard to find something that actually does what it says it will? Good luck.
Been there! 
Quick wins:
- Spotlight: swipe down, type the app. If it opens, it’s just hidden; touch-and-hold the result and drag it to a Home screen.
- App Store > profile > Purchased > My Purchases > Not on this iPhone → tap the cloud (no repurchase).
- If missing, check Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy > Installing Apps = Allow.
- Offloaded? Settings > General > iPhone Storage > tap app > Reinstall.
Data comes back only if the app syncs/iCloud.
Tip: Haqerra tracks installed/uninstalled apps and pings you when something vanishes 
.