You haven’t opened Mail in years? You need not have it stick around on your device: find out here how to delete the Apple Mail app from your iPhone altogether—and how to reinstall it as well.
First, I Dare You Not to Touch the Mushrooms
If you fry button mushrooms for, say, a sauce, dare to turn the heat up—and leave the mushrooms alone.
I know it is hard and the temptation to stir almost overpowering, but leaving the Agaricus alone in their hot pan will reward you richly. Not only do the slices lose lots and lots of water, but they also assume a sumptuous brown color and decadent meaty flavor at the same time.
Now, dutifully fed, let’s turn to your phone. Haven’t touched the default Mail button in years on your iPhone? You can delete the app:
How to Delete the Apple Mail App from iPhone
Time needed: 3 minutes
To uninstall Mail from iPhone or iPad:
- Locate the Mail app on your iPhone Home screen.
Search: Don’t spend time swiping screens. If you do not spot Mail instantly, swipe down on the Home screen and type
Mailover Search. - Tap and hold Mail.
- Select Remove App from the menu that has appeared.
- Now select Delete App.
- Finally tap Delete.
Important: This may irrevocably delete messages in POP email accounts; see below.
Looking to delete just an account? How to Delete Email Accounts from iPhone Mail
How to Reinstall the Apple Mail App from an iPhone
To install a copy of the Apple Mail app again on your iPhone:
- Open App Store on the iPhone.
- Go to the Apple Mail app.
Search: In addition to using the link above, you can also search forMailin the App Store, of course. - Tap the download icon to install Mail again.
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to the Mail category.
- Select Accounts.
- Turn on Mail (or, for iCloud, iCloud mail) for all accounts you wish to use (again) with Mail.
How to Delete (and Reinstall) the Apple Mail App on iPhone: FAQ
Will deleting the Mail app delete email account information?
No.
iPhone keeps the email account information you have added for Mail, Calendar, etc. When you reinstall Mail, you can also re-enable the accounts.
Note that removing the Mail app will remove all settings, e.g., those for notifications.
When I uninstall the Mail app, will all emails be deleted?
Yes, emails will be deleted from the iPhone.
All emails kept on the iPhone are removed from the device. This is true for all account types:
- IMAP and Exchange: mail will synchronize back to the iPhone if you reinstall Mail.
- POP: emails will only download again if they have not been deleted from the server.
(How to delete and reinstall the Apple Mail app on an iPhone tested with iOS 15–17; updated April 2024)