How to Delete iPhone Apps Stuck on Installing Updates

Updating apps on our iPhones and iPads should be an easy and simple process, and it usually is. When an app gets stuck part way through installing, however, it's frustrating because you're trapped in an endless loop and trying to reinstall typically doesn't help, plus doing the tap-and-hold trick to delete the app doesn't work, either. There is a fix, although it certainly isn't obvious.

Stuck installing app... so frustrating, but there is a fixStuck installing app... so frustrating, but there is a fix

The trick to getting out of the perpetual stuck-on-install loop with iPhone and iPad apps is to delete the problem app. Since using tap-and-hold to show the app delete button doesn't work, you have to go about it in a different way. Here's what to do:

  • Tap Settings
  • Tap General
  • Tap Storage & iCloud
  • Under the Storage section, tap Manage Storage
  • Scroll through the app list and tap on the app you want to delete
  • Now tap the Delete App button

The Storage settings in iOS let you do more than see how much space an app usesThe Storage settings in iOS let you do more than see how much space an app uses

Now you can reinstall the formerly stuck app, or in my case just forget it and move on with life. The Coin app was stuck installing on my iPhone for a couple weeks before I got annoyed enough to go hunting for a solution. Since I can't find the little reader attachment that verifies new credit cards when I add them to my Coin, I really don't need the app any more.

Tapping an app in the Storage settings list reveals its Delete optionTapping an app in the Storage settings list reveals its Delete option

The cool thing is that deleting apps from the Manage Storage settings is like a decree from on high. It doesn't matter what state the app is currently in; the system deletes it, along with all of it's data, and moves on without a moment's hesitation. Think of it like your own uber-delete option.