Can't delete app from iPad

[HandyMac]

I want to delete an app from my iPad and download it fresh, to see if I can correct some odd behavior. I press the app icon, then tap the little X, see a warning, and tap Delete. It disappears. Then I open the App Store, and go to Purchased. But the App Store thinks the app is still on the iPad, and provides an Open button; thus it can't be downloaded. If I tap the Open button, I'm taken to the home screen, but nothing more happens.

I restart the iPad, and open App Store again. Same result. I force restart the iPad, same result. I look and find an odd icon in the third screen, as if freshly downloaded (the original app was in the first screen) with a slightly different name. The original app's name is TextEdit+; the reappearing icon, which is a generic shape with some geometric lines in it (rather than the icon of the original app), is titled TextEditPlus. Apparently the App Store sees the latter as the former. If I tap on it, however, nothing happens.

I delete this remnant icon: press, tap the X, etc. The App Store still won't let me download the app; it thinks the app is still there, but when I tap the Open button, nothing happens. Again I restart, then force restart the iPad. The remnant icon reappears. Round and round we go. Not only can I not download a fresh copy of the app, the "remnant" version doesn't work, so I can't use it at all. I'm even worse off than when I started.

Can anybody suggest how I can get rid of this thing, so I can download the app again?

 

[BrianBaughn]

Try to delete it via Settings>General>Storage & iCloud Usage>STORAGE>Manage Storage (this is the iOS 10 for iPhone path...not sure if iPad is the same).

Also, you could log out of the App Store (and maybe restart the iPad) and see if it will delete.

 

[HandyMac]

Thanks, Brian, for your response. I tried deleting the ghost app in Storage & iCloud Usage>STORAGE>Manage Storage, but – without going into tedious detail – it didn't work. The ghost app is still there – though at one point the App Store did offer to download the original app again, for a few minutes, until it once again decided I already had it and withdrew the offer (before I'd gotten to tapping the download icon, so I don't know what would have happened).

How does one "log out of the App Store"? I don't see any way to do that – other than closing the it when I'm through with it (by swiping it upward from the app switcher display), which I do routinely anyway.

 

[BrianBaughn]

How does one "log out of the App Store"? I don't see any way to do that – other than closing the it when I'm through with it (by swiping it upward from the app switcher display), which I do routinely anyway.

Settings>iTunes & App Store

Click on your Apple ID and select "Sign Out".

 

[HandyMac]

Thanks again. I tried this also, but the ghost app is still there. Looks like I'm going to have to erase the iPad and start over.

I posted this question also at Apple Discussions, but got no answer at all. I've been using Macs going on 30 years, and learned a lot; I made my living for 15 years as a consultant. But I just haven't had the energy to get into the innards of iOS – which of course Apple doesn't want to allow. The "walled garden" is great, so long as it works – but if it doesn't…. I'm getting a little tired of it.

 

[ventmore]

Thanks again. I tried this also, but the ghost app is still there. Looks like I'm going to have to erase the iPad and start over.

I posted this question also at Apple Discussions, but got no answer at all. I've been using Macs going on 30 years, and learned a lot; I made my living for 15 years as a consultant. But I just haven't had the energy to get into the innards of iOS – which of course Apple doesn't want to allow. The "walled garden" is great, so long as it works – but if it doesn't…. I'm getting a little tired of it.

Maybe iMazing can help. I’ve never used it, but it seems that it can install apps to your device with the free version......I wonder if it may be able to also uninstall apps.

https://imazing.com/guides/how-to-install-apps-itunes-12-7

 

[HandyMac]

Thanks ventmore for the tip. I tried iMazing, the free version does show apps and can delete them, but when I tried to delete the ghost "TextEditPlus", though it said it had successfully done so, the thing was still there. Well, I want to refresh the thing anyway, and install the new iOS. I don't usually upgrade the OS so soon, prefer to wait until they've worked out the bugs. I see since yesterday they've released v.11.0.2 to replace 11.0.1. 11.0.3 tomorrow?

 

[ventmore]

Thanks ventmore for the tip. I tried iMazing, the free version does show apps and can delete them, but when I tried to delete the ghost "TextEditPlus", though it said it had successfully done so, the thing was still there. Well, I want to refresh the thing anyway, and install the new iOS. I don't usually upgrade the OS so soon, prefer to wait until they've worked out the bugs. I see since yesterday they've released v.11.0.2 to replace 11.0.1. 11.0.3 tomorrow?

No problem mate!...sorry it didn’t work for you.

So weird that it just won’t delete. I suppose a refresh isn’t a bad thing though......in fact I’m planning on setting my X up as a new device if/when I get hold of one. It’ll be the first time I haven’t restored from a backup in maybe 4 years.

I wonder if just installing the 11.0.2 update will force it to clear the ghost app!?

 

[HandyMac]

Happy to report that after erasing the iPad and installing fresh iOS 11.0.2, the ghost app is gone (not that I expected otherwise) and I can download the original app again. And it no longer has a major bug the previous copy had.

It’ll be the first time I haven’t restored from a backup in maybe 4 years.

Since I got my first Mac Plus with System 6 in 1988, I've done major version System upgrades as clean installs, to start fresh. Some big changes in iOS 11; though I'm not so keen on change-for-the-sake-of-change as I was when I was younger, it looks good so far.

 

[ventmore]

Happy to report that after erasing the iPad and installing fresh iOS 11.0.2, the ghost app is gone (not that I expected otherwise) and I can download the original app again. And it no longer has a major bug the previous copy had.



Since I got my first Mac Plus with System 6 in 1988, I've done major version System upgrades as clean installs, to start fresh. Some big changes in iOS 11; though I'm not so keen on change-for-the-sake-of-change as I was when I was younger, it looks good so far.

As you say...a fresh install was always gonna fix it, but it’s annoying that you had to go that route out of necessity rather than choice. Glad it’s all working for you now though!

I don’t do fresh installs unless I absolutely must. I had a 2009 iMac which I just kept upgrading until 2013 when I moved to a 15” rMBP using migration assistant. That has then been upgraded with each new operating system. Still runs perfectly well!

Considering a fresh install for the X, as I had a little weirdness when I first put 11.0 on my 7+. It’s settled down now, but I probably won’t risk restoring from a backup this year.

 

[srbNYC]

Just found this thread after searching "Can't delete app." I have one now that won't go away. First I get an empty "shell" icon (with no graphic, just graph paper), and I can delete that again. App Store offers "Open" not "Get." Tried restarting, not willing to do a clean iOS install though. Never had this before, in years of iPhone use!

 

[0128672]

Just found this thread after searching "Can't delete app." I have one now that won't go away. First I get an empty "shell" icon (with no graphic, just graph paper), and I can delete that again. App Store offers "Open" not "Get." Tried restarting, not willing to do a clean iOS install though. Never had this before, in years of iPhone use!

What's the app?

 

[srbNYC]

What's the app?

It's called "Smart AC Go." It controls "modelers" my electric company provided for air conditioners. Not a great app, but just started crashing so wanted to reinstall. I keep deleting, but App Store says it's still there; when I restart my phone, this "phantom" app appears.

 

[0128672]

And you've tried both deletion methods?

 

[srbNYC]

And you've tried both deletion methods?

I tried long-press and delete. It doesn't show up in the iPhone Storage list in Settings>General. Although it does show up under Settings.

 

[0128672]

I tried long-press and delete. It doesn't show up in the iPhone Storage list in Settings>General. Although it does show up under Settings.

I wonder if a Reset Home Page Layout might work.

 

[srbNYC]

Afraid of that.....

 

[addamas]

Have you tried force restart the iPhone?
Looks like a problem I had years ago with springboard (desktop of iPhone) where there was a cache of app which was removed (good old times of jail breaking ;( )

Force restart iPhone

If iPhone isn’t responding, try forcing it to restart.

support.apple.com

 

[srbNYC]

Have you tried force restart the iPhone?
Looks like a problem I had years ago with springboard (desktop of iPhone) where there was a cache of app which was removed (good old times of jail breaking ;( )

Force restart iPhone

If iPhone isn’t responding, try forcing it to restart.

support.apple.com

Thanks for the suggestion--but, yes, I have trad that twice! Confounding!

 

[addamas]

Thanks for the suggestion--but, yes, I have trad that twice! Confounding!

Sorry for missreading then… well, do you have another device in this iCloud account? I ask because when you have enabled “auto-install” of apps in Settings > App Store then it might cause a problem. If it’s disabled, then try to enable it for a while. If this does not help, then I am out of ideas.

 

[srbNYC]

Thanks for the help. Today's update cleared it up.

 

[FHoff]

For anyone searching.
My brother had the same issue. ”Reset all settings” fixed it.