Tip Sheet:
Viewing Phone Storage and Uninstalling Apps
Click or Tap on a Question to see the Answer
How do I know if I have an Android or Apple Smartphone?
If you have an iPhone, there will be an image of an apple at the back. The apple will look like this
If there is no image of an apple, you most likely have an Android phone.
I see GB, MB, and KB when I look at the storage space of each app. What do they mean?
GB, MB, and KB refer to units of measurement. They refer to how much data your phone can store. Digital storage is often measured in GB, MB, or KB.
GB means Gigabyte. MB means Megabyte. Megabytes are smaller than gigabytes. KB means kilobytes. Kilobytes are smaller than megabytes.
I’m looking at the storage chart on my smartphone. I see System Data. What is that?
System data includes everything that does not fall into any of the other categories on the storage chart. System data cannot be removed from smartphones.
I can't find the settings app. What should I do?
If you are on an iPhone, tap the middle of your home screen. Swipe down from the middle of the screen. This will reveal a search bar on top of your screen. Tap on it. Type ‘settings.’ When the setting app appears, tap on it.
If you are on an Android phone, you may be able to tap on the icon for the App Drawer. This will allow you to see all the installed apps on your phone, including settings. The icon for the App Drawer may look similar to the icon shown to the right.
I’m trying to delete an app by tapping on it from the home screen. It is not working. What should I do?
Be sure that you are tapping on the app with the pad of your finger. Tap and hold the app down. Count to 5 slowly.
After holding down the app for 5 seconds, iPhone users should see the apps begin to shake. A small ‘x’ or horizontal line will appear in the corner of the apps. tap on the ‘x’ or horizontal line to delete the app you want. When you are done, press the home button, or tap on the screen.
After holding down the app for 5 seconds, Android users will most likely see a trash can appear. Tap on the trash can to delete the app.
I’m on an iPhone, and I see the option to ‘offload apps.’ What does this mean?
To learn more about offloading apps, click here: How to free up space on your iPhone — Apple Support - YouTube
What happens if I delete the wrong app on iPhone?
You can see the list of deleted apps from the App Store as long as you are signed in with your Apple ID.
The App Store looks likethe icon shown on the right.
Open the App store. Tap on your profile icon in the top right corner of the screen. Then tap on ‘purchased.’
Tap on ‘Not on this iPhone’ on the top of the screen. This list will show you all the apps you have deleted on iPhone. It will also show you apps you have downloaded on other Apple devices. To reinstall the app, tap on the cloud icon with the downwards arrow. Reinstalling the app does not mean that you will get the information in the app back.
What happens if I delete the wrong app on an Android phone?
You can see a list of deleted apps from the Google Play Store once you are signed in with Gmail credentials. The Google Play Store looks like the icon shown on the right.
Tap on your profile icon, Tap on ‘manage apps and device’, Tap on ‘manage’
Tap on the arrow beside ‘installed.’ From the menu option that appears below, tap on ‘not installed.’
A list of apps will appear. This list will show you all the apps you have deleted on your Android smartphone. This list might also include apps that you may have downloaded from the Google Play Store on other devices. Tap on the box beside the app you would like to reinstall. Then tap on the download button. Reinstalling the app does not mean that you will get the information in the app back.
I’m nervous about deleting the wrong thing.
Your smartphone will ask if you are sure you would like to delete the app
You are in control of the apps you delete. Before confirming that you would like to delete an app, ask yourself some questions: when was the last time you used the app? Is there valuable information in the app? Is it likely that you will need this app again?
Tips for Coping when Feeling Nervous or Frustrated
I feel nervous about even trying this new skill. What can I do?
● Don’t let the fear of making mistakes stop you from trying. Smartphones are generally designed
to withstand mistakes you might make, and will not break if you do make a mistake.
● If your screen does freeze while you’re trying to use your smartphone, you can restart your
device. To learn how to restart your iPhone, click here: Restart your iPhone - Apple Support (CA).
To learn how to restart an Android phone, click here: How to Force Restart an Android Phone
When It’s Not Responding (howtogeek.com) and scroll to the section “Perform a Hard
Reset/Reboot.”
● Remember, practicing is the best way to help your brain remember these new skills!
This process is frustrating. How can I handle frustration?
Frustration will make it harder to problem solve. To reduce frustration and increase problem solving,
follow the steps below.
• Step 1: Pause.
• Step 2: Name what you’re feeling without judgement. Be sure to use the phrase “I am
feeling______.”
• Step 3: Take a 5-minute break, or a little longer if needed. You have the option to do something
to help you feel calm, such as doing some gentle stretches, listening to music, or breathing
deeply until you feel calm.
• You can also check out: The Guide to Mindfulness for Better Learning and/or the guide on
Changing Unhelpful Thoughts for Success while Learning. You can access them here: MTML -