To delete GarageBand from an iPhone 7, touch and hold the GarageBand icon on the Home Screen until the icons jiggle (or a menu appears), tap the X or Remove App, and then tap Delete (or Delete App). You can also go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > GarageBand > Delete App. GarageBand can take up well over a gigabyte with its sound library, so deleting it frees a lot of space. Before you do, save any songs you want to keep, because deleting the app also deletes projects stored only on the phone.
Step 1: Save your GarageBand songs (if you want them)
- Open GarageBand and tap My Songs (or open the Files app and go to GarageBand for iOS).
- Touch and hold a song, tap Share, and choose Song to export it as an audio file, or Project to keep the editable version.
- Save it to iCloud Drive or Files, or send it to yourself.
If iCloud Drive is turned on for GarageBand, your projects may already be saved in iCloud Drive > GarageBand for iOS and will stay there after you delete the app.
Step 2: Delete GarageBand from the Home Screen
- Touch and hold the GarageBand icon.
- On newer iOS versions, tap Remove App > Delete App > Delete. On older versions, tap the X in the corner of the jiggling icon and tap Delete.
- Press the Home button to stop the icons jiggling.
Step 3 (alternative): Delete or offload it from Settings
- Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Wait for the list to load, then tap GarageBand.
- Tap Delete App to remove the app and its data, or Offload App to remove the app but keep your songs and settings.
Offload or delete?
| Offload App | Delete App | |
|---|---|---|
| Frees app storage | Yes | Yes |
| Keeps your songs and settings on the iPhone | Yes | No |
| Icon stays on the Home Screen | Yes (tap to reinstall) | No |
If you can’t delete GarageBand
- Screen Time restrictions: Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases and set Deleting Apps to Allow.
- 3D Touch on iPhone 7: Pressing too hard opens a shortcut menu instead of jiggle mode. Press lightly and hold, or use the Settings method.
- Work or school phone: A management profile may block deleting apps.
How to get GarageBand back
GarageBand is free from Apple. Open the App Store, search for GarageBand, and tap the cloud icon to reinstall it. Your iPhone 7 needs a compatible iOS version, and the App Store may offer the last compatible version of the app.
Frequently asked questions
How much space does GarageBand use?
Usually 1 to 2 GB, plus any extra sound packs you downloaded. Check the exact size in iPhone Storage.
Can I delete just the sound packs?
Yes. In GarageBand, open the Sound Library, touch and hold a downloaded pack, and tap Delete to free space without removing the app.
Will deleting GarageBand affect my Music app?
No. GarageBand is a separate app. Your Music library and ringtones you already set aren’t affected, but ringtones you made in GarageBand may disappear from the list if they were stored in the app.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.